New-York tribune., 1907-09-19
FOR CAPITOL FRAUDS.
ARRESTS IN HARRISBURG.
Uarrants for Fourteen Men In
rOZrcd IN Scandal
GEORGE F. PAYNE.

Harrisburg Penn Sept. 1S.-The long ex-
pected arrests of those held he responsible for
the frauds committed in the furnishing and dec
Grating of Pennsylvania S13000Go0 Capitol
were made to-day. the Attorney General cauS-
ing warrants to be issued for fourteen OF the
eighteen persons and firms named by the Capl-
toi Investigating Commission as being involved
in the scandal Those for whom warrants were
issued are
Joseph NJ. Huston. architect. and his active as
sstant Stanford B. Lewis. both Of Philadelphia
John II. Sanderson. Of Philadelphia, chief con-
tractor for furnishings
Congressman II. Burd Cassel. OF Marietta.
Penn treasurer and executive officer Of the
Pennsylvania Construction Company, Contrac-
tors for steel filing cases.
James H. Shumaker. of Johnstown. Penn. for
merly superintendent Of public grounds and
buildings. who receipted for the furnishings
George F. Payne and his partner. Charles @.
Wetter of Philadelphia. builders of the Capitol
and contractors for the $4,000 attic
William P Snyder. OF Spring City. Penn.
formerly Auditor General. who approved the
warrants Of the contractors.
William l. Mathues Of Media, Penn, former
state Treasurer. who paid the bills of the con-
tractors,
Charles F KInsman. Wallis Boileau. John @
Neiderer and George X Storm. Of Philadelphia
stockholders in the Pennsylvania Bronze Com
pany. organized by Sanderson for the manti-
facture of the s2.0ooooO lighting fixtures.
Frank Irvine. auditor in the Auditor Generals
office who audited the accounts OF the con
tractors.
The men for whom warrants were Issued in
cIude all the persons and firms mentioned by
the investigating commission in its report to
Governor Stuart as being involved in the Capitol
Wifi = of .,lyC
former State Treasurer and Edward B. Harden
bergh, former Auditor General both of whom
were members of the Board OF Public Grounds
and Buildings that awarded the Cassel contract:
George c. Keim, bookkeeper in Shumaker's of
flee. the present deputy superintendent of
grounds and buildings. and the International
Manufacturing and Supply Company an alleged
dummy bidder against Sanderson.
The warrants sworn out before Harris
burg aldermen. and nearly all the defendants.
who had been informed by the Attorney General
OF the action he had taken. appeared waived a
hearing and gave bail for their appearance in
the Dauphin County Court. Several were un-
able TO appear because of Illness and will make
their appearance later. The principal defend
ants were held in $4,000 bail EACH which
was furnished in every instance by surety COM
panes
All the defendants charged with con-
spiracy to cheat and defraud the state by maxi
ing false invoices. which approved by
Huston and Shumaker. Charges of obtaining
money by false pretences also made
against Sanderson, Cassel, Payne and Wetter. II
being alleged they furnished fictitious bills for
greater amount than they were entitled TO re-
ceive under their contracts.
The prosecutions begun to-day are the out
come of the political upheaval in Philadelphia in
1aO5 when Mayor Weaver quarrelled with the
Republican organiza ton. The independent move
ment against the Republicans in Philadelphia
that wear spread throughout the state. and led to
the election as state Treasurer of William III.
Ferrv a Democrat on the fusion ticket Berry
took office in 1906 being the first Democrat to
occupy that place in twenty-five years.
In the fall campaign of last year Berry startled
the state by charging that according to the Treas
ury books the building and furnishing of the
Capitol had cost S13 100000, and not 5000 000
as had been generally believed. and that $1,000
600 Of the money went to furnish the building.
He charged that So 100000 of the $9.O0O.OOO was
,ure graft Governor Pennypacker. other
state officials and the contractors denied the
charges but the agitation for investigation
which Immediately began continued until the
last Legislature appointed commission to In
,,estieate the whole affair Much sensational
,,btcb lasted about six months. The commission
:. o,-.r 70 Attorney General Todd. The latter
tsat he at once decided to bring criminal and
- .,,,+s against those held TO be responsible
for the frauds