Milford chronicle., 1907-06-21
FLAGRANT FRAUD
IN CAPITOL JOB
Penna. Capitol Contractors Charged
What They Pleased
MISSING ARTICLES PAID FOR

Harrisburg, June 15.-How John +
Sanderson collected S5.00O,00O fror
the state for furnishing and equippln
the new capitol under his per foot
and per pound" contract with tn
board of public grounds and building
was told to the investigation commits
sion in the report Of the Audit Com
pany Of New York, presented througl
James Cameron, the chief auditor.
The auditors found that what wa
known as a quantity book" was uset
as a basis for making out bills 70
articles as we'll as furnishing them
the schedule upon which the cOntrac
was awarded to 6anderson being ap
parsntly disregsrded In favor of th'
compilation of quantities made up BY
Architect Joseph M. Huston and ap
proved by James NJ. shumaker, who
was superintendent Of grounds and
buildings during the building and fur
nishing of the capitol
Mr.. Cameron said that in making
the audit he had not gone by the
quantity book" at all, as from the
records the contracts we're based on
the schedule But the quantity book
was what Sanderson went by and af-
forded him the means to make his
enormous charges.
Overcharges running into hundreds OF
thousands of dollars were shown BY the
auditors TO have taken place under the
arbitrary fixing Of prices by Sanderson.
Mention was also made Of pen and ink
interlineations IN the quantity book
on which large orders to sanderson were
based. II was also brought out that In
the case Of carpet some one had marked
out yard" and inserted feet" in red
ink in this book.
The report recommends that Shumaker
be asked to explain the absence of GER
tain articles. among them window seats
for which the state paid Sanderson. and
which the auditors were unable 10 To-
cate It was suggested that Shumaker
be asked to tell the whereabouts of mir
rors which he had certified as having
been delivered IN good condition while
he was superintendent.
The report also brought out these
facts:
The painting as done by Sanderson cost
the state 1854. 900 more than it would have
cost If the contract had been awarded to
John Gibson. the lowest bidder.
Mahogany on walls cost SSs0000 and
should have been furnished by George
f. Payne & Company. under their origi-
nal contract for the construction of the
capitol
Sandersou was allowed to get in on
Payues contract for parquetry flooring
under an order from Huston. and did
stopped. Payne collected S114,s34s0 in
addition to being paid for a yellow pine
door under his original contract.
No known method by which designed
marble was measured and for which
Sanderson was paid $213,5OO at the rate
Of $3.50 per foot"
Sanderson collected ss76 066.4O for de
signed furniture. one invoice for s6lS-
1910 being paid for without ahidavit as
10 correctness being required.
Overcharge of $4,000 on desks, as they
we're furnished under one item when they
,ould have been charged under another
Sanderson also bid by the piece for the
and other supplies. but he was
,aid by the per foot" and per pound"
ule.
Ornamental desks for heads of depart
nents cost the state s36s. while Sander |
on collected 500 each for plain desks |
upplied to subordinates. Loss to the |
tate on desks through this measurement |
1873 1880.
The quantity" book called for 60 desks |
lore than were invOiced. In other words |
he state paid for this number of desks
hat It did not receive.
Sanderson collected 1923 e66.50 for S054
hairs under the per foot" rule, an over
barge Of 5000 per chair. or sPl4 se2.7 in
ae aggregate. The quantity" book
allied for ASS chairs that were not in
diced.
An overcharge Of s46.17a.sO on tables for
'hich Sanderson collected $s1.2l4.
The quantity plans and quantity book"
allied for many items which have never
cen invoiced ard include many other
ems similar to those which have been
voiced or which have been invoioed only
part. These items alone at average
eight or measurement charged by the
and at the unit price called
,r by the quantity book for the re-
)ective articles or work amount to ap-
-oximately S2,7OOoOo. The report says In
inclusion:
1T is evident on the face of the records
lat other claims for restitution OF an
entical nature can be made, and we
rther recommend a general audit OF
e accounts Of all contractors in the de-
.rtment Of the auditor general covering
at period at least wherein a reclaim
light not be defeated by the statute Of
nitatfon."
The report also states that If the guam
les as placed by the quantity book"
le the items painting and decorating,
signed bronze metal for gas and cleo
&c fixtures. etc. and designed special
ished white metal gas and electric fix
res. were contemplated at the time of
e award of the schedule Sanderson's
exceeded that OF the lowest bidder by
l92 O9O.7
After Mr.. Cameron had finished the
aiding of the report, Sterling H.
tomas, a representative of theAmer-
IN Car & Foundry company of viii
Del, was called. He testified
at his firm had furnished Payne
inscotting for the attic for Ss00O
d that Payne had secured some Of
Office stationery and made out
! to the state for $4,000. Sanderson
lected from the state $545, 1860
cabinet work, which had been fur
A..