Milford chronicle., 1907-06-07
CAPITOL BUILDERS
MADE HUGE PROFITS
Were Anywhere From 500 to 5000
Per Cent. on Some Items.
HOw TIFFANY MAN WAS DUPED

tN.s e7N Nt5
Harrisburg, Pa, June 3-The feature
Of the session Of the capitol investiga-
ton commission was the report Of
Fritz J. Lautz. of Buffalo, N. Y. expert
on marble. Mr.. Lautz has made an ex-
haustive examination of the marble
work in the capitol and reports that
John H. SandersOn, the contractor,
was paid S216. 1860 for marble worth
only S31,1 The contractors profit
on some of the items in this contract
were anywhere from 500 to 5000 per
cent.
''Sanderson's profits indicate nothing
but larceny and plain theft" said
James Scarlet, attorney for the COM
mission. in commenting on the report
Of the expert.
The Pennsylvania Construction COM
pany, Of Marietta, supplying the ST.
100000 worth of metallic furniture for
the capitol, used an inferior grade of
black marble for the bases for the A.
ing cases, and on this item alone made
an overcharge Of S9,62S.51, according
to the report.
The report shows that marble man
tells, which cost Sanderson from 500 to |
$500, were charged to the state at from |
$1,000 to $4,000. Marble fountains, the |
market value of which were s175 each,
were billed to the state by the contrac-
tors as valued at 1920, and on an $50
marble mantel he collected s1,766.40.
1t was also shown that cheaper plas-
ter was substituted by Sanderson in
some places for marble, and that an in
ferior grade of marble was installed
throughout the building Drawings
for the marble, bearing the same date
and number, and supposed to be the
same by comparison, were found to be
entirely different. One drawing called
for white marble, and the plans from
which Sanderson worked specified mar
bic of cheaper grade, known as Ital-
tan-veined marble.
A letter was read from Rene T. De-
quelin, OF Los Angeles, Cal, formerly
in the employ Of the Tiffany Studios,
New York. Mr.. Dequelin, under date
of April is, 1907 wrote to the commits
sion about his dealings with Architect
Huston. He declared that the Tiffany
Studios had been put to great expense b
for his services in helping Huston with /
his plans TO obtain the commission for .
the capitol and when obtained, in help \
Ing him to prepare his specifications. {
1T was at this time understood" the a
letter read, that should put in a bid II
Tor all of the decorative work. includ-
ng all trades. Huston led me to believe [,
that l should deal with the s.
commission direct, but afterwards il
ound that it would be included in the h,
general contractors bid. fs
1T was so thoroughly understood nj
low l had helped Huston with his 4,
work.. and my influence with him in II
egard to Il, and also that would have
II the decorative work. that Payne &
o., the contractors, gave me a check
or $500, to work in their interests and cl
7atch the detail drawings and see
hat Huston did not change everything
nd make 1t trebly expensive TO carry ar
ut as Huston was well known to be In,
nscrupulous in all his methods, and AZ
ayne & Co. were in fear of being
licked into making all kinds of things n,
lat they would have no right to under bo
leir contract. ~,
''The above fact shows in wnat light A.
uston was thought of and the repu- str
.tion he had. Afterwards, finding that a..
le political ring would swallow -,
up and that was not go o.,
g to stand the slightest show what "a,
Ter, returned the $500 to Payne '''
Co."
Mr.. Dequelin also stated in his letter
at Tiffany Studios loaned Huston a n.
ie stained window worth a great
al OF money. mosaics and many y
her things OF decoration that he n
'ver returned and which were used -,
Huston as samples and guides for r. r.
hers to work by. In conclusion, Mr.. ~. IL
,queIin said: W., w.
''Mr. Huston's policy was to use 4no, =.
erybody that was Of service to him ~
the utmost extent no matter what l'y s
.ans he might have to use to do so. ICY
ch thing as a conscience is entirely az
minated in this mans makeup" D