Smyrna times., 1907-06-05
CAPITOL BUILDERS
MADE HUGE PROFITS
Were Anywhere From 500 to 5000
Per Cent. on Some Items.
HOW TIFFANY MAN WAS DUPED

Harrisburg, Pa, June 3-The feature |
of the session of the capitol investiga-
tion commission was the report of
Yritz ]. Lautz, of Buffalo, n. Y, expert
on marble. Mr.. Lautz has made an ex-
haustive examination of the marble
work in the capitol and reports that
John H. SandersOn. the contractor,
was paid $216. 1860 for marble worth
only S31.1S4. The contractors profit
on some of the items in this contract
were anywhere from 500 to 5000 per
cent.
"Sanderson's profits indicate nothing
but larceny and plain theft" said
James Scarlet, attorney for the COM
mission, in commenting on the report
of the expert.
The Pennsylvania Construction COM
pany. of Marietta, supplying the 81
600 900 worth of me.allic furniture for
the capitol. used an inferior grade of
black marble for the bases for the FL
ing cases. and on this item alone made
an overcharge of S39, ,62S.51, according
to the report.
i
tells. which cost Sanderson from $100 to
5000. were charged to the state at from
$1,000 to $4,000. Marble fountains, the
market value of which were $175 each,
were billed to the state by the cOntrac-
tors as valued at $780, and on an $50
marble mantel he collected $1,766.4O.
1t was also shown that cheaper plas-
ter was substituted by SandersOn in
some places for marble, and that an in
ferior grade of marble was installed
throughout the building. Drawings
for the marble, bearing the same date
and number, and supposed to be the
same by comparison, were found to be
entirely different. One drawing called
for white marble, and the plans from
which Sanderson worked specified mar
BILE of a cheaper grade, known as Ital-
ian-veined marble.
A letter was read from Rene T. De
quelin, of Los Angeles, Cal, formerly
in the employ of the Tiffany Studios
New York. Mr.. Dequelin, under date
of April IS, 1907, wrote to the commits
sion about his dealings with Architect
Huston. He declared that the Tiffany
Studios had been put to great expense
for his services in helping Huston witt
his plans to obtain the commission TO
the capitol, and when obtained, in help
ing him to prepare his specifications.
'It was at this time understood" thu
letter read, that I should put in BIZ
for all of the decorative work, includ
ing all trades. Huston led me to believ
thoroughly that l should deal with tn
commission direct, but afterwards
found that it world be included in tn
general contractors bid.
"It was so thoroughly understoo
how l had helped Huston with hi
work, and my influence with him i
regard to it, and also that l would hav
all the decorative work, that Payne
Co., the contractors, gave me a chec
for $500. to work in their interests an
watch the detail drawings and sc
that Huston did not change everythin
and make it trebly expensive to carr
= out. as Huston was well known to
unscrupulOus in all his methods, al
Payne & Co. were in fear of beir
tricked into making all kinds of thinl
that they would have no right to und
their contract.
"The above fact shows in what lig
Huston was thought of and the rep
tation he had. Afterwards, finding til
the political ring would swallC
everything up and that I was not 6
ing to stand the slightest show VIII;
ever, returned the $500 to Pay
& Co"
Mr. Dequelin also stated in his lett
that Tiffany Studios loaned Huston
fine stained window worth a gre
deal of money. mosaics and ma
other things of decoration that
never returned and which were us
by Huston as samples and guides
others to work by. In conclusion,
Dequelin said:
"Mr. Huston's policy was to 1
everybody that was of service to h
to the utmost extent. no matter wi
means he might have to use to do
Such a thing as a conscience is entir
eliminated in this mans makeup"
FOR DIRECT VOTE