The Washington herald., 1907-08-13
Commission Holds Final SeS-
sion at Beach Haven.
DISCUSS REPORT ON FRIDAY
Final Touches TO Be Given IL at
Harrisburg Ere 1t Is Presented to
Criminal Prosecution of Alleged
Grafters-PrOmise Favor 20 None.

- ~ eAAA+e1 AtfAN@ NoEitRi NPAA
mission completed its work here this
morning The final meeting Of the prob
ers Will be held in Harrisburg at 10
O'Clock Friday morning, after which the
report viii be presented TO Gov Stuart,
This afternoon most of the members left
for Philadelphia
James Scarlet will be here until to-mor-
row, when he will start for his home in
Danville. He does not mend 10 stop of
at Harrisburg and is anxious to get a
few days rest before he again meets At
torney General Todd 70 assist in framing
the indictments that are to be brought
against the men who have been impli-
Gated in the capitol frauds
The session this morning was devoted
to the final arrangement OF the commits
sion. Frank Bell, secretary. who has
had the spending of the upward OF $4,000
thus far expended in the prosecution OF
the inquiry, presented a detailed state
ment showing how the money has been
spent, and the amount that still stands
10 the credit Of the commission.
$4,000 Each for Lawyers,
When the legislature created the COM
mission It made an appropriation Of $780,
coo to cover its expenses. The commits
sion desires TO turn at least part Of
this money back into the State treasury.
and after the meeting this morning. It
was the general opinion that this would
be done. The principal subject discussed
to-day was the fee TO be paid the commits
sion's counsel and the compensation Of
the two secretaries II is likely the law
yers viii be paid $4,000 each, and the
amount given the two secretaries will be
in the ne3sborhood of 5000 These
questions will be finally determined when
the commission reassembles in Harris
burg.
The members Of the commission feel
that their work has been well done They
believe that the inquiry has been a thor
ough and conscientious one and that its
results viii be far reaching and lasting
The various officials and members OF
the commission have given out signed
statements which. while throwing no def
mite light on the contents OF the forth
coming report. hold out the promise that
1t will be interesting. and perhaps SEN
sauOnaL The counsel OF the commission,
MessTs. Scarlet and Stranahan. and the
clerks, Messrs. Bell and Calvert are
given great credit by ali the members
for their painstaking and successful work.
Plan of the Probe.
Senator John J. Fisher, the chairman,
said in his note 10 the public:
when the commission began its work
1t had no idea OF the magnitude of its
undertaking It was absolutely In the
dark as TO what the developments might
be.
Its first step was TO devise a thorough
and comprehensive scheme for the de-
velopment OF the facts regardless Of
whether the same were creditable or
otherwise The next step was the thor
ough organization of a working force. It's
equipment consisted Of its attorneys. sec
retaries. and experts. The results as
low known speak for the plan and the
equipment
The members Of the commission are
entitled to credit for their sacrifice in Civ
ing thciR time and energies TO this labor
without compensation. They have been
at work for more than six months: have
sat in public session for thirty-seven DAYS,
and have had more than fifty executive
sessions. Their spirit has been one Of
fairness. and there has been no disposi-
tion TO either shield or persecute any one.
The sole purpose was TO ascertain the
truth"
Representative J. Willis Fair said: "Our
work is done. The results will soon be
sub ad - He ~
him It will go to the people, whose serv-
ants we have been. We have tried to
smirch 10 man uniJfstly. nor to let any
guilty man escape notice"
Warning to Public Men.
Senator A. G. Dewalt: "one purpose at
least has been definitely accomplished.
namely. notice has been given to all pub
lie officials and state contractors Of the
past and future that their methods and
work will not pass unchallenged and IN
scrutinized. This also has been extab-
ished-that no man. however exalted his
official position may be. and no men.
however powerful their combination, can
escape Just censure when honest and fear
less investigators probe their transac-
tons.
The discreditable disclosures by the
investigation are a State scandal. but 1t
is greatly to the credit Of Pennsylvania
that the legislature, through its commits
sion was brave enough and honest
enough to meet the issue, and regardless
of whom it might involve, fully disclose
the facts
When the report is published, as It no
doubt will be, 1t will be found that the
attorneys Of the commission and all the
employees thereof and the commissioners
themselves have treated the proposition
from a business and a legal standpoint
and that every doubt has been resolved
in favor Of the accused, and that the
findings are such as must meet the ap-
proval Of all right-mjnded men.
These May BE Accused.
So far as can be learned, the men
against whom the advisability of criminal
action is pointed out in the report in
clude:
Joseph NJ Huston, architect
John II. Sanderson, general contractor
who did most Of the furnishings" under
the per foot" and per pound" rule.
Congressman H. Burd Cassers Penusyl-
vania Construction Company-the concern
which furnished all of the metallic fur
niture at a contract price Of over
100000.
Charles z. Kinsman
Former State Treasurer William L.
Mathues.
Former State Treasurer Frank B. Har-
ris.
Former Auditor General E. B. Harden
bergh.
Former Auditor General William P.
Snyder.
Former Superintendent Of Public
Grounds and Buildings James NJ. Shu-
maker.