The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-03
|QoAY's WARMING
. WORDS UNHEEOEO
Nine Of ConspiratOr Band in State
Capitol Scandal Are Dead, Others
Shattered in Health

HARRISBURG. Pa. March -
'.Hase nothing TO do with the ouild
Ing of the new state ca9ltol. Ihos'
who do will have cause TO regret,
was. tho hands or warning sounde'
years ago by Matthew Stanley Qua,
when az the zenith OF his rule in Penu
sylvania. Whatever his reasons. de
velopments have shown ihat his warn
Ing was not ill-timed. and had seyera
.of his henchman followed his advice
IL is likely that nine men now dead
One n suicide, one n victim OF sud
den death, a third going 90 his ina
resting place after months In mac
house ana six, victims OF worry fol
lowing the exposure OF the whole
sale grating which totaled millions
would still be in the land OF tine hv'
ing. Three were close persona friend
OF the Beaver datesman-on OF them
raising TO a high state Office and sev-
eral becoming trusted employees OF
state departments through their afiilia-
tons with Quay's all powerful ma
chine
Broken in Health.
Two others have been convicted u
Conspirine To defraud The state Roth
are broken in health and one has seY-
eral times been reported IN he brink
OF the grave. Another is about 20 be
tried for the part he Is alleged Ia have
played in footing the treasury stu
another. though acquitted by 4 jury.
has been forced by The people 10 re-
tire from the high position he former
IL held and his successor has been
sent to, the national house OF repre-
sentatives. Still others are under in
Gictment, liable at any time 10 arraign-
ment for their part in the conspiracy
which took nearly sl0,000000 from the
state without warrant OF law.
In September, 1905. when the state
officials announced that the state cap
itol had been completed within the ap-
preparation of s4,000.000 made by the
legislature for the purpose and that
surplus OF $4,000 would be returne1
10 the state treasury. each OF the nine
men who afterward died were in ex'
oellent health. The. announcement
that for once q PENNSYLVANIA admin
istration had carried out its work wei
within the hgure named by the legis
lature was acclaimed from one end OF
the state TO the other.
Two months later State Treasurer
William II. Berry was elected 90 office
the Democrats and the reform move
ment combining and electing their
candidate on the strength OF the
scandal which. followed the failure oil
the Enterprise Bank of Pittsburg
Arrangements were made for the FOR
mai dedication OF the capitol. and
when Gov Pennypacker euiogized the
work OF the builders and again called
attention TO the work OF officials
whose economy was so unusual. an
other wave OF enthusiasm swept the
state. Put only for few days did il
last Berry had been In office for sew
eral months. and within a week o.
the. pronunciamento of Gov. Penny
packer he thrilled the state with the
declaration that the building. instead
OF costing $4,000 600, had more nearly
cost S14.000.000
All felt that after the heat Of a poi
itical campaign had died out the
charges would be forgotten. and ever
In January, 1907. when the Legislature
announced its intention OF carrying
out prediction promises by a thor
ough investigation OF Berrys charges
all were-confident that the Republican
controlled lawmaking body could. pre-
vent exposures which might damage
the party In power. But once It be
came evident, that rock-ribbed organ
ization men were going 70 cast off tn.
yoke and give an honest investiga
ton Immediately the nervous break
downs which resulted in death began
II was on Feb. 2. 1897. that the oil,
State Capitol was burned under mos
mysterious circumstances Never ha
the origin of the fire been discovered
and. though Is years have elapsed.
is still common belief that IL was tn
work OF an incendiary and some hav
been so bold as to connect tn
scheme for the footing of the stat
treasury with the burning Of he oil
structure.
Whatever the cause. ii was not un
til 1901 that the actual work on tn,
new building began. Under Coy
Hastings. in Office az the time of tn
fire. vigorous efforts were made b,
him TO provide the state with suit
able capitoi. He was met with con
slant rebuffs. An appropriation o
s550,000 was made, and despite tn,
clamor OF the people that such al
amount~was too small with which L
build q state house no further ap
preparation was made during tn,
HASTINGS administration and practi
cally no work was done on the amount
provided.
Shortly after Gov William A. Stone
took Office he actively urged a larger
appropriation. and $4,000. 600 more
was appropriated Organization Of a
building commission was effected and
work on the building started but it
was not until after Gov Samuel W
Pcnhypacker came into Office in 1909
that the footing OF the treasury as
sumed the raw form disclosed both in
the legislative investigation and al
the trials A man Of the utmost hon
esty and integrity but childlikc IN the
confidence. he. imposed i'm others was
the states chief executive before
they grew bold In their plunderings.
A state board known as the board
of public grounds and buildings
created by act OF the legislature is
the body which has charge OF fur.
nishing all buildings owned by the
state. This commission Is headed by
the governor. with the state treasurer
and auditor-general as his fellow
members. By law the three are re-
CURED 70 pass upon all bills
Passed Bills for Millions.
Bills Tor construction work passed
througr the hands of the capitol