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Civic Holiday =z: MONDAY, AUG 10. The Grand Trunk Railway will issue RETURN TICKETS to | that each all points at SINGLE - FARE. Tickets good going all trains SATURDAY and MON DAY, returning TUESDAY, AUGUST 11. Farm Laborers Excursions | - Friday, August 14th. For tickets and further in- formation call on J. A. HACKING. Town Agent, G. T. R. \istowelStandard FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1908. THE WALLBERG CON- TRACTS. - An Enterprising "Contractor and Middleman, Who Always Makes a Good Thing Out of I: C. R. Business, oO CONTRACTS WITHOUT COMPE- TITION -0o-- Including One With 55 per cent, Pfo- fit--In Other Cases He Is Lowest When Offers Come In; But High -When the Accounts Are Settled, --o-- Ottawa, Aug. 1.--<A good deal of time in the Public Accounts Committee last session was occupied with the transac- tions of Government with E. W. Wall- berg, a contractor, who figures extensive- ly in the Auditor. General's reports. Mr. Wallberg is especially fortunate in his dealings with the ogo and with the Marine Department. Civil Ser- vice Commissioners took notice of the peculiar -- 2 and contracts made with Mr. Wallberg for lighthouse towers. His analings with the Intercolonial are numerous and varied, and nearly every one of them has required an immense amount of eXplanation, much of it un- satisfactory. Mr. Wallberg came to Canada some years ago as the agent for United States manufacturing firms and has become naturalized while carrying on transac tions with the Government, THE LOCOMOTIVE CRANES, The first deal to come before the Com- mittee was a contract for five locomotive cranes for hoistiyy coal. 1is contract was at $6,380 for each crane, delivered at Lovis, duty free. 'There ware other tenders, one lower than Wallbery but the Deputy Minister stated that the Wallbery crane had a bucket attached, aud was the best value for the money of- fered and would be delivered more quick- ly. So Wallberg got the con One point made by the De narnn nt was that the delivery would be immedi- ate, as the contract was given in May, and the coal was to be handled early in June. As a matter of fact the first three craves were installed in August and the other two some time afte What happened was that Mr, Waliberg turned over the contract to the Brown- ing Enginecripg Company of Cle veland, Ohio, which sold the five cranes at $5,200 each. Mr. Wallberg said the freight was $850, and estimated the cost of erection at $500, bringing it to $27,- 850, The Intercolonial paid him $331,- 000, making a snug rake. off of $4,550. There seems to be no particular rea- son why the Government should not buy directfrom the Cleveland concern, but the twentieth oma in Canada is the middleman's centu It might be furthe t - explained that the call for tenders mentioned only one crane, and all the offers but Wallberg's were for only one. His was for five, and five were bought. The Deputy Minister says that the others knew all about it. If they did, there is nee in their of- fer to show for it. doubt the rate would be higher for a single one. THR UGATING JOR, The second contract was for a fan system of heating the Moncton car shops. Specifications had been sent out and Mr. Wallberg put fn'a tender for $5,765, This was the 13th of November, 1905. The next day -- & Sheldon of Galt, Ontario, put ina in the same language for the same thing at $4,300. The Buffalo Forge Company of Montreal offered to do the same work at $4,700, On the 15th of November. two days after his tender, Mr. Walibery wrote again, explaining-more fully that his offer was for a Sturtevant apparatus, and that he would build a smaller plant for $3,900. November sth the Gov- ernment accepted Wallberg's tender at his origina! price. apparently without inquiring what. the other ------ proposed to furnish. Mr. Wallberg's plant was made in teseaniibantie It was never installed in Moncton because the shops were burned, but was sent to Charlottetown and placed in tin erect- ing shop there. WATER TANKS, The third deal was a contract for water tanks. Mr. Wallberg built a duzen or so of these, but the particular inquiry referred to those at Riviere du Loup and Truro, Mr. Wallborz's offer was for $4,470 cach for tanks "made from stock lumber,"' and for $5.970 cach "in case | can procure sawn and dry lumber. The contract was aw: rarded to ie the to be hurried, and his largest p pric e was accepted.