The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-06-29

Harrisburg. Pa. June 2S.-The Capitol
Investigation Commission to-day con-
cluded its probe into the building and fur
nishing Of the 2l3Ql0OOg State House.
Five months patient laborious work has
been done. scores Of witnesses have been
examined. evidence that the State has
been plundered has been obtained and in
the opinion Of the Investigators, a prima
fscie case Of fraud, collusion, and CON
spiraCy has been made out against Joseph
NJ Huston. the Capitol architect John H.
Sanders0n. the Philadelphia contractor.
who furnished the Capitol and three for
mer State officials.
Logically. step by step. from start 10
finish, James Scarlet. chief counsel for the
probers, has traced the trail Of graft
The Investigation leaves behind IL ruined
regulations Men who stood high in the
state for honor. honesty. and integrity
have been shown 20 have been in close
touch with the individuals who cousum-
mated the most gigantic political scandal
Of recent times.
The urobers wifi begin az once 20 pre-
pare their report 10 Gov Stuart. upon
which the civil and criminal prosecutions
viii be Instituted Ia the Dauphin County
Court by Attorney General Todd
Month<to Get Up Report.
It viii take one month 10 prepare the
report and get ready for the prosecutions.
which VIII probably begin in August.
The report will set forth. according to
a member 0f the commission. that there
was evident c0llusi0n and conspiracy be-
tween Architect Huston and Contractor
Sauderson. that the contracts for the
100000 furnishings We're improperly let,
and not % the lowest bidder
That the furnishings were NOT purchased
az the prevailing market prices. as the
law reguiresi that inferior goods were
supplied not in accordance with the plans
and specifications. and that there is evil
deuce 0f shortages.
That The members Of the building com
mission and Of the board of public
grounds and buildings were derelct in
Hr 1lt'es 20 the State in hot Checki
the evident fraud and C0llusiOn that exc
istsl and that there were gross over
charges and eNtTavag8nCes In supplying
the furnishings
SubpOenas Were Issued.
Nearly> an those who are likely %
figure as defendants in the prosecutions
have failed to take advantage OF the OPP
p0rtuuitles offered them To appear be-
fore the commission. SubpCenas were
issued for Sandersou. Houston. and Con-
grossman Cassel, president OF the Penn
sylvauia Construction Company. but they
did not testify. Houston is said to be- IN
g. s9uat0rUm. and SandeTsOu is outside
the Jurisdiction Of the State
James ". Shumaker, superintendent Of
grounds and buildings. and executive
officer Of the board during the finishing
of the capitol is said to be too in at his
home in J0hnstown TO appear as a wit
ness. The investigators declare they
have learned sufficient about his deal
inEs with the contractors 90 make &c uH-
necessary 20 hear his testimony
The report Of The probers viii be hurried
along and forwarded in sections % Gov
Stuart Then viii come the warrants
and the arrests and the civil suits
States Ease MEue out.
"The States case is made out" said
Mr.. Scarlet this afternoon. "Au that re-
mains is the preparation Of the report
and its presentation to the governor for
his action"
The last witness 10 be heard was for
mer Gov. William \. Stone. He was ques-
toned at length regarding the awarding
Of the So o0o,ul0 metallic furniture contract
20 the Pennsylvania Construction Com
pany. Mr.. Stone characterized the letting
Of this colossal contract as unlawful. un-
just unnecessary, and not warranted by
precedent. In a statement before he took
the stand Mr. Stone blamed former Gov.
Pennypacker for allowing the expendi-
ture Of S9,eo1000 for furnishings in 81
100000 building.
Before being called before the commits
sion as a witness. former Gov. Stone de-
clared he was not at all pleased with the
testimony of former Gov Pennypacker
before the prObers last Friday.
stone Rnps Pennypacker.
It is his opinion that Mr.. Pennvpacker
was aware that 100000 was to be spert
for the capitol furnishings and could have
prevented the vast expenditures.
Mr. Pennypacker was the president Of
the board of public grounds and build /
ings. and was the controlling spirit in the
board" said Mr. Stone. "He should rAt
have tried to shoulder the blame on any
one else. He alone is responsible to
great degree
THE exposures that have been made
during the course OF the Investigation
have startled me. 1 did my duty bv the
State as president Of the capitol building
commission, and this work was honestly
started
Mr.. Stone was asked If he did not think
the State could recover in the metallic
furniture contract, which. it is declared
was Illegally awarded He said that was
a question to be determined when legal
were instituted.
There is one thing certain" he de-
clared. Il had nothing to do with that
contract and there were no requisitions
for the various State departments for the
metallic furniture in the capitol while /
was president of the board Of public
grounds and buildings"