Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-03-21
PUSHING CAPITOL PROBE
Sub-Contractors Expected to Give
Sensational Facts.
MILLIONS FOR GOOD ROADS

I1dIlISDuIS, d.-by ldE JHe UlOSt
absorbing topic in all circles at present
is the capitol building investigation.
The probe has already gone deep
enough to show the inquisitors that
there is something in the charges
of extravaganza and corruption that
have been made One financial institu-
tion, the Harrisburg Trust company,
has been forced to pay over to the
state over $4,000 interest on deposits
made from time to time by the capitol
building commission which it would
not have done had it not been for the
investigation.
But this is only beginning in this
direction. The state doubtless will re-
cover hundreds of thousands of dollars
from various other sources if certain
things which are known to be true can
be proven. In fact, the probers are
certain that they have the goods"
which will compel certain large con
tractors TO make restitution to the
state.
Several contractors already have
given their testimony, and more will
be placed on the stand in the near fu-
ture. From these some sensational
facts will be obtained. 1t already has
been shown that the state paid $780,
000 more for the glass globes used on
the S2,000000 chandeliers, standards
and brackets than it cost to make
them. 1t also has been shown that
the state paid for "Baccarat" glass, an
imported article, whereas the glass
was made by the Phoenix Glass com
pany, of Pittsburg, at the company's
plant at Monaco, Beaver county, Pa.
1t is said to be better glass and much
less expensive than that made abroad
AS the glass cost the state S13S,O0O,
and as it was shown to have cost about
$4,000 to manufacture, it is expected
that tho John II. Sanderson company,
OF Philadelphia, who had the contract,
will be obliged to reimburse the state.
Then there are other items of still
greater moment which will be brought
out from time to time. The lawyers for
the Investigating commission, James
Scarlet of Danville, and James A.
Stranahan, of Harrisburg, are evil
IDENTIFY intent upon showing that there
was conspiracy to defraud the state
After People Higher Up.
From what can be learned, Joseph
NJ. Huston, the architect who looked
after the construction of the building,
will have a lot of things to explain to
the committee. The big contractors,
who apparently have profited at the ex-
pensC of the state to the tune of mil
lions, may also wish to explain. But
there are people higher up" who are
likely to be brought into the lime
light, and if they are then look out for
a storm.
Very few persons outside of the at
torneys engaged in making the inquiry
and the members of the investigating
commission really know what is up.
But the big contractors and certain
other interested persons know, and
they have their lawyers on hand at
every hearing to look out for their in
terests. They know there is something
doing, and their lawyers are trying to
find out just how much the probers
know or have learned since they began
their investigation.
The truth is the probers know a
great deal more than anyone imagines
! There are certain persons with griev-
ances who are anxious to tell the com
mission what they know about the
wrong-doing of others connected with
| the capitol scandal, and it looks now
as if there would be great deal that
W in ho
The capitol probers have a great
deal more latitude in the way of MAX
| ing an inquiry than any court in the
| land They are not hampered by any
rules of court or red tape of any kind.
| They are permitted to bring in any
thing they please which might throw
| light upon the case, and they can com
pei any witness to attend and testify
If he is to be found anywhere within
the state.
For Good Roads.
That the legislature is intent upon
| providing means for the building of
good roads in Pennsylvania is evident
from the fact that when Representa-
tive WickeTsham, of Dauphin, offered
an amendment the other day to the
Moore constitutional amendment reso-
| luton so that the state might issue
| S50,000,000 instead of $25,000,000 worth
| of bonds for road-making purposes his
| proposition met with general approval.
| There were some, however, who were
! inclined to believe that the funds for
this purpose should come from direct
| taxation and for that reason the reso-
! luton and amendment were referred
back to the committee in order to
! give the subject further consideration.
Including this resolution there are
bills for road improvement now pend
ing which, if all were passed, would
! provide something like a total of $685.
| 100000 for good roads in the state.
! The American Road Makers conven-
tion in Pittsburg last week greatly
stimulated the interest in good roads
! for PENNSYLVANIA II is the OniniOn