Smyrna times., 1907-04-03
HUGE PROFITS ON
CAPITOL WORK
Contractor Made Over 400 Per Cent.
on Furnishings.
SAMPLES OF HIS OVERCHARGES

Harrisburg, Pa, March 20. The
fnormous profits Of John H. Sanderson
& Co, of Philadelphia, contractor for
the furnishings of the new capitol,
were disclosed in detail at the sessions |
of the capitol investigating commits |
sion The sub-contractors for the fur
niture and interior woodwork supplied |
by SandeTsOn upon his contract with |
the board OF public grounds and build |
ingc testified to the prices they were
paid by the contractor
Their testimony showed that some of
the work was done through Payne &
Co., contractors for the construction
Of the building, as sub-contractors for
SandersOn, who supplied all the fur
nishings except the metallic filing
cases. After the sub-cOntractors had
been called and testified to the prices
they received from SandersOn or Payne
the Official records were produced by
James Cameron, auditor for the COM
mission, to show what Sanderson re-
ceived for the furnishings.
No attempt was made to show that
the schedule upon which Sanderson
was awarded the capitol furnishing
contract was so arranged as to make
intelligent bidding impossible This
has already been brought out by the
testimony Of several bidders, who said
they could set no information from
Architect Joseph NJ. Huston upon
which TO maize an intelligent bid.
It was shown that the state paid
Sanderson $94,208 fer the woodwork
in the governors suite, exclusive Of
the grand reception room, for which
the sub-contractor was paid S16,089.75.
Sanderson collected from the state
$62.4S6.40 for the woodwork in the
senate postofiice, telegraph room and
other rooms about the senate cham
Der, for which the sub-contractOr was
paid $6145.
The testimony also showed that the
state paid Sanderson $3256.SO for q
mahogany case in the senate barber
shop for which the sub-contractor re
ceived only 1925. Sanderson collected
S161920 for a mahogany boOtblacb
stand in the senate lavatory which
was supplied to him by a sub-con
tractor for $50. exclusive of two chairs
which cost $25 each, and the foot rests
the cost Of which did not exceed $25.
For SO mahogany clothes trees San
derson collected S73.G0 each and paiI
the suh-contractor who supplied then
S12 each. For 81 umbrella stands tn
contractor received from the stat
S73.60 each and paid the sub-contracto
$14 each For a desk in the lieutenan
governors room Sanderson collecte
s349.6O and paid the sub-contracto
$780, The auditors report shows tina
147 additional clothes trees were ful
nished by Sanderson at S2760 eac
and 100 additional umbrella stands a
$3.50 each.
Sanderscn put medicine chest
in the senate at a cost to the state {
s12S.S0 and in the house at a cost [
S23920 The sub-contractor who SUI
piled one of these cases was paid s.
for it. Sanderson's profits on the desl
in the senate and house chambers wei
nearly 400 per cent, according to I'll
testimony 1t was also shown that !
collected from the state $264.60 eaC
for so desks in the senate chambe
which were supplied by the sub-co
tractor for S65 each For 20S desks
the house chamber Sanderson paid Il
sub-contractor SIS each and collects
from the state $285.73 each.