New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-08
R4ILRO4D JOBBERY IN CANADA.

StructiOn OF the Canada racine hailoau, Wy
Sir Hugh Allan, have been finally accepted
1t is well known that Sir Hugh Allan repre-
sents q company-a sort OF Credit Mo-
bilier Association-and that to secure this
contract, which calls for S3OOOO,OOO IN
cash, 100000 acres of land, and sun
dry valuable privileges, he and his
associates have spent large sum OF money.
Indeed, the members of the Canadian Govern
ment are more than suspected of being IN
yolyed in this tremendous job. The contract
for building the road, according to the terms
of the Act of Parliament was much coveted,
and when it became apparent that Allan and
his associates were to secure it without effect
i've competition, the charge was made that the
Government had been corruptly used to lnhu-
ence this disposition of the award. When 1t
was first bruited abroad that the Allan party
were using unfair measures to get the con-
tract and control of the road, the matter
was brotIeht I'D in Parliament and Com
mittee of Investigation was appointed Dir
John A. Macdonald the Premier, discouraged
the inquiry, saying that the House was going
beyond its authority to compel witnesses 10
testify before any Committee appointed
under the Constitution. But tho lnves-
tigation proceeded, nevertheless, though in
balf-hearted manner. The Committee met at
Montreal, last week; discussed their alleged
right to examine witnesses under oath; decided
they had no power to do SO, and then adjourned
10 Aug 10. Next day, The Globe an anti
Ministerial journal, published at Toronto,
printed four solid columns Of letters written
by Sir Hugh Allan to sundry persons. BY
this publication the whole shameful scheme
was exposed.
From these letters it appears that Sir Hugh,
as early as Dec. 7, 1871, was treating with the
Canadian Government with view to helping
TO carry the approaching elections. Ii seems
that he was to furnish money for certain pur-
poses. in consideration of which he was to get
the coveted contract. The law provided that
tenders should be received, however, and Allan
wrote, Dec 8, 1871, to Mr.. T. G.. Smith of
Chicago, as follows:
"sir Francs Hncks called at my Office this day and
said that while he was as anxious as ever TO ARRANGE
with us about the railroad the feeling OF the Govern
nent is that IL they closed agreement with VA.
without advertising tenders they would be attacked
about 1t In the House."
Sir Francis, it should be recollected is the
Canadian Minister of Finance. By various ex-
pedients, which are not brought out in this
extraordinary correspondence, the obstacle OF
the tenders was avoided, and. as we have
seen, Sir Hugh Allan got the contract He
had to pay dearly for it, as he COM
plains in one letter that he had ex-
pended S343 900 in gold. In a previous letter
he says to his American cOnfederates: " think
"you will have to go it blind in the matter
"of money-cash payments l have already
"paid $780, and have not a.voucher and
"canot get one" No checks made payable
to Sir John A. Nc, OF bearer" you see. But
further on in his correspondence, Allan
complains of the reckless disbursements
of one Of his associates, O Mr.. Nc
Mullen, y who, he . declares, is guilty
of "a waste of powder and shot in bringing
down the small game Of "inferior members
"of the Government Sir Hugh makes no
secret of his operations with the late Sir
George Cartier, Minister of the Militia, and a
mysterious parsonage whom he styles I" Sir
"John A." During all this time there
is constant reteration of the great eIpen-
ditmes involved in the obtaining of the
contract The popular election was to be ex-
pensive; The Globe says of it that it is now
well known that more money was spent to
carry it against tho Reform party than at
any previous election. During the canvass,
Sir Hugh wrote that he had already spent
100000, and momentarily expected to be
called on for $4,000 more. Beside this, as he
is particular to say, he was obliged to dis
tribute $85O,000 in stock where it would do
the most good. Finally, after the elections
were over, Sir Hugh wrote to one of his
American friends (name not given), summing
I'D the case as follows:
"The policy adopted has been quite successful, the
strong French influence succeeded in obtaining has
proved sufficient to control the elections and
the Government realized this fact which they
willing to admit and Glow 10 &c., they opened negotA-
tous with 1t Is unnecessary to detail the various
phases through which passed but the result Is that
We yesterday signed agreement by which, GER
tain monetary conditions they agree TO form company
OF which to be President to suit my views 30 give
me and my friends majority Of the stock, and TO give
tho company formed the contract 70 build the road
,on the terms ofthe Act OF Parliament which 10000
600 In cash and 900 OF land, with all other adj
ysntages and privileges which DO given TO under
the and they to do everything In their
70 encourage and assist the company during the whole
perod OF construction. The final contract is TO be
cuted withs SIX weeks from this date probably sooner"
There seems TO be nothing TO add to this
disgraooful story. The policy adopted by Sir
Hugh Allan and his associates gave them the
control of the Canada Pacific Railway and the
contract for building it. We have his own
statement that he paid $4,000 in gold
and distributed sS50,OO0 in shares among in
fiuential persons, in order TO gain the rich
prize at which he aimed. That the money
and shares were used to corrupt the elections
&c tba =. II
most positively proved by these letters. the
authenticity of which has not been denied.