The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-03-14
HUSTON WhS OTERPAID
Architect Of Penna. Capitol Through
Error Received 1908 Too Much.
AUDITORS REPORT RECEIVED
Commissions Minutes Were lndefi-
ntely Kept and Many important Re-
ports Arc Missing-Huston Ordered
Advances to Noted Artists.

Advances to Noted Artists.
Harrisburg. Pa, March 10. - James
Cameron was the star witness at the
inquiry by the capitol investigating
commission into the cost OF the new
state capitol. Mr.. Cameron is in
charge OF the representatives of the
Audit Company OF New York, which
is auditing the capitol contracts and
accounts and making an inventory oil
the furnishings of the building. lie
submitted a report showing that OF the
1900. 900 appropriated for the build
ing to the capitol building commission
there was an unexpended balance. OF
$i5. S9O.93.
Mr.. Cameron testified that he had
collected from the Harrisburg Trust
company. in which this fund was kept.
! S27. 1881 in interest at the rate OF
per cent. on the daily balances. No
formal demand was ever made by the
building commission on the trust com
pany. Of which Edward Bailey, treas
urer OF the commission. Is president,
for interest on this fund. Mr. Gamer
on said the minute records OF the com
mission were indefinite and that re-
ports which should have been record
ed we're not included in the minutes.
He also said that the system OF sin
gle entry was used in the bookkeeping
of the state government and that the
general accounting was not as com
plete as it might be- There was no
asset record of what furniture was in
the building and no way OF ascertain
| ing whether any furniture had been
carried away The final reports Of the
auditors will be submitted in three or
four weeks and will contain an Item
lied cost of each room in the building.
The report presented by AIR. Gamer
on shows that Joseph NJ. Huston, the
architect OF the commission. has been
overpaid 1868 II was also developed
from the records at the capitol com
mission that most OF the advances that
had been made to George Gray Bar
nard. the sculptor. and Edwin Abbey,
the architect, had been made upon
Illusions ccrtfcation; and that the
changes that have been made from
time to time in the specifications gov
erning the contracts were at Huston S
suggestion and were approved by him.
Il was also shown that upon more than
one occasion the architect had assur-
cd the commission that the capitol
could be erected well within the orig
inal appropriation of s4000.OOO.
The report also shows that the total
aggregate contracts awarded by the
commission amount to 1884 l09.O7.
ard that the contracts with George
GRAY Barnard the sculptor, and Edwin
A. Abbey. the artist, are unfinished.
while the sum of $4,000 has been ad-
vanocd to the former and $47 900 to
the latter
The contracts of George F. Payne
e. Co and Violet Oakley are reported
as completed while the balance OF
commission due Joseph NJ. Huston
contingent upon the completion of the
Abbey and Barnard contracts Is said
to be the only remaining liabilities oil
| record.
The report also shows that the total
amount OF the contracts Of the builder
sculptor and artists made by the CAPT
toll commission was $S,7l2,63S.12. while
the architect under his contract was
to receive ) per cent. of the total cost
which would equal $lS563l.9l. and he
has already received slS4,7S6.sl
A mass of documentary evidence
pertaining to the capitol contracts and
accounts was submitted b. John Es
tott. secretary of the board OF public
grounds and buildings. who had charge
of the furnishing and equipping OF the
building. and Samuel B. Rambo. super
intendent OF public cgrounds and
buildings. who was supervising engi
neer for George F. Payne & Co.. con
tractors for the construction Of the
building.