Smyrna times., 1907-03-27
CONTRACTOR MADE
HUGE PROFITS
Got $9O,74S For $1,000 Rostrums in
Pennsylvania Capitol.
PUTTY COMP oSITION WOODWORK

Harrisburg, Pa, March 20. - The
capitol investigating committee re-
Bumed its inquiry into the cost of the
new state capitol. The testimony
showed that John H. Sanderson &
Company, of Philadelphia, contractors
for furnishing the capitol, was paid
by the state 800, for the rostrums
in the senate and house caucus rooms
The sub-contractors for this work tes-
titled that he was paid $4,000 by San
derson for these rostrums. The testtl
mony of the same sub-contractor
showed that Sanderson's profit on the
finished woodwork in IA other rooms
in the building amounted to $685.
645G0.
Murray Gibson, who was an unsuc-
cessful bidder against Sanderson for
the contract for decorating and paint
ing the building, testified that there
was a difference of $1.991s a foot in
favor of the state in his bid and that
OF Sanderson, and that if the state had
accepted his bid the state would have
saved more than 100000 on this item
alone, and he (Gibson) would have
made a nice profit.
None of the witnesses who were ask
ed about the per foot" and the per
pound" rule under which Sanderson
was paid for the capitol furnishings
ever, heard of this rule until it was
employed in the furnishing of the
new copitol. The testimony showed
that there were also large profits in
the contracts for the parquetry floor
ing and the thermostats in the build
ing.
John F. Wilt, of Philadelphia, sub
contractor for finished woodwork in
the building, was the first witness. He
furnished for Payne & Company the
doors. picture rail, chair rail and the
wainscoting and woodwork in various
rooms to the amount of S154,200 and
/ some extras. He also did some work
for Sanderson, including the rostrums
for the senate and house caucus rooms
amounting to $4,000. and the supreme
court room rostrum for $780,
Mr.. Wilt said he had an under
standing with Architect Huston that a
great deal of the finished woodwork
which he furnished should be putty
| composition" 1t was an imitation OF
mahogany and cost so per cent. less
than mahogany.
James Cameron, auditor for the cap
itol investigating commission. wa:
called to show the cost to the state O
| the rostrums in the senate and house
caucus rooms. He produced the item
| lied accounts of Sanderson, which
showed that he was paid $50, ,74S40 fo
| these two rostrums, profit to the con
tractor of sSS,6S8.SO. Mr.. Cameron
was then asked by Mr.. Scarlet to sa,
what the designed woodwork in L
other rooms of the capitol cast tn,
state. THESE rooms, Mr.. Wilt testified
were finished by his firm for Sander
son for $2S.724. Mr.. Cameron testifie,
that the cost to the state for thi
work was s155, 10000, a profit to San
dersOn of 1926, ,645.90.
The electric fixtures in the new cap
tol are lacquered instead Of being soli
gold mercurial finish, as required b
the specifications, according to the ties
timony of witness before the capitC
investigating commission. This test
mony was given by John Maene, c
Philadelphia, who designed many q
the fixtures for the Pennsylvani
Bronze company, sub-contractor fo
John H. Sanderson & Co., contractc
fo' the capitol furnishings and fitting,
In speaking of the chandeliers. Nj
Maene said: They are too heavy. TIL
one in this room weighs $50 pound
more than it needs and is unsafe, vi
less specially well hung"