New-York tribune., 1910-03-09
NOT "E4NY GRAET."

Grating operations in politics, espe
cially those which run along the border
line between downright Criminality and
what has been euphemiStically desig-
mated honest graft" have TOO infre-
quently failed OF proper punishment
Either the beneficiaries of such schemes
Of plunder have been acute enough 10
escape the meshes of the law. or through
the negligence Of those concerned in un-
earthing and prosecuting fraud loop
hole has been left and the case against
the offenders has failed under the strict
letter of the rules of evidence Thou
sands Of our honest and less than
honest grafters have suffered no retri-
button more severe than unpleasant no
toriety, and perhaps a few private
tWingeS OF conscience.
y striking exception to this rule of
easy escape is presented in the State
Capitol frauds in Pennsylvania. Those
frauds, which had 10 do with the fur
nishing of the new State Capitol at n
cost exceeding the entire charge for its
construction. were planned with un-
usual skill, and the conSpirat0rS en-
jcycd exceptional protection from legis-
latiye or legal inquiry; in fact, through
collusi0n between the furnishers and
the state board awarding contracts for
the work and having exclusive control
Of it. the spoliation was done wholly
under cover, and only the accidental in
tervention by a new state Treasurer not
in league with the other members of the
commission made it possible TO trace
and unearth the frauds.
The Legislature by n blind clause in
an appropriation act had put itself In
the position Of ignorantly authorizing
the expenditure Of an indefinite sum on
the furnishing Of the Capitol and this
Indefinite sum was diSbursed without
check, through collusiye contracts with
cut public knowledge, until Treasurer
Berry took a look into the books and
exploded his bomb. Glaring as We're
the Overcharges made, they seemed for
a while to have at least the shadow IF
legal warrant, and only after legiS-
lItiye committee had uncovered the de
tails of the conspiracy and criminal
case had been made out against four
OF the chief conspirators was there any
apparent likelihood that the state could
obtain satisfaction for outrageS com
mitted under the pretence of its sane
lion.
The roll Of the victims of the Capitol
trials has been u long and tragic one.
In March, 1908, William L. SNYDER,
former Auditor General of the state :;
James VI. Shumaker, Superintendent of
Public Grounds and Buildings under
Governor Pennypacker William l..
Matthues, State Treasurer, and John
II. SanderSOu, the contractor who sup
piled the furnishings for the new Cant
toll were convicted Of conspiracy TO de
fraud the state. The Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania On Monday confirmed the
conviction of Snyder ana Shumaker,
the other two convicted defendants hav-
ing died in the mean time. Sanderson' 5
confidential boolkeeper committed sui
eide; the warran; clerk Of the treasury,
who handled all the warrants for the
payment for furnishings, and the
secretary Of the Board of Public
Grounds and Buildings both died sud
denly under unusual circumstances. and
two other Capitol employees concerned
ia the concealment Of the payments
lave also died. Joseph NJ Huston. the
architect who recommended Sanderson
as n furnisher, is awaiting trial
The Officers and directors of the
Pennsylvania Construction Company
which provided metallic furniture at IA
monumental COST, have NOT been pro
cceded against criminally, but the At
tcrHey General has just begun civil
suits TO recover about 81 100000 from
that company, and similar suits against
the estates and bondameu Of tie other