The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1907-06-15
FLAGRANT FRAUD
The Penna. Capitol Contractors
Charged What They Pleased.
PAID FOR MISSING ARTICLES
Audlters' Report Shows Bills Were
Paid Without Question and Some
FurnishInss Never Dellvsrsd-Hues
ovoreharaee Exposed.

9s
Daalsrson collected 100000 from
he state for furnishing and sauipping
the new capitol under his per foot"
aal per pound" contract with the
bsasd Of public grounds and buildings
vss tsld te the Investigation commits
sloa In the report Of the Audit Com
paAy q New York. presented through
James Cameron, the chief auditor.
The s~ditors found that what was
hasvn a q quantity book" was used
n 4 basis for making out bills for
aSeloles - well as furnishing them.
the schedule upon which the contract
v6s awarded to Sandsrson being ap-
pAreatly disregarded in favor OF the
eenDflation Of quantities made up by
Architect Joseph M. Huston and ap-
moved b. James M. 6humaker. VINO
vas superintendent Of grounds ana
buiIlings during the building and fur
1lsAing Of the capitol.
Mr.. Cameron said that In making
he audit he had not gone by the
quantity book" at all, as from the
records the contracts were based on
he schedule But the quantity book"
vas what Sanderson went by and al
foolod him the means to make his
oaoenous charges.
ovsroAargss running into hundreds OF
ehessands Of dollars were shown oy IN. tns
AuAltoru to have taken place under the
agANYAry fixing Of prices by Sanderson
lloaNon was alss made Of pen ana Ink
AAevNasations in the quantity book
q VAish large orders to Sanderson were
tADoA h vas also brought out that In
he eeSs q carpet some one had marked
cut yard" and inserted feet" in red
iMS n this book.
9ho report recommends that Shumaker
- asked to explain the absence OF GER
tain articles, among them window seats,
~ which the state paid eanderson, and
whlsh the auditors were unable to To-
cate It was suggested that Shumaker
- asked to tell the whereabouts OF mir
~ which he had certified as having
been delivered in good condition while
he was superintendent.
The report also brought out these
faetDs
no painting as done by sanderson cost
- state 12el, 100 more than 1t would have
~ r. the contract had been awarded to
3sAo Gibson. the lowest bidder.
A1negany on walls cost $780, 200 and
shA<kA have been furnished by George
!. Payne 4 Company, under their erigi-
iii eentfaot for the construction OF the
0aaAsrson was allowed to get in on
1a0Ass contract for parquetry flooring
nAse IN order from Huston. and did
q ~ werth Of work before he was
stepped Payne collected $114, sA. 30. In
a6ltion to being paid for q yellow pine
lot under his original contract.
Ne Known method by which designed
unAsbls was measured and fer. which
0eAlsrson was paid $21S.SOo at the rate
q ozAle per foot"
oAnlarson collected $s76 006.4o for de
oeS.lo being paid for without AFFIDAVIT a.
- correctness being required.
Ovorohayge Of 90. 900 on desks. a. they
WeeO furnished under enc item when they
eepA have been charged under another.
nanAarson also bid By the piece for the
f6nl1ars and other supplies, but he was
>DaA ~ the per foot and per pound
1ansntal desks for heads Of depart
meats cost the state $Sss. while Sander
- collected $50 each for plain desks
Gnpa4aA to subordinates. Loss to the
Gl1te "a lssks through this measurement
TIE quantity book called for 60 desks
Rore than were invoiced. In other words
tAs state paid for this number OF desks
Maa u a. not receive.
oaAderson collected $323. $3.50 for 1854
GAalGs under the per foot" rule. an over
GAAf9o Of e1o.1o per chair. or $214, So2.B In
tho aggregate The quantity" book
ealleA Ter - chairs that were not In
vUeoo1.
- overoharge Of s4s.17s.so on tables for
AanAAraop rAllA0fA6 al IA
he quantity plans and Quantity book"
Oa1lol fer many items which have never
6opa invoieed, and include many other
lta1hD similar to those which have been
hvo1ood or which have been tnvoiced only
= Dart. These items alone at average
V1aAA - measurement charged by the
ooaARaotoc and at the unit price called
lsv ~ the quantity book" for the re-
aoasoGvs articles or work amount to ap-
Droxianately q, 100. 900. The report says In
oGaaluslon:
''0anss the beginning Of our examine
t1on & appears that the contractor has
bAea called upon for restitution of q num-
~ q items outside Of the new capitol
fo141eure and the treasurer's books show
mai refunds on April II. 1907, for g.
S1A0, and on May g. 1907, for Su49.80. az
opogating 41s0o.eS. has been received on
0Vo Of the six invoices which We exam
ins4
II u 0vl0onI on tne I2ce u tHV EcCOius
thaA ithsr claims for restitution of m
A000lcal nature en- be made, and we
fIs0hse recommend q general audit Of
he accounts Of all contractors In the de
pasoAant Of the auditor general covering
tAAt period 1t least wherein q reclaim
alUot not bs defeated BY the statute OF
H0Goat1on."
he report also states that II the guam.
uelao ~ placed by the quantity book
pu1o the items painting and decorating
1AolOned bronze metal for gas and cleo
~ Axturss, sto., and designed specia
AAlshsd white metal gas and electric fix
onsoA were contemplated at the time Of
the award Of the schedule. Sanderson's
~ exceeded that Of the lowest bidder By
No4eoAM
j After Mr.. Cameron had finished thu
wedding Of the report, Sterling H
aAomas. q representative Of thsAmer
~ Car & Foundry company, of VII
01n0ton. Del, was called He testified
naA his firm had furnished Payn'
WaiAseotting for the attic for $4,000
NAA that Payne had secured some o
o. eAcs stationery and made out {
hi 20 the state for $4,000. Sandersol
Sollocted from the state 4t45, 1868
lor cabinet york, which had been fun
n1sAsd to him by the Wilmington con
sssa for 4s6.073.
me- EIppn THE cTIcY.