- One would think there was time to dry the lumber, for the tender on the 8th of November. In an , hi extension time till July Bist, 1906, because "it is impossible to sawand dry any of this winter, and conzequently The ot finally pea vec the 1st of 'hastreid ave been (>) Se e & and dry lumber. is he anes ra he did (page 88.) But hé was paid the larger price, or $1,000 more than his aes tender called for. The to build the tanks for $4,300 each, if given four and a half months for deli- very of the first tank and six months for the second. Asa matter of fact Wall- berg's were not completed for more than alf after the date of th his -- tender 55 PER CENT. RAKE OFF. Sse four deal was the purchase of fourteen steel girders for the cinder pits for Truro and for Chaudiere), The Chief Engineer made a private contract with Wallberg for this material at 44 cents a pound, amounting to $1,414.80. Mr. Wallberg immediately turned the order over tothe Locomotive and Machine a ae of Montreal, which supplied he goods and charged Wallberg $911.76, leaving a neat profit of $503.04, or some- thing over 55 per cent. (page 98. As the Government is buying locomo- tives and other plant regularly from this and other mills, there was uo reason why it should not buy Rirders direct = save this extraordinary r reason given by Chief ees Mac. kenzie was that in the autumn of 1906 all the shops were so rushed that -he could not get the order filled, therefore he had.to apply to Waliberg. The pub- lic can judge for themselves why a De- partment which is pay ing millions to rolling mills could not get one of them to fill an order which Wallberg could arrange on demand. As to the price paid, the officers testified that four and ahalf cents "was very reasonable." When. an officer certifies that four-and a half cents is a reasonable price for gird- ers that are regularly sold by the trade at that moment forless than three cents, we begin t6 understand why the Inter- colonial is run at a loss. PICTOU ENGINE HOUSE. Number five was the contract for the engine house at Pictou, N.S. This was put up to tender, and included a bulk sum contract with schedule rates a _ ditional work. The contract was a : ed to Mr. Wallberg at $13,790 bee ye structure, and other work on the quanti- ties estimated by the Government brought his tender up to $62,523.55. The officers worked out the next lowest offer at $65,699.05, and the one above that $3,000 higher. There were seven tenders in all. The remarkable feature of this con- tract is that though the work was not completed when the inquiry was held, the cost had already reached $100,222. That was January 20th, of this year, as sta! Generil Manager Pottinger (evidence, page 106). Not only is the amount paid 65 per cent. above the amount of the contract as reported, but it is $35,000 higher than one of the rejected tenders. Of course the reason is that the quan- tities yreatly exceeded the estimate. Stone ballast for the foundation was es- timated at 1,500 yards and at Wallberg's price of 79 cents would amount to $1,155, The actual quantity for which Wallberg has been paid up to the last returns was 18,975 yards and the amount $14,990. His tender for concrete masonry was supposed to be $16,005. The amount paid him was $32,468. Mr. Wallberg was not the lowest tenderer either for stone ballast or concrete masonry, and there is no knowing what the other ten- ders would have been had they figured on the kind of a job this turned out to be. According to the Deputy Minister's statement (page 140 of the evidence) the figures of one of the other contractors would have been lower than his on the actual quantities as worked out, "7 THE MONCTON SHOPS, Number six contract is at Moncton. Mr. Wallberg had contracts for a freight car repair shop, passenger car repair shop and an office building. Three were given in alump contract, with schedule rates for additional work. The freight car shop contract was given alone for $56,630, Mr. W allberg' s ten- der was not the lowest sent in, but the Deputy Minister explains that the low- est tender was withdrawn before the day of opening. Truc. it™was opened and figured out by the Department with the others, ib this was explain asa " e result of the withdrawal was that Mr. Wallberg got the contract. Tho contract price of the other three buildings was $150,945, Over $10,000 was added by certain changes and addi- Hons in the buildings. A CHANGE But the special paren of the Monc- ten contract was a change in the foun- dation and the construction of a sewer over balf a mile long. The contract for the concrete foundation was vari increasing the width, and by making it 6 feet 3 inches deep instead of 4 feet 3 inches. Now it happened that Wall- per yard and for excavation 58 cents, while the price paid Rhodes « Curry on apother of the Moncton buildings was $4.00 for concrete and 35 cents for ex- cayation. When the concrete and exca- vation foundation work is doubled these comparisons between competitors be- come important. The change in quan- tity was made by the officer on the ground by verbal contract. 