Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
WAS PAID $4,000
TO KEEP QUIET
Pennsylvania Capitol Probers Hear
More Sensational Testimony.
PENROSB IGNORED BY HUSTON

me names OF prominent Pennsylvania
politicians. was produced during the
examination by the capitol Investigate
ing commission Of ex-Representative S.
Marshall Williams. OF Pittsburg. who
IS alleged 10 have accepted $4,000 to
keep quiet after he had been refused
By John II. Sanderson. OF Philadelphia.
general contractor for the capitol fur
nishings. a share OF the $1,000. 600
award for electrical fixtures for the
building
The first part Of the testimony of
Williams was OF a mild character and
referred 10 the various interviews he
had with Sanderson and Joseph NJ
Huston. architect OF the capitol. and
designer for the board OF public
grounds and buildings, by which Il
was furnished. These interviews re-
1ated TO the personal influence VIII
liams brought TO bear In his effort TO
secure some portion OF the transaction
and included the name Of Senator
Penrose.
Williams was perunently asked by
Senator Dewait. OF the commission. 20
reveal the name OF the party or parties
who had given the $4,000 in question.
Williams steadfastly refused 20 admit
that the money was presented 20 him.
Ne declared that he had secured 70
from a person in New York on a note
which he had given last August, and
which he declared is due In August
next
Senator Dewalt thought u was
strange that the money transaction oc-
CURED at the same time Williams met
with his disappointment at not secur
ing part OF the contract During the
examination Dewalt asked Williams IL
he had not instructed the Pennsylva-
MIA State Board Of Trade. OF which he
Is secretary. TO pay Con gressman Cas-.
sci S425 the amount OF money that
had been previously referred TO as Sc
cured by witness from the unknown
party.
Williams admitted that Il was true
ne 90 the St25 reference.
'Ts Congressman Cassel the man
who advanced you the $10.O002" asked
the senator.
Il refuse 20 answer. replied the wit
ness.
But it was national official who
did SO. was it not?"
YES"
"wil you deny that it was Congress.
man Cassol who did SOP"
Il refuse 90 answer"
In no way could the commission get
Williams 10 admit that Cassel was the
party in question.
II. Burd Cassel is a member Of con
gress from the Lancaster district and
is president OF the Pennsylvania Con
strucuon company. OF Marietta, Pa.
which furnished the $4,000 600 worth
OF metallic furniture for the capitol.
A letter under date OF July >. 1906
the contents Of which were not di.
vulged. was shown TO williams and he
was asked if ne had not written it TO
Charles j. Grady. Of Marietta, general
sales agent OF the Cassel concern.
Williams said that the letter had been
stolen from him. and while he recog.
nized HIS own handwriting he refused
10 go on record as admitting all that IL
contained. as ne feared il might have
been tempered with.
Williams said ne asked Senator Pen
rose to assist In getting the sub-con-
tract under Sanderson. The senator
promised and saw Huston, who told
Williams that he should have one-third
OF the contract But Huston did not
keep his word, and Williams, after
waiting some time. again took II up
with PenrOse, but the senator did moth
ing for him. Williams explained that
he felt Penrose could do something for
him, and he began to gather data TO be
II II
letter 20 GRAY, who advised him not
10 drag the matter into the campaign.
At the suggestion of Grady he went 10
Philadelphia. and while there received
word that Huston wanted to see him.
He refused 10 see Huston until after
he had received letter from the arcbi.
tect inviting him 10 his office. Huston
told him than that Penrose did all he
Fould for Williams, but he SANDER
SOM would not give him any part
Of the contract. Huston told Williams
that Sanderson "hogged the whole
business" and refused To divide his
contract with anybody. Williams said
he felt sore at Sanderson," and that
Penrose had done all he could for
him.
$4,000 transaction, williams declared
the money was secured for use in the
campaign by the board Of trade and
the Homeless PC. % of which he is also
secretary. organizations that were ar
rayed in the fight for the two-cent fare
and trolley freight legislation
That Sanderson bid % per cent. OF
the maximum price for the electrical
fixtures OF the capitol. but was finally
paid by the state at the rate Of only
3 per cent of, was one OF the import
ant features brought out during the
examination OF Williams. The witness
claimed that he had bid 20 per cent
OF and had promised a third party
with whom he bid s per cent OF as a
bonus.
Once during the cross Ere OF ques-
tons Williams declared he wished to