Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-26
CANADIAN Commission
SUSTA|NS CRAFT CHARGE
Finds Enormous Overpaylnents to
Contractors of New Parlia-
ment Buildings.
HAMPERED IN INVESTIGATION
Some Members OF Government AL
legged to Have Been Cognizant OF
What Was Going On-Findings
Published at Winnipeg.

were made to the contractors who
erected the new Parliament buildings
of the Province of Manitoba; that these
| orerpaymcnts-in part, at least-were
! designed to provide a campaign fund
! for the recent Robin government, and
| that some members of that government
| were cognizant OF what was going on
| were sustained to-day in the report
! or the Royal Commission, commonly
| known as the Mathers Commission
which inquired into the charges.
The commissions findings were pub
! lished to-day. Thomas Kelly G. Sons
are the contractors named.
The commissioners say they were
hampered by absence of material wit
nesses and reluctance of others to
testify, these including four OK Cabinet
ministers Premier Robin and Messrs.
Howden, Coldwell and Armstrong
| Sir Redmond Robin" they saw,
! made common cause with the contrac-
tors 10 resist discovery and took an
active part in securing for the con-
tractors able counsel for the purpose"
"Howden made many false state
| incnts in his evidence" says the report.
| The commissioners were further handi-
capped by the destruction and mutila-
ton of records the refusal of contrac-
tors TO produce their books and their
WITHDRAWAL TO a foreign country to pre-
vent their being compelled to do So
me commission feels Itself justified
from this In drawing unfavorablc In
ferences, so far as the contractors are
concerned. DR.. Simpson, charged with
being treasurer of campaign funds col
| lected through the contractors had
let Tor military service In France, and
William Salt. an important witness.
left the country. and was kept away
against his will by large brides, the
report says
The commissioners find that Messrs.
Coldwell and Howden. ex-Cabinet
| members; Thomas Kelly. the contrac-
tor; V. w. HARDWOOD. late provincial
architect; DR. Simpson, the conserva-
tive organizer; w. A. Elliott. employee
OF the Public Works Department. NJ.
u. Hook, another employee. who was
| sent after Salt with $4,000 and claimed
he was robbed in Omaha. and Harry
Whitla. Il C.. all interested themselves
in Keeping Salt out of the Jurisdiction
OF the commission In all, $4,000 was
spent in keeping Salt away. il is
charged.
RAISED ELECTION FUND
w VT EXTRAS
The commissioners find it fully estab-
lished that DR., Simpson was the tinan-
cial agent charged with raising an cleo
tlon fund out OF the Parliament build
ing extras. FROM April 81 TO July O.
l'la' Just before the July elections
says the report. payments were made
! 10 the contractors totalinE sSSo.oOS of
which almost $780, was fraudulent
Nv
contractor.
During that campaign six govern
ment candidates in Winniper mad. ra
turns showing their election cyncnse
as nothing. and the commissioners as
sumo their expenses were heavy and
were paid out of the extras for The
Parliament BUILDINGS
The total amount paid the con,rac-
tors was Sl,664.2i2 The commission
estimates the total value Of work done
by inc contractors at SSl2.536, and nuts
excess payments at SS0l .O93, without
including $l2l.S70 which il was found
should have been held back.
Inc commissioners charge fraud in
the letting OF contracts which they say
netted the contractors an illcritim,,n
proft Of sl22,95j.
Inc commissioners find il proved
that the practice of making excessive
payments to secure a campaipn fund
was continued In the steel contracts
the governments structural engineers
all adopting prices from 40 10 80 pcr
cent higher than steel could be ACTUALLY
bought ana erected for l.. g. Shank
'aH"' chicago structural engineer,
comes III ior vigorous handling for the
part he played in the dual plans for m.
nf a
and another much lighter set for the
actual drawing plans
The commissioners deal ., 1.rr,b
with the famous $500 noo co,,.on,
which Premier Robin DESTROYED of,er
rescuine the order in council autboriz-
ms It, We cannot" say the commits
siohers, but regard the reason as
signed Tor taking this extraordinary
step as other than untruthfuI and
absurd We believe the ministers de.
sire" TO ohl!teratc the contract and
ever! trace OF It's existence because
'heF knew IT was a fraud upon the
province. the discovery of which would
seriously compromise them and the
government Of which they were mem.
DcrS."
The commissioners conclude bv adj
Vsims that the provincial auditors he
placed out OF control OF the govern
Inent OF the day.
Thomas Kelly &c Sons are Winnipee
/ contractors but AT present Thomas
nelly III al his summer home at De-
trout Lake. MINI. on advice of couu-
SCI "'r heiiy refused to put himself
| WITHIN the Jurisdiction of the ROYAL
Commission pending the outcome of
an appeal he is taking TO the judicial
! committee Of The Privy Council chnl-
| longing the Jurisdiction Of The ROYAL
Commission.
norwood is al Winnipeg, ex-Prcmier
( ROBIN is at his home here and Messrs
"'o"e! ana howdcn al home. respcc-
/ tohn
COLONEL CENSURES
NATl0N'S ATTlTIlDE