The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-03-21
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.

There will be rush out OF the
State or into the penitentiary as
the final result of the capitol graft
investigation. 1t has already been
shown that glass made in Beaver
county has been substituted for
glass, imported from France as re.
quired by the specifications and the
substitution necessarily involved
fraud. Other bidders for the work
estimated upon the basis of import
ed glass. The favored bidder based
his estimate on the price of domes-
tic glass. The difference, some
thing like four-told, is the advan-
tage which the favored bidder had
over his competitors,
These facts were obtained by the
examination of sub-contractors who
supplied Sanderson with materials.
Other sub-contractors will be ex-
amined later on and other frauds
will be revealed. 1t will be shown
that considerable part of the wal
nut furniture if veneered pine and
that ornaments which should have
been solid marble or metal are put
ty and paste. BY these processes
the State treasury has been looted
to the extent of at least S5,ooo,-
COO. Probably the money can't be
recovered but criminal proceedings
will run against the perpetrators of
the crimes and justice can be thus
vindicated.
INTENTION OF THE coNsPIRAToRs
If J. Lee Plummer had been
elected state Treasurer in 1906 the
people of Pennsylvania never would
have known of these frauds, 1t
was the intention of the conspira-
tors to fasten upon the public mind
the impression that the capitol
building had been completed with
In the appropriation of 81 900, 900,
and the literature for that purpose
had already been epared for dis
tributiou, when Treasurer Berry
made the exposures. Former Gov
ernor Pennypacker was the princi
pal promoter of the contemplated
fraud. He must have known that
it was false and yet he ei couraged
it in various ways.
In view of these facts it is hardly
necessary to point out the obvious
advantage of a Democrat in the Of
fee of State Treasurer. Mr.. Berry's
successor will be chosen at the
election next fall. The machine
will exhaust every resource TO re-
cover that point of vantage. 1t is
not only prolific source of graft,
if misused for that purpose, but it
fountain of secret information.
With aquiescent man in that office,
even though he be personally above
reproach and beyond suspicion, the
State funds, can be farmed and the
accounts of all the Departments can
be manipulated.
ANOTHER LITTLE GRAB.
Another little. grab into the State
Treasury has just been revealed.
Four years ago and again two years
ago the psabllsher OF the Legislative
Record received sass page for
preparing, printing and publishing
that unusually tardy bulletin of the
proceedings of the Legislature.
rhe work islet by, the Speaker Of
he House and the President pro
tenn. Of the Senate to the lowest
idder. This year there was only
one bidder and his price was $I2
age. The letting occurred while
Henry F. Walton was Speaker and
Notwithstanding the obvious fraud
ne contract was awarded at the ex-
,,orbitant price.
This has called to mind anoth .r
suspicious incident. When the con-
ract for the State printing was
Wal dSb li-b thIA1 ~SiN-OS al blI
iers the lowest of which was Clar-
c.nee M. Busch, of Philadelphia,
Who got the award. The law re-
uuires that a bond for the fulfill
.nent Of the contract, accompany the
old, whith is forfeited in the event
of failure to make good. Never
'heless Mr.. Busch declined to ac-
cept the contract. 1t was then
offered to the next lowest bidder
who decliped. The third lowest
ldopted the same course and the
high bidder who happens to be the
publisher OF the Legislative Record
got the award.
Here is what followed. The low
est bidder withdrew his bond and
made nc forfeit. The next lowest
bidder became Superintendent Of
the plant for the contractor, the
chird lowest bidder is said to he in