The Washington herald., 1907-03-31
Capitol investigating Com
mission Has Figures.
AVERAGES $50 PER CENTUM
john II. sanderson, Contractor Of
Pennsylvania state Capitol, said
to Have Retired ss Result OF Pc
IitteaI IJob-ConApiraey and Perjury
Charges VIII Be Made soon.

commission snow palmer fhan words WAat
an enormous profit was made by John II.
Sanderson on the various contracts he
held under the board of public grounds
and buildings.
A comparison between the price charged
the State by Sanderson and the price he
paid the subcontractors affords an inter-
esting contrast and shows the percentage
of profit to Ssnderson Of about $50 per
cent.
The figures given here are Official. From
the testimony brought out SO Ear st has
been developed that while sanderson
made a profit Of over l,lo8 per cent on
some OF the capitol articles on others he
apparently forgot himself and charged
only a modest 2e0 per cent.
And 200 per cent is the lowest ratio of
profit 50 far found by the probers But
ali placed with the other items Of a higher
percentage the charges on all the furnish
ings so far touched upon by the commits
sion make the average $50 per cent for
the entire job
Through the capitol contracts Sander
sons personal fortune was undoubtedly
vastly increased. lie has been enabled to
retire from his business on Chestnut
street, Philadelphia, His interest Ia that
firm has been turned over 10 his brother.
Harry SaHderson, and the capitol furnish
er has left the city OF his birth, and is
now living in style at sherry's, New York
Sensations Not Delayed.
The people Of the state didn't have 10
wait long for the sensations they expected.
On the very first day they were told how
Huston had been absolute in his manage
ment Of the construction Of the capitol
on the second day they learned Of the
laxity OF the capitol building commission
in not demanding interest on its s4.G00. 900
while lying in bank. The commission OBJ
tanned $27.S53 in interest on this sum
which no one had ever heard OF.
On the third day came the tale OF san
derson's substitution Of domestic cut glass
for ths imported article made in Baccarat,
France. Each session since then up until
the present has had its own point Of in
terest, and al each cumulative evidence Of
SaBders0R's gross overcharges and Hus-
tons compliance with the master mind
has been piling up.
Witnesses before the commission were
puzzled because Of the rejection OF their
very low bids. II was not until several
days had passed that this was explained
Then il came 0ut that SsndeTscn was the
whole show, and that no one else had
chance TO be successful. No bidder. no
matter how low his bid for furniture. or
glassware. or bronze chandeliers. or any
Of
In the building could possibly get any Of
the work unless he was wise" to GER
tain "ioker" And no one but sanderson
was wise. apparently.
And here is that Joker
Every bidder for capitol furnishings had
TO place his bid for the entire enormous
JOB or else have the bid thrown out The
board Of public grounds and buildings,
at meeting held on April y. 1894. pissed
a resolution 20 that effect. offered by no
less a parsonage than Samuel ". Penny
packer. then governor of the State.
ssnderson shows Wisdom.
sanderson was the only one who re-
membered this resolution. All the Wit
nesses before the commission said they
never heard Of If; that they were en-
couraged TO bid on single items by Joseph
NJ, Huston, the architect. and two wit
resses declared Mr.. Pcnnypacker himself
told them there was nothing to hinder
them bidding on any separate item.
1t has been declared as virtually certain
that conspiracy and perjury charges viii
he brought following the commission s
report Ahldavits were made that work
had been completed, and money was
drawn from the treasury long before the
materials had been supplied. A law COW
ering tampering with State funds makes
perjury in this connection a felony. pun
lshable by not less than two nor more
than ten years in prison.
-sandersoH collected s7i,sS3 for ''altera-
tions in lighting wires, which. it is be-
lieved, WAS not authorized by Pennypack-
er and his official associates. The sab-
contractors did the work for one-hfth
that amount
Then came the figures which led to the
belief that the capitol job had been con-
cocted for the purpose OF making up de-
fcits drawn from the State treasury dur
ing the rule Of Quay
Ihese ngufes snow now money fOT cap
itol work was drawn from the State
treasury in ever-increasing amounts until
Mr.. Berry took office when they suddenly
ceased.
This is by many believed 10 be the OBJ
jective point of the commission Wise
acres say that sooner or later it will be
brought out that Sanderson and Huston
received but little of the amount they
charged the State, and that the greater
amount of the money they were compelled
TO turn over to the politicians who. in
turn, deposited it in the treasury to make
good the shortages Withdrawn for the
use Of men in political power.