Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-23
CONTRACTOR MADE
HUGE PROFITS
Got SOFAS For $1,000 Rostrums in
Pennsylvania Capitol
PUTTY COMPOSITION WOODWORK


Harrisburg. Pa. March 20. - The
capitol investigating committee re-
sumed its inquiry into the cost Of the
new state capitol The testimony
showed that John II. Sanderson &
Company. Of Philadelphia. contractors
Tor furnishing the capitol. was paid
by the state $50. 74S.4O for the rostrums
IN the senate and house caucus rooms.
The sub-contractors for this work tes-
uned that he was paid $1,000 by San
oerson for these rostrums. The testi-
inony or the same sub-contractor
showed that Sanderson's profit on the
finished woodwork in "A other rooms
In the building amounted to S126.-
ez5.6O
Murray Gibson. who was an unsue-
cessful bidder against Sanderson for
the contract for decorating and paint.
ing the building. testified that there
was a difference OF $685. a foot In
favor Of the state in his bid and that
Of Sanderson. and that II the state had
accepted his bid the state would have
saved more than $500 600 on this item
alone, and he (Gibson) would have
made nice profit.
None Of the witnesses who we're ask.
ed about the per foot" and the "per
pound rule under which Sanderson
was paid for the capitol furnishings
ever heard OF this rule until It was
employed in the furnishing OF the
new copitoL The testimony showed
that there were also large profits in
the contracts for the parquetry door-
ing and the thermostats In the build
ing.
John f. wilt. Of Philadelphia. sub
contractor for finished woodwork in
the building. was the FIRST witness. He
furnished for Payne d Company the
doors. picture rail- chair rail and the
Wainscoung and woodwork i'm various
rooms 10 the amount OF S1542OO and
some extras. He also did some work
Tor Sanderson, including the rostrums
Tor The senate and house caucus rooms.
amounting TO $1,000. and the supreme
court room rostrum for 1886
Mr.. wilt said ne had an under I
standing with Architect Huston that a
great deal of the finished woodwork
which he furnished should DE putty I
composition. 10 was an imitation OF I
mahogany and cost so per cent less /
than mahogany
How would YOU estimate this work
by the per foot rule2" asked Senator
Fisher. chairman OF the commission.
"Oh. I don't know anything about \
that. ] never heard OF 90 before"
James Cameron. auditor for the can
itol investigating commission. was
called 20 show the cost 90 the state OF /
the rostrums in the senate and house /
caucus rooms. He produced the item.
lied accounts OF Sanderson. which /
showed that he was paid S90.74S.4O for I
these two rostrums. a profit TO the con |
tractor OF sSS,6SS.S0. Mr.. Cameron 1
was then asked by Mr. Scarlet 20 saw
what the designed woodwork In IA
other rooms OF the capitol cast the
state. These rooms. Mr. Wilt testified
were finished by his firm for Sander
son FOR S2S.12A Mr.. Cameron testified /
that the cost 10 the state for this
work was Sl55.369 60. a profit 10 San.
derson Of s12g.645.SO
Robert Scott. OF PHILADELPHIA. who
furnished tao thermostats to Sander
$50 Nt+" "a ifANNAr NN"HNlNf'M NIlUN me
was paid SlS.6S5 for the specially dc
signed thermostauc installation in the
building
How many thermostats we're in
stalled IN the buiiding?" asked Mr..
Scarlet
Two hundred and seventy-three."
The state paid Sanderson S59.4Os |
for the thermostats.
Kennedy Dun. OF the Johnson Ser
vice company. OF Narberth. sub-con-
tractor under Scott & company for
thermostats. testified that his company
was paid $4,000 for their work. making !
a total cost OF the installation s24.-
$3.50.
Are 365 thermostats necessary in
this building?" asked Senator Fisher.
YES, sir; in some rooms It was
necessary 10 put in four"
Mr. Cameron was called, and said
that Sanderson charged for 673 ther-
mostats showing the disposition OF
az thermostats in the building.