The Washington herald., 1907-03-12
GRAFTINOUIRYBEGUN
How S13,000,000 We're Spent
on Harrisburg Capitol.
WASHINGTON MAN ON STAND
Bernard r.. Green First Witness.
Charges of Gross Extravaganza,
Overcharges, and Duplication of
Items in characterization and Equip
ment TO BE sifted by Commission.

Harrisburg Pa March 1.-THE legisla-
tive inquiry into the new state capitol
contracts and accounts was begun here to-
day The investigation grew out of allega-
tions made during the last State campaign
that there were gross extravaganza, over
charges. and duplication Of items in the
.ornamentation and equipment of the build
ing. The cantOl was built under the di-
rection Of the capitol building commission
at cost Of 100000 It was furnished
and equipped by the board Of public
grounds and buildings at a cost Of nearly
50 Coz, ,000
Bhe board under the law is composed Of
the governor, auditor general, and State
treasurer. The members Of the board dur
ing the time the contracts were given out
We're Gov. Pennypacker, Auditor General
snyder. and State Treasurer Mathues, all
Republicans. Mr.. Mathues was succeeded
by w II. Berry, Democrat. a year ago.
MT Berry who probably will be one Of
the most important witnesses. claims the
Iovercharges in the furnishings exceed
$40 0.G90. Mr. Berry has refused 20 pay sew
erI bills contracted by the board before
he became a member on the ground that
Ithey are exOrbitant and excessive.
All Represented by Counsel.
Joseph NJ Huston. Of Philadelphia, was
architect Of the capitol. which was built
by George F. Payne & Co, OF Philadel-
phia The furnishings and fittings, ex-
cept the metallic filing cases. We're fur
nished by John II. Sanderson, of Phila-
delphia The filing cases were supplied
by tse Pennsylvania Construction Com
pany. OF Marietta, Pa, at a cost Of nearly
10000 All these are represented by
counsel. and the array Of lawyers is i'm
posing.
Bernard r. Green. Of Washington. d.
G. consulting engineer for the capitol
commission. was the first witness.
Mr.. Green explained that he was a civil
engineer In the service of the United
States. and was IN charge OF the CON
struction Of the Congressional Library
and other government buildings in that
city. He outlined his duties as consulting
engineer Tor the Capitol commission. and
stated that hc was employed by the COM
mission until the building was completed.
He said that before the contract for the
construction OF the building was awarded
Architect Huston stated % the commits
sion that the building could bee completed
within the appropriation Of 5000 600. al
lowing $4,000 for expenses Of the COM
mission and the architect and fine art
work
Not Working In Harmony.
Report and letters from Green 70 the
Capitol commission were read which
showed that he ana Architect Huston
were not working in harmony. In one
letter he referred TO Huston as being
"bumptious" and unwilling 20 adopt rec
concentrations Of changes In the work.
/ In another letter Green criticised the
granite in the building. and said it was
not Up 20 the specifications and samples
submitted. and that the electric wiring
OF the building was not in accordance
with the specifications
In a report under date OF December 3
/ 1895. Green called attention to a number
OF changes in the original specifications
for the decorative work. flooring. heating
service. &c. which lad been made with
out his knowledge and which differed
from the specifications
Green said many Of the chandeliers
and other electric fixtures were en0r-
mously heavy. and did not typify the
highest art
II think the decorations have been
much overdone. They ar~ too heavy
While there are some things that should
BE criticised I think that in the contract
Of Payne q Co. the State got the worth
of its money. I would say that the build
Ing in its construction Is "a good one. A.
TO the design. opinions differ. as it is a
matter OF architectural opinion.
Green said he knew OF no CoIluSiOn on
( fraud between the bidders and architect
or between bidders and members Of the
commission.