Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-04-25
So Experts Say, Is Total Of Graft
in Furnishing of New State
Building.
RAILROADS MAY DEFY THE LAW
Reading and Pennsylvania Said to
Contemplate Continuance of Present
Passenger Rates Despite Two-cent
Law-Huinge Bill the Remedy.

amount of $5,OOO,0O0! That is the
sum estimated to have gone into the
pockets of the favored capitol build
ing contractors and the men higher
up" This estimate is based on the
data gathered by the experts em-
plcyed to make an inventory of the
capitol building and its furnishings
and on information gathered by the
auditors.
The auditors who have been going
over the contracts and accounts con-
hec;ed with the building of the new
staue house have almost finished their
work. Within few days they hope
to make a complete report. Their
work has been stupendous Even
though it has cost the state $25 a
day for the chief auditor and SIS a
day for each of his 10 assistants, be-
sides an allowance of So day for
each mans hotel, expenses, it is GER
tain that the commonwealth is getting
its moneys worth.
The investigating commission also
has in its employ quite a number of
experts who have been making
careful and detailed examination of
the entire building for the purpose
of ascertaining the actual value of
the furnishings. These experts are
being paid $50 a day for their serv-
ices The results will show that the
money spent in this way is a wise
investment 1t is through the work
of these experts and auditors that the
commissioners have been able at this
stage of the investigation to make
good guess as to the total amount of
the overcbarges and stealings.
Many Obstacles Encountered.
The public probably never will
know how much the investigators
have had to contend with in theis
work Naturally the big contractors
and chose who have shared in the
"pie" and who would be affected by
the inquiry were hostile to the prob
ers from the very start and never
have ceased to throw in their way
every obstacle they could. Several
prominent experts who were employed
to ferret out certain things were
bought off at the last minute and re-
fused to go to work for the state and
information of great value to the
probers that had been promised from
other sources has been withheld But
the commissioners expected this, and
Notwithstanding the setbacks are
ready to spring some big surprises.
The Investigators expect to call
upon some of the big men of the state
within q short time. Included in the
list of witnesses who are to be sub
penaed are former Governor Samuel
w. Pennypacker, former Governor
William A. Stone, Auditor General
William p. Snyder, former Auditor
General e. B. Hardenbergh, former
State Treasurer William L. Mathues,
former Superintendent of Public
Grounds and Buildings James NJ. Shu
maker, Joseph NJ. Huston, the archi-
tect; John H. Sanderson, contractor,
George F. Payne, contractor, and H.
Burd Cassel, contractor. Sanderson
cannot be compelled to testify unless
he should be found within the states
boundaries, as he makes his home in
New York, but unless he does testify
he is likely to prejudice his case
when suit is brought against him by
the state later on.
Will Resist Two Cent Fare.
Reports have been received here
that several railroad companies, the
Pennsylvania and Reading in particu
lar, will refuse TO comply with the
two-cent maximum fare law when it
goes into effect September 80. 1t is
said that they will do so on the plea
that they have special charter rights
which antedate the constitution of
1873. the provisions of which they
never have accepted. Legislators
who were responsible for putting the
two-cent bill through intend to block
the game of the railroads. They pro-
pose putting through the Hulings bill,
which provides that the state tax on
all railroad companies shall be raised
from five to ten mills after the first
of next year, and exempts from the
increase those which file formal ac-
ceptance of the terms of the consti-
tuition so that they will continue to
pay the present rate. 1t will not pay
the Pennsylvania or the Reading to
get gay if the Hulings bill becomes
law.
iydck Bills Prospects.
A fight against the Lydck primary
election bill is certain to be made
when that measure reaches the SEN
ate. The bill makes it compulsory for
boroughs and townships to hold pri-
mary elections. Some of the country
Legislators want boroughs and town
ships to have the option of accepting
either the new or old law governing
primary elections. They contend that
because corruption at elections in the
cities has made such a law necessary
for them is no reason why it should
apply to boroughs and townships. IT
is cCntendcd that in many boroughs
and tcutr,,tit,e al ,arti,- IN