New-York tribune., 1907-04-19
SPENT MONEY BLINDLY.
OE CAPITOL CONTRACTS.
Er-State Treasurer Says Board
Did Not Investigate Prices.

Harrisburg Penn. April 1S.-Astounding
..stiu,onv was given by Frank G. Harris. Of
clearfcld eX-State Treasurer, before the Capt.
tol investigating commission to-day. Harris
vil sail for Europe tomorrow. and at his re-
opest was called at this time BY virtue OF his
Office as state Treasurer he was a member Of
the Beard Of Public Grounds and Buildings
Of which the Governor and Auditor General
we're also members.
During the time he was the board from
Nav 1902 10 May 1904. contracts for Capitol
furnishings amounted to many millions Of dol
lars The sum of S2.O00OoO was paid TO the
pennsylvania Construction Company for me-
.allic furniture. S6JOO0OO WAS expended for
interjo~ furnishings and 81. .O0O 600 was TO have
been expended for beautifyng the Capitol park
The contracts for the expenditure of the $3.00O.-
600 were cancelled in January, 1906. or a few
months before William II. Berry became State
Tfeasurer
Harris was subjected 10 a vigorous examina-
zion He contradicted himself repeatedly, but
was allowed by counsel 10 correct his testi-
roonv. The commissions attorney brought out
that the contract for the metallic furniture was
awarded long before the sample Of granite was
selected for the Capitol and nearly three months
before the contract for the construction Of the
building was awarded TO George F. Payne & Co.
During the examination OF Harris 1t developed
that Joseph NJ. Huston. the architect, collected
amer cent commission on 100000 for designing
the metallic furniture, which had been designed
long before by the architect Of the construction
company.
Harris admitted that the board spent money
blindy IN furnishing the Capitol" and that.
when the contract for the metallic furniture
was made, there was no definite idea of the
cost. He thought it would cost between 100000
and 100000 and had not the slightest idea that
Il would amount TO 100000 He explained
that il he had had any conception that this
furniture would cost S2OOOOO0. he would not
have placed his name 10 the contract
Harris declared il was the duty Of Huston.
who was the boards architect 10 keep watch
over the contractors and see that all contracts
were faithfully fulfilled. IF the architect had
been faithful in his duty" he went on, and the
contracts had been lived up 10. as he could have
forced them 10. believe there would have been
no trouble and that there would have been no
scandal"
Harris admitted that. although the law pro-
yided that all contracts made by the board were
for supplies needed during the fiscal year. yet
there was no limit TO the contract for the metal
lie furniture He also admitted that he did not
know that the contract price OF this metallic
furniture for the new Capitol double the
price charged by the Pennsylvania Construc-
uon Company for metallic furniture supplied the
state for the Capitol and that neither he nor his
colleagues on the board made any inquiry as to
se s7lsf<e Drice OF the articles covered in this
compauy's bid
The testimony was given to-day that Sander
son collected SO pair for fifty pairs of special
ly designed colonial andirOns," and that these
andirons were really stock patterns and might
Ie bought for SOB pair. At the end OF to-day's
hearing the commission decided 20 take no fur
ther testimony before next Tuesday afternoon.