The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-08
HARRISBURG LETTER.
Special Correspondence.

Harrisburg, Pa, Aug. S, 1907.
1t would be hard work to white
wash the capitol graft scandal even
If there were an inclination in that
direction, which is conjectural. The
evidence is too positive and direct
to admit of misconstruction. The
collusion between Architect Hus-
ton and the favored contractors has
been clearly established and the
fact that Payne & Company, made
cut fraudulent bills on the station.
cry of sub contractors can't be ex-
planned. No reasoning person can
be made believe that an ordinary
push.cart is a royal Roman chariot
and the claim that those frauds
were clerical errors or accidents
would be quite as absurd.
That a whitewashing report was
contemplated by some members of
the commission hardly admits of
doubt. Immediately after the mu-
nicipal elections in Philadelphia
there occurred perceptible change
IN the trend of the inquisition.
There set in an abatement in zeal
and a modification of energy. The
fruitless and absurd attempt to con-
ciliate the chief inquisitor, Mr..
Scarlet, by inferential promises of
promotion, and the too considerate
manner in which some of the wit
nesses were treated plainly indicat-
ed the change. But futility of such
a course is now apparent to even
the most cursory observers.
Huston, Sanderson, Cassell, Ma
thues, Payne & Company, and Su-
perintendent of Public Buildings
and Grounds Shumaker are clearly
inculpated both in fraud and con-
spiracy and Governor Pennypacker
was criminally negligent, to say
the least. According to his own
statement he learned Of the frauds
in December following the election
of Mr.. Berry. The Auditor Gen
eral called his attention to the over
charges and excessive payments.
Did be stop them as any honest
man and faithful public official
would? should say not, though
in his statement to the commission
he declared that he had ordered the
discontinuance of any work not in
process.
WHAT THE RECORDS REVEAL.
What do the records show In
December, 1905, Pennypacker was
informed OF the frauds. But be-
tween that time and May, 1906, the
Board of Public Grounds and Build
ings, with his assent, approved pad
ded bills TO All aggregate of over
$1,000, 900, some of which covered
articles not delivered for nearly
year afterward. Probably he didn't
get any part of the loot. Maybe
he didn't want any of the tainted
money. But he got promises of
seat on the Supreme bench of the
State, the thing which above all
others his sordid soul coveted. Cash
in hand is not the only form Of rec
ompense in this practical world.
Why should there be any thought,
in view Of these facts, of allowing
Pennypacker to escape "unwhipt
of justice, in connection with these
grave crimes? But for his compla-
cency the frauds would have been
impossible. But for his acquies-
cence the conspiracy would have
fallen in the beginning. Yet there
IS talk of allowing him to escape
even indictment. members of the
commission are anxious to excul.
pate Governor Pennypacker," one
of the newspaper correspondents
writes. "Of those involved" de-
clares another of the ubiquitous
historians, "the only who will es.
cape suit, it is understood, is ex-
Governor Pennypacker."
If the principles of justice exact
anything at the hands of the prob
ers it is plainly that Samuel w.
Pennypacker be put to the same
tests as the others. The greatest
1opoer m tho ,,,,tlic Ito nf tho