Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-02
Pennsylvania Comm sSisn Fsgius Locking
Into Etats Houss Scandal
ONE CONGRESSMAN My g. INVOLVED
Company Il dsd b. q. Furi Cassel had
Two hilhsn furniture Contract.
MYSTERIOUS LOAN TO COMPETITOR
Former Representative Williams Refuses
TO Explain Transaction.
MANY fixtures SHORT IN WEIGHT
Solid bronze Chandeliers Found 90 BE
Plated Cast Iron-Pieces Cost
inE s5 n Pound Found %
Per Cent short.

HARRISBURG. Pa. May More testi-
mony on the transaction by which S. Mar
shall Williams o. Pittsburg. an unsuccess-
ful bidder for the S2.CO500o worth Of cleo
trical fixtures in the state capital. was
loaned $1,000 on an unindOrsed note last
August win be taken By the Capitol In
vestigatiag commission tnis week. Several
Pitts5urg men have been subpOenaed and
viii. 8. ls said testify that Williams
boasted OF how and where he got this
money and TO whom he also furnished
other Information pertaining to this con-
tract
Yesterday when on the stand, Williams
refused 20 deny that CONGRESSMAN II. Burd
Cassel OF Lancaster had loaned him the
10000 about the time he ceased trying 20
get square politically with Senator Pen
rose for not forcing Joseph n. Huston.
architect OF the capitol, and John II. San
derson. general contractor for the fur
nlshings. TO give him a portion Of the
electrical fixtures contract. Cassel is pres
ident OF the Pennsylvania Construction
company, which furnished the 100000
worth OF metallic furniture for the capitol
and II is not known whether he will be
called
williams Is a former member Of the
state house Of representatives, aud as sec
retary OF the Pennsylvania State Board Of
Trade and the homeless IS" he was in
charge OF the campaign for the 2-cent fare
bin which passed the present legislature
and was signed by Governor stuart.
Former state Treasurer Involved.
The commission declines in advance OF
its meeting to disclose the name Of wit
nesses II IS known, however, that John
+. Short, editor OF the Clearfield Repub-
lican, a democratic newspaper, will be
called today. Short will be asked about
the stories that tEe home OF former State
Treasurer Frank G. Harris, now on his
way to Europe was furnished by Sander
son, and that his law ONCE is filled up with
metallic furniture
Harris was a member Of the Board Of
., bic Grounds and Buildings which gave
Pennsylvania Construction company
.ne metal furniture contract He was also
q member OF the board which drafted the
schedule upon which sanderson was given
the furnishing contract
Experts employed by the commission
have found that chandeliers. standards and
side brackets. furnished the state by San
derson's Pennsylvania Bronze company,
are under weight. Chandeliers paid for at
tue rate OF Na-do a pounQ ana supposed TO
weigh 400 and 500 pounds, were found to
be from 80 TO 100 pounzs short OF weight.
This held good with all the different sorts
OF fixtures. Il was discovered that despite
the fact that castiron rods had been sub
Htituted in the interior OF the fixtures in
place Of sohd bronze. as called for by the
specifications. the castiron cid not begin
70 make up the standard weight for which
che Pennsylvania Bronze company got
S>m the state more than S25OO.OO0
spOiIs for the Gang.
Mrs. Walter Anthon- owner or a marble
quarry told the committee that State
Architect Houston and Contractor Sander
son had approached her relative to supply
ing marble for the state house. They were
willing she said TO allow her 50 per cent
pront on the deal. but insisted that 70 per
cent OF this be divided among their friends.
She decided Il would be better TO give the
marble away and declined their offer.
Jacob Shenk testified that the same per-
sons had attempted to buy marble from his
quarry. shenk declared they wanted him
70 charge the state SIS a cubic foot for the
marble instead OF from IS TO s.. the price
he thought would bring him a fair profit.
II was explained 20 him, he declared, that
the balance was TO be divided among the
wauw