The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-05
MANITOBA SHOCKED
BY GRAFT EXPOSURE
100000 Contract for Par.
lament Buildings Led TO
Fall Of Government.
POLITICAL PLOT ALLEGED

OTTAWA, cnt., July -HeNelhtions OF
craft In the province Of Manitoba. fol-
lowing closely upon the recent war
contract scandals. have profoundly
stirred the conscience OF Canads.
THE exposures have thus far resulted In
the overthrow OF the Conservative gov
eminent OF Sir Redmond Robin In ad-
missions by Sir Rodmund and several Of
his Ministers Of having misa appropriated
and rccklessly suu,ndcred public n oneys.
Of having accepted brides and campaign
contributions from n favored contrac-
Tor. and OF having paid public ~oficlals
large sums OF money to leave the coun-
Try in order that their evidence against
the Government might not be secured by
a royal commission.
Added to these sensational disclosures
are grave charges OF conspiracy IN the
pa1 Of the two political parties to
stihe public investigation. charges which
involve the ma Of the Lieutenant
Governor OF the province. Sir Douglas
Cameron; Chief Justice Howells OF the
Manitoba Court Of Appeals. and Justice
Mathers. a member OF the royal commits
sion which Is investigating the charges
against the Robin CABINET.
The whole situation IL blurred by
violent charges and counter charges
and a dcnunciatory campaign in the
party press, and in order to get a proper
perspective OF what has thus far been
brought to light II Is necessary to 60
k.cL sorpa ,tr,a hafnra ,har0as ~ ura(t
and the creation Of a royal commission
10 investigate them. were made.
Robin Long In Power.
The Robin government was In
IN Manitoba since 1897. 1t had long
ago outlived Its usefulness. but was 30
firmly i%ntrenched through patronag re
and an ingenious use of the spoiis
system that IL succeeded in retaining
ONCE. In 1913 a contract was let to
Thomas Kelley & mi for new Parlia-
ment Buildings. This contract was for
$4,000. 600.
nounced that 1t had decided TO make a
change in the foundation OF the build
ings. and a new contract was let to
Kelley, without a call for tenders, at
an additional cost Of 100000 The new
foundations called for caissons and
enormous quantities of cement.
In the spring Of 1914 rumors became
persistent that the new contract with
Kelley was corrupt. that the iew specif-
cations were not being carried out and
that crly one-third Of the cement re-
qu'rc. sas being actually used.
Tie Government characterised these
stories % false. and Sir Rodmond Rob-
lin APPEALED to the province by a general
election. After a campaign notable for
Its ferceness. the Government was re-
turned TO office with the considerably re-
duced majority Of seven.
Liberals promptly charged hat
they were defeated by a campaign of
bribery and corruption and insinuate ed
that the Government had made use of
an campaign fund contributed
by Kelley, III contractor. through q
division Of the rakeof he was alleged to
be getting on the contract for the extra
foundation work.
Tho Legislature met in September
last. but owing to the war and legisla.
tive matters made necessary by 1t the
Liberals made no charges against the
Ministry. February last saw he Legis.
lature in session again. when T. c. Nor.
ris. leader Of the then Liberal opposi.
ton, charged the Cabinet with misap.
preparation Of public funds and de.
manded investigation.
Sir redmond Robin Indignantly re.
pudiated allegations of w~rongdolng. bu,
granted an investigation by the public
accounts committee. This committee
was naturally controlled by the Gov.
eminent supporters M it's elaboration,
resulted in a report withdrawing tn,
Ministry. Enough had been brought
out. however. TO shake public conidenc,
In the administration. n upon Mr.
Norris repeating his charges Sir Doug
las Cameron, Observation-Disclosures o.
the province. summoned Sir Rodmont
Robin and presented him with til,
option Of either appointing q royal com
mission to probe charges against hi,
Government or OF being promptly dis
missed from office.
Sir redmond chose the former and
royal commission. consisting of Chic
Justice Mathers. Judge Macdonald AM
Sir Hugh John Macdonald. a son Of tn
late Sir John Macdonald, Premier Of tn,
Dominion. was created.
The Government Resigns.
No sooner had this royal commission
entered upon It's work than the Roblil
Government, with dramatic suddenness
resigned from office. m the Lieuten
ant-Governor of the province called upo
Government.
This shufie excited public suspicio
from the first. Not only did the mem
hers of the Robin Government resig
their portfolios. they also resigned thel
seats in the Legislature. giving the e.
PLANTATION that this action on their pa,
was for the purpose of providing tn
Liberals with a working majority 1
the House.
Although c%onceding Mr.. Norris tn
reputation of being clean and capabl
the public resented the undergroun