Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-08-22
CAPITOL GRAFTERs
Prominent Penusylvanians Must
Face Civil and Criminal Pro-
ceedings for Fraud.
BUSINESS TOO PROFITABLE
Furnishings Costing $1,574,SS9 Were
Sold to the state for $6,434,74S,
a Net Profit Of
$4,e60,s49.

Harrisburg, Pa, Aug. 17.-Criminal
and civil proceedings against all per
sons concerned In the fraudulent trans
actions in connection with the con
struction and furnishing Of Pennsyl
vania's S13OO0,OOO capitol is recon-
mended in the final report Of the CAPT
toll investigation commission made ia
Governor Stuart Friday. Eighteen
persons are named In the report as
being involved in one way or another
in the irregular transactions and the
attorney general, through the govern
or isurged to act at once. The per-
sons named and against whom either
criminal or civil suits are recommend
ed are John H. Sanderson, Of Phila-
delphia, contractor for furnishing;
Joseph, M. Houston, architect, and
Stanford Lewis, his assistant; J. M.
Shumaker Of Johnstown, former super
intendent Of the board Of public
grounds and buildings; w. H. Snyder
and q. B. Hardenberg, former auditors
general; W. H. Matthews and Frank @.
Harris, former state treasurers; Con-
gresham P. Burd Cassel, president
Of the Pennsylvania Construction
company, which supplied the metallic
castings and furniture; George, r.
Payne, who built the capitol, andShts
partner, Charles F. Wetter; Charles
p. Kinsman, Wallis Boileau, John G..
Neuderer and George X Storm, who
organized the Pennsylvania Bronze
company, which supplied the loaded
lightning fixtures to Sanderson;
Frank Irvine, an auditor on the au-
dltor generals once; George G. Town,
bookkeeper under Shumaker and the
international Manufacturing and Sup.
ply company which bid against San
derson for the capitol furnishing con
tract.
The name Of Gov. Pennypacker, who
by virtue Of his once was a member
Of the board Of public grounds and
buildings which let the furnishing con-
tracts, and those OF former Gov. Stone
and bis associates who made up the
commissIon which constructed the
capitol are not mentioned in the list
Of persons against whom the investi-
gators recommended that action be
taken.
Senator A. q. Dewalt and Represen.
tative r. Scott zimmerman, the dem
ocratic members Of the commission.
presented q brief supplemental re-
port in which they specifically name
most Of those already mentioned as
criminally and civally liable for the
frauds against the state. They are in
entire accord with the report of the
republican members, and presented
their supplement a. a further expires.
sion Of their individual views.
The commission says that il was
able to ascertain by testimony that
goods costing S1.574,Sss were sold
to the state by sanderson and the
Pennsylvania Construction company
for Se,ls4,74s, a profit Of s4.S6O,s4s
The reports as presented to the gov
ernor by Chairman Fisher lp the pres
enee Of the commission After receiv-
ing II Governor Stuart issued a state
ment in which he said:
Il viii transmit the report to the
attorney general for his action and I
can assure the people OF Pennsylvania
that there will be a vigorous proseou.
tion Of every person whom the evi.
dence may show TO have been guilty
Of any criminal offense in connection