ing of this whole building. The State has paid five million dollars more for this Capitol than it should have paid." He then explained how, in his opinion, it had been made possible for such excessive prices to be charged. A special schedule for "furniture, carpets, fit tings, and decoration" was prepared by the architect. This schedule contained various items on which bids would be received from contractors. On each item a maximum price was set, above which no bid would be received; the contractor was required to make his bid by stating the per cent. below the maximum price for which he would be willing to supply the item. Here are several sample items from this schedule showing the maximum price and the per cent. below this price bid by two contractors: A CHANDELIER IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE Description of Articles. 1. Bookcases and wardrobes mahogany), Series F, per lineal foot.. 2. Leather-covered easy arm chairs (mahogany), Series F, each.. 3. Leather-covered swivel armchairs (mahogany), Series F, each. 22. Designed furniture,fittings,. furnishings, and decorations of either woodwork, stone, marble, bronze, mosaic, glass, and upholstery, Series F, per foot.. 31. Designed special finished bronze-metal gas and electric fixtures, Series E-F, each... 32. Designed bronze-metal for gas and electric fixtures, hardware,and ornamental work, mercurial gold finish, hand-tooled, and rechased, Series E-F. per pound 225.00 14 It was found that John H. Sanderson, of Philadelphia, had, on the whole, made the best bid for the entire schedule, and he was therefore awarded the contract. Mr. Berry called my attention to the chair in which I was sitting, which he said was one of the chairs described in item No. 2. For a chair of this sort the contractor had bid $34.65. When, however, the chair came to be paid for, it was billed under the omnibus item No. 22, on which a bid of $18.40 per foot had been made. It was determined (by just what process has not been made clear) that the chair contained eight feet, and the price accordingly was $147.20.. Similarly, the chandelier in the room was one of those contemplated in item No. 31. The estimated price for such a chandelier was $193.50. It was, however, billed under item No. 32, at $4.85 per pound, making . the price about $2,500. These examples will serve to indicate the methods which Mr. Berry charges were used to defraud who actually did the work for the conthe State. tractor, and has discovered that the work is of inferior quality and cost three dollars per square foot. The contractor's profit was, therefore, $15.40 per square foot. It must be remembered that thus far these accusations of fraud and graft are merely accusations. This phase of the matter is being investigated by the Attorney-General of the State, and will probably be the subject of a legislative investigation. The public cannot do otherwise than to suspend judgment of the proof or falsity of the charges until the results of the official investigation are reached. No public reply has been made to the various specifications in the charges by those who have been accused. The general position, however, has been taken both by the architect and Governor Pennypacker that in considering the cost of the Capitol the building should be taken as a whole; its entire cost should be compared with that of other public buildings. The question whether the people of Pennsylvania have got their money's worth should be determined by such a broad view and such a comparison. In an article by Isaac A. Pennypacker in Harper's Weekly the compariIson is made as follows: The cost per cubic foot of contents, which is the usual architectural way of estimating, is $1.04, inclusive of all the furnishing and decorating. Compare with this the cost for construction alone of the following buildings which are on a similar scale: Capitol at Washington, per cubic foot.. at Albany William C. Whitney's residence, per cubic foot New York Hall of Records, per cubic foot.. It is said also that the reason for the high cost of many of the items is that the elements of art and craftsmanship enter so largely into their construction. In the case of the chandeliers, for instance, special designs were made, the finishing was done by workmen who are more than mere artisans, and the molds were. broken when the work was done so that no piece can be duplicated. It of course. goes without saying that such work commands a higher price than ordinary stock designs mechanically finished would 蛋白圈 attainments, and proved efficiency of service-has been increasingly emphasized by President Roosevelt's foreign appointments and by all those suggested by his two Secretaries of State, John Hay and Elihu Root. Indeed, such a principle was essential if proper effect was to be given to the frankness, straightfor wardness, and courage distinguishing the John Hay and Elihu Root diplomacy from that of many of their contemporaries. More than passing notice, accordingly, is demanded by the recent nominations of Messrs. White, Riddle, Griscom, and Dudley to be Ambassadors to France, Russia, Italy, 'and Brazil. While each is an example of what may be accomplished in the diplomatic service by a man of tact and sense, the chief thing to be noted is that each was promoted for merit and not for any "pull" of political influence. One of these four men is in the prime of life; the others are younger. Mr. White is fifty-six years old, Mr. Dudley forty-five, Mr. Riddle forty-two, while Mr. Griscom is only thirty-six. Mr. White and Mr. Riddle were educated in this country and France, the latter being a Harvard and Columbia Law School man. Mr. Griscom is a University of Pennsylvania graduate, both of the collegiate and law courses. Mr. Dudley is a graduate of Kenyon and of the law department of Columbia University. While the active practice of the law may first have attracted many of those who afterwards became clever diplomats, Mr. Riddle is one of the few men who from the first have resolutely set about fitting themselves for a diplomatic career. Long before he became a diplomatic agent he had grounded himself in the |