Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-27
GANG" WANTED
THEIR RAKE OFF
QuaFryma1 Tells Penns Capitol Prob
ers Why he Dida't Get Contract.
BE REFUSED TO BOOST PRICES

Harrisburg Pa. April 24.-The fea.
ture Of the hearing before the capitol
investigating commission was the ties.
timony of sub-contractors under
George Z. Payne & Company. general
contractors for the new capitol. that
Payne had rendered a number OF bills
on their Office stationery for extra
work on the bEliding which they did
not recognize as having been made
out by members of their firms. Former
Judge Abraham Better. OF Philadel
phia, counsel for Payne. relieved a
number Of false impressions that some
or the bills had been padded by Payne
by having the Witnesses explain that
part of their work was done on SUI
perintendent's basis. for which they
were paid commissions, and that the
materials in question had been sup
piled, but not itemized as they appear.
ed on the Payne bills. There was a
difference Of more than $4,000 In
Payne's favor in one OF these bills
presented on the stationery OF the sub
contractor. who furnished the work
which was not explained.
The testimony Of Jacob NJ. Shenk.
OF Lebanon. showed that the figures
which he quoted on serpontine marble
for the senate and house chambers
were too low TO please Joseph NJ. Hus
ton. architect OF the capitol. and Phil
ip II. Johnston. a Philadelphia archi
tect and brothcrin-law of Israel W
Durham. a former STATE insurance com
missioner. Mr Shonk said that he ne
gotiated with Joseph p Reed for the
serpentine marble specified for the
wainsCoting in the senate and house
chambers. Tie told Reed that he
would furnish the smaller pieces for
SIS a cubic foot and IS for pieces s
by feet in length. Reed told Shenk
that he would have 20 make the price
SIS.
"Why did he say that?' asked Jas
Scarlet. attorney for the commission.
"He said that the gang had to be
fixed / told him that didn't do bust
ness in that way"
Whom did he mention as being the
Eang?"
HE mentioned Philip II. Johnston,
a Philadelphia architect. among 9th
ers."
AIr Shenk said Reed is now dead.
He said that Johnston and Joseph
NJ. Huston. architect for the capitol
visited the Bcrdonte marble district
but did not open a quarry. Later spec
ihcations for the serpenune marble
we're changed and a cheaper quality
was supplied.
A. WIT o. Philadelphia. testified
that he made birch doors for the capt
toll. which were substituted for ma.
hogany doors provided for I'm the
specifications Tie said that a bill Cor
S73f purportod to have boon made out
by him to Payne FOR work On the attic
had not been rendered by him at ALL
Glthough 10 was rendered ON his bill
head.
Senator Dcwait. q member o. Tho
commission. sprung n surprise by re-
calling the sub-cCntractor under pavnC
for the plaster work OF tho capitol and
asking him if be had ever donc any
private plastering work for members
of the board OF public grounds and
buildings by which the capitol was
furnished The senator mentioned
several names. but the witness dcclar-
az il" MNA ANNNN AlN NAANAAt wa Il avs
them. Then the name OF r. Larry
Eyre. OF West Chester. superintendent
OF the capitol building commission and
also a former superintendent OF pub
JIG grounds and buildings. was sug-
ecstcd by Mr.. Dewalt in the same re
gard.
"I did do some plaster work for Mr..
Eyre az his home in West Chester, "
the witness testified.
"Who paid YOU for it?" was asked.
payne & Co" was the reply.
At the end OF the session Charles G..
Wetter. Payne's chief partner, ex-
planned that "A hours after the plas-
terlng had been done for MT Eyre the
latter had made personal settlement
for il. as a bin in the Payne Office
would prove.