CORRUPTION IN PHILADELPHIA

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 14 April 1908, Page 3

CORRUPTION IN PHILADELPHIA

The trial at Harrisburg, the capital of the State of Pennsylvania, of six men concerned in the great "graft" scandal in ccminection with the building and furnishing of the new Capitol, is producing some sensational testimony. Last September fifteen prominent men -were aripested in connection with this scandal, and now tke contractor, Sanderson, exawditor Snyder, ex-treasurer Mathues, exsuiperintencLent Shumaker, of the grounds and buildings, and .the architect, Huston, are being tried for conspiracy to defraud the State. - The contractor, John Sanderson, who belongs to Harrisburg, is said 'to have collected nearly £1,000,000 for furniture, safes, and bronze and stael work which were put into the Capiiol, and it is estimated that he made about 600 per cent, profit, which he divided- with the other accused, who passed his bills, or were cognisant of his transactions. It has been shown that most of the articles furnished, including steel safes, for which an enormous sum was c' argod, were of the flimsiest character, and that this gang have been, plundering the State for years. A sensational feature of the trial is that facts are coming out from various witnesses which show that .the rottenness was more widespread than anyone believed, and many names are mentioned in connection with this scandal involving several legislators and State officials. It is believed that the State has baen de- ' 'frauded of millions of dollars, and that a I condition nearly equal to thai which existed in New York during "Boss" Tweed's time, has reigned in the "Quaker State" for years "past. — Daily Chronicle,