The Minneapolis journal., 1906-10-07
PROB, EMS BEFORE THE
CITY OF WINNIPEG
Cys Financial Status Viewed in East Due to Public
Ownership Idea-Result Of War on Social Evil
Who Will Lead Liberals?
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Winnipeg, Man., Oct. GA question
of deep interest to the west on both
sides of the international boundary is
the present state Of the finances OF the
growing city of Winnipeg. This is also
Of considerable moment to the wise
men of the east, who have seen At to
reduce the city credit by four points.
Last year Winnipeg sold her debentures
at 90, now all the offers are in the
neighborhood of "a, and if she sells at
that she stands to lose the difference.
rites came as a profound surprise to
the people here, for tho they knew
money was ''tight," they had no idea
that the gateway Of the west' would
be affected by such trivial thing as
that.
1t is said by eastern men, however,
that the persistence with which the
ownership idea in public utilities has a
great deal to do with the depression in
value, as it has yet to be proved that
municipal ownership here of power,
light, streetcars, and so on will pay.
The debentures which Winnipeg is put
ting on the market are for $l,6O0,O00
extension, and the general hospital
needs money right now.
Inc SOCIAL EVIL.
Another question Of much concern Is
the social evil, delicate one to handle,
but one which is forcing itself upon
er people like it or not Two years ago
the undesirable element was herded in
district of it's own on the western
confines Of the city, and any of it's
denizens found on the other streets
were incarcerated instanter. In an
attempt to screw the lid down a little
tighter on an already rigidly con-
ment demanded the total abolition Of
the. red light district. An acrimonious
civic campaign followed, and the newly
elected mayor and councillors were
pledged to abolish the local tenderloin.
1t was cleaned out and the new chief
magistrate, Thomas Sharpe, triumphant
ly announced that there was now no
When, 10! the police made a raid one
night on number Of suspected houses
in the swell quarter of the town, and
several women were convicted. One ap-
Pealed her case to the kings bench and
it was found that the common law al
lowed woman to live by herself, 9th
erwise every woman, respectable or not
were not enough jails in the country
for them. If they lived under one
roof with mistress they were liable to
Indictment. But no case could be proved
against woman living in her own
house.
Immediately the thing grew, On
Fac1tlc avenue alone there are eighty
olsorderly houses. A like condition
obtains on Alexander and Dufferin
avenues, important and much Travelled
highways. The scandal permeates
Main street, and that thorofare south
OF fortage avenue on both sides con-
talns dozens of scandalous "dweII-
lngs.' The last state of this town is
worse worse, than the first. Liquor is sold
saloons close at night the avenues are
crowded with carriages and automo-
blles and citizens on foot in search of
the elusive booze. That, Of course, is
distinct breach of the license law,
put the selling, of liquor is seldom
thorities refusing to act, as the proyin.
clal authorities reap all the benefit of
the liquor laws.
The clergy are beaten and silent
and dare not suggest the policy of
segregation. In the meantime the evil
spreads and recruits it's ranks with
alarming rapidity, northwestern cities
sending some Of their most notorious
courtesans to the front.
Board OF Control Needed.
Much discussion is current regarding
the proposed board of control for the
management Of the city. It Is appar-
entity badly needed. The city is young
and It's machinery is far from COM
plete and organized. A growing scan
SE7 dal here is the frequent bicycle thefts.
Inc cycle path board Is a separate or
ganizatlon. It is APPARENTLY RESPONSE
BILE to no one but young man sitting
IN real estate office who is its sec.
retary. 1t has its own police and they
refuse to cooperate with the city DO
lice; Consequently the bicycle thief
IS the zcommonest criminal in Winni-
peg and pursues his calling with much
profit. Here in the west if man
steals horse it is looked upon as a
cardinal crime, but the despicable
wheel snatcher is almost never con-