Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-08-22
EIGHTEEN men ARE INVOLVED
IN REPORT ON PENNSYLVANIA
STATE CAPITOL STEAL.
Grafters and Compel Them to Dis
gorge III Gotten Gains.

Harrisburg, Pa. Criminal pro-
ceedings against all persons con-
cerned in the fraudulent transactions
In connection with the construction
and furnishing of Pennsylvania S13,-
100000 capitol is recommended in the
final report of the capitol investiga-
tfon commission made Friday to Gov.
Stuart. Eighteen persons are named
in the report as being involved in one
way or another in the irregular trans
actions, and the attorney general,
through the governor, is urged to act
at once.
The persons named and against
whom either criminal or civil suits
are recommended are: John L. Sand
erson, of Philadelphia, contractor for
furnishings: Joseph ~ Huston, Phila-
delphia, architect, and Stanford II.
Lewis, his assistant; James M. Shu-
maker, of Johnstown, former superin-
tendent of the board of public
grounds and buildings; w. p. Snyder
and E. B. Hardenberg, former audit
ors general; w. l.. Mathues and
Frank C. Harris. former state treasur
dent of the Pennsylvania Construc-
tion Co., which supplied the metallic
castings and furniture; George F.
Payne, who built the capitol, and his
partner, Charles G. Wetter, Charles
p. Kinsman, Wallis Boyleau, John C.
Neuderer AMI George K. Storm, who
organized the Pennsylvania Bronze
Co., which supplied the loaded lighting
fixtures to Sanderson; Frank Irvine,
an auditor in the auditor generals
office; George G. Towne, bookkeeper
under Shumaker and the Internation-
al Manufacturing and Supply Co.,
which bid against Sanderson for the
capitol furnishing contract.
The name of Gov. Pennypacker,
who by virtue of his office was mem
Der of the board of public grounds
and buildings which let the furnish
ing contracts, and those of ex-Gov.
Stone and his associates who made
up the commission which constructed
the capitol are not mentioned in the
list of persons against whom the in
vestigators recommend that action be
taken.
The commission says it was able to
ascertain by testimony that goods
costing $1,574,399 were sold to the
state by Sanderson and the Pennsyl-
vania Construction Co. for $6,434,74S,
a profit of S4,S60,S49.
The report was presented to the
governor by Chairman Fisher in the
presence of the commission. After
receiving it Gov. Stuart issued
statement in which he said:
81 will transmit the report to the
attorney general for his action and |
can assure the people of Pennsylvania
that there will be a vigorous prosecu.
tion of every person whom the evi-
dence may show to have been guilty
of any criminal offense in connection
with the construction and furnishing
of the state capitol. Wherever the
evidence submitted shows that there
has been any money wrongfully or
fraudulently taken from the state
treasury civil suits will be com
menced to compel restitution
Attorney General Todd is in Maine,
but he will return in time to prepare
for beginning criminal proceedings
in the Dauphin county court here in
September. His office force has al
ready begun work on the papers.
The state will be represented by
the attorney general and his deputy,
James Scarlet, of counsel for the in
vestlgation commission, and State
Senator Fox, of this city.