St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-12
MANITOBA FINANCES.
The Provincial Budget Speech
Delivered at Win
nipeg.
Which Shows the Finances Of
the Province in Bad
Shape.
Former Ministers OverdpeW
Their Salaries in Various
Sums.
The Treasury a Subject for a
ReceiVep--NopthWeSt
News.
Special to the Globe.


WINNIPEG, Man., May 10.-Hon. Pro
vincial Treasurer l.. NJ. Jones delivered
his budget speech to-day, commencing
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and
speaking until o'clock, and again in
the evening. The galleries of the house
were crowded and Oh rising the minister
was received with great enthusiasm.
Jones was little known two or three
years ago and has risen rapidly in the
estimation Of the public, and Greenway
made the best possible selection when
he was taken into the present cabinet.
He began his speech by saying that his
first consideration on entering
the cabinet was to appoint au-
ditors to lay before the government
and the people financial statement of
the country, for on account of the
charges made in reference to reckless
ness and dishonesty it became particu-
larly necessary to have and audit.
These investigations by the provincial
treasurer had fully warranted many of
the grave charges made in the public
press. They had found it very difficult
to make an audit, as the books were not
written up. The report of the auditors
showed that late prothonotary had
taken away some of the court of the
queens bench books on the ground that
he the prothOnotary) had purchased the
books himself and they were his own
private property. The auditors went on
to show other irregularities existing in
this department since the year 1881.
Inmany departments, it is said that in
several cases they had no foundation on
which to commence an audit, the
books in many cases having been lost.
Hon. Mr.. Jones read the auditors
statement, showing that the sum OF
S1,459 had been drawn by an eX-pro-
thOn0tarY as interest, and
USED FOR PRIVATE PURPOSES.
For fifteen months not a single entry
had been made in the treasury depart
ment books. He said that if the affairs
of q private business firm had been con-
Quoted in the fashion that the govern
ment books had he felt certain that
receiver would have been in the
establishment. In the auditors Office
similar bad state Of affairs exists. The
appropriation books were in bad shape.
These had not been written up for
many months. He thought that it was
a most extraordinary condition to find
books in the building belonging to the
auditor of finance. He found vouchers
in the auditors Office amounting to over
a quarter of a million of dollars lying
on the floor and on the tables, and III
manner which showed the greatest
careleSSnesS. Jones made th3 startling
statement that when the late govern
ment wanted to know how they stood in
funds at the bank telephone message
was sent them and all the government
had to show how they stood
was the banks word. When the pro-
vincial treasurer took hold Of the office
he found that the amount i'll the bank to
the credit of the province was abont
$4,000. Against his checks had been
issued for $4,000 or $4,000 in excess OF
this amount. Speaking of borrowing
money, Jones showed that the predeceS-
sors of the present government had
broken the statutes by borrowing money
at rates of interest exceeding 6 per cent.
To get over the law, however, the extra
interest had been called loan. Fig
ureS show that all the late ministers had
overdraWn their salaries i'll sums rang
ing from S;34 to 500. For man in pub
lie life this
WAS A TERRIBLE EXAMPLE
to set. Among the members are in
cluded. of course, Hamilton and Wilson,
now III SI. 1aul. ana dll Quiet lIlllllSleIS
of the late administration. All deputy
heads have been done away with and a
general reduction in salaries has taken
place i'll the civil service. The educa-
| tiOnal grant for the province has been
doubled, now reaching the sum of $780,,
600 for public schools. Increased aid
has been given to agricultural societies
and 81, 800 aid to rural municipalities.
In bridges and public works $4,000 is
placed in the estimates. There is
a large decrease in public print
ing. amounting to several thousand
dollars. total estimates for the year is
| 1906. 5.09S.50. Jones figures the assets of
the province at 4, 139 025.22. LaRiviere,
| eX-provincial treasurer, placed them at
S6,0OO,OOO last year. By the way, La
Riviere has not made an appearance in
the house to-day. Evidently it would
have been very uncomfortable for him.
Jones read kilograms showing that Nor
quay, LaRiviere and others had not
II. IL. IL IL