7 A WONDERFUL SEWER, As to the sewer there are many complications. The contract for work was made verbally with Mr. Wall- berg at Moncton, and there is not a line written to prove it. The Deputy Min- ister informed the Committee that the Chief Engineer had no right to make the contract without reporting it, and that it should have been written and signed. Chief Engineer Mackenzic, who made the contract, told 'the Cummittee that the schedule rates for excavation would apply for the first or easy partof the work. He seemed to have no idea how far this system would prevail, though he was certain that it would not be used for the lower depths because the con- Canadian Fairbanks concern had offered berg hires the men Mr. states that it is 2,880 ft. long and 20 to 28 feet deep. While the Deputy Minister thought it might be & At the same time he is carrying contracts, transferring his n from - job to = other. He hires his own horses dcarta from imself, pays himself "the regulation price, charges all tothe Government, with 15 per cent. margin, When he has 50 men and a dozen teams and is pay- ing out $100 per day, there is $15 a day margin for Mr. Wallberg in addition to profits on his material. He hires his own foremen and gets his 15 per cent. on their wages. This went on for a year. NO CHECK, Some attempt was made to find out what system of check the Government had. The Chief Engineer said he had inspectors to keep account of Mr. Weall- g's men. After much labour and ob- struction-a time-book was produced, It was a sight to behold. Men and teams were mixed in the same statement, and the names of men were omit gether. It was the most pitiful record that was ever seen, and one which must be absolutely useless to protect the De- partment -- over-charge. ds and contradictions pro- duced much enatnéien among members determined to shield the Government, and was so embarrassing that means had to be invented to break it off. RULED OUT. Thereupon the obstructors bad the whole inquiry ruled out on the ground yet in the Auditor's accounts, stood as an unsettled account and the majority of the Committee ruled that it could not be investigated. Neither Mr. Wailberg nor Mr. Mac- kenzie, nor the Deputy Minister would venture a statement whether this sewer job was costing $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000. cone the Deputy admits that the sew- a job by itself, and was not a part 'of Wallberg's other contracts. It isa contract, given on private terms, without competition, and cne which oe is making remarkably profit- le. THE CHARLOTTETOWN CONTRACT. Another contract of Mr. Wallberg was for the construction of a station at Char- ted there would be reductions by cutting out the basement work and it was ar- renee that Wallberg' : deposit might - ed to $5,000 on the 1 time of the investigation what may be the final estimates had been signed, and although some $9,000 worth of work had been cut out, Mr. Wallberg had got $70,000 on the job. In May of this year Wallberg had 18 contracts running with the Railway De- partment, and those mentioned above are samples of the transactions. WALLRERG AND THE MARINE DEDART? MENT. Mr. Wallberg has also constructed a number of concrete towers for the Mar- ine Department, and the Royal Com- mission unearthed some interesting cor- a te in relation to them, The contractor had a way of writing person- al letters to officers who had to deal with his tenders, He wrote to the Chief Engineer of the Marine Department, * trust that you will be able to dog tegen our tender as I fear there may be so people who do not understand this class of work who may quote less than it is worth. We will be glad to call on you at any time if you consider it advisable." To the Deputy Minister, Mr. Wallberg writes in the same sense, trusting that the Department will consider "our ex. perience in doing this class of work." (Royal Commission Report, page 178.) Again (page 183) Mr. Wallberg wrote to Mr. Templeman, then acting a reminding him that "the Hon. Mr, Br deur bas Riven us contracts for Prantl towers at various times recently without calling for other tenders, and I have no doubt that he has found our prices quite reasonable. We trust you will do like- wise on other work, | A PROPOSED MONOPOLY, Mr. Wallberg conceived the idea that he ought to have a patent on his con- crete lighthouse towers, and he pro- posed to the Department that one be seéured and that he would go on build- igg for the Government ata fair price, the Government to pay royalty if these towers were built by anyone clse. This scheme commended itself to some of the officers and the Deputy Minister, and the business made progress till it came up against Colonel Anderson, Chief En- gineer, whose hot testimony against the gas buoy contracts has not been forgot- ten. Col. Anderson could not see any- thing new in re-inforced concrete tow- ers, and told the acting minister so, and in Mr. Brodeur's absence the matter was dropped. o + , DO YOU EAT RIGHT? --o-- ; Few People in Listowel Really Know How. -o Slow eating and regular meals is of great benefit te a wrong acting stomach. Those who suffer with indigeston and weak stomach can with care and the use of Miy-na stomach tablets restore the digestion to a healthy condition, so that they can eat what they wantat any time without fear of distress or suffering. After a few days' use of Mi-o-na stom- ach tablets, the headaches, dizzy feeling, drowsiness, te inthe mouth, coated tongue, flatulence, pope, distress ey My ese BymMp- toms of a weak stomach-- isappear, and perfect digestion and Taood health will be restored. J. Livingstone jr., has so much con- fidence in the power of Mi-o-na to cure panes LIBEL ON YUKON RE- FORMER, Mover of Resolution Rev, Dr. v= et The majority of the Coun- cil are a of the Ottawa Govern- issioner complete- ution resented to the Council, signed by all the prominent cit- izens of Dawson, and reading somewhat as follows : "We. the residents of Daw- son City who know Dr. Pringle, indig- tempt to i the document introduced in the Council by John Grant. It was absolutely false, and obtained by dishonorablé methods. We know Dr. Pringle's life to be con- sistent with the highest principles of Christian manhood and purity." tion, including Dn mines the mem- ber at Ottawa. Dr. Grant, Presbyter- jan minister, and Mr. Dunham, a Meth- odist minister, made a strong address before the Council, condemning the or- iginal resolution. President Rossman of the Board of Trade, heJped to word the resolution. WORK. TT WEAKENS Booth's Kidney Pills | Have Done Great Service for People Who Work in Listowel. Many Listowel people work every day in some strained unnatural position bending constantly over a desk, riding on jolting wagons or cars, bending over heavy house work, lifting, reaching,pull- ing, all these strains tend to wear, weak- en and injure the kidneys until they fall behind in their work of filtering the isons from the blood. Booth's Kidney Pills cure sick kidneys, put new strength bad istowel cures prove it. Thos. J. Anderson, Bay St., Listowel, Ont., says : "A treatment of Booth's Kid- ney Pills was procured at The John Livingstone, Jr., Drug storo and used by my wife for a severe headache that had bothered and given her much pain for some time. This remedy appealed to her case directly and cured the trouble for her nicely.. It is with pleasure that I recommend the use of Booth's Kidney Pile = i) The R. T. Booth Co., Ltd.,' Fort Erie, Ont., Soie Conadian Agents. LORD ROBERTS ILL. --o-- Cancels All Plans for Trip Through Ontario and West, --o-- Ottawa, Aug. 2.--Lord Roberts, after his arrival in Ottawa to-day, decided to cel all plans for his proposed visit to He ° 8. Friday next, when he leay : treal, sailing from that city on Saturday, August 8, on the Empress of Britain. While no absolutely definite announce- ment has been made, it is not expected that Lord Roberts will take part in any public functions apart from a state din- ner, which His Excellency Earl Grey will give in his honor. On the eve of his departure he-may accept an address from the city. Lord Roberts' decision not to make an attempt to carry out his programme is based entirely on the condition of his health. He considerabl shaken by the ------ ordeal of enter- tainments in and Montreal, and the intense hig and feels that it would be unwise for a man of his y tak the long trip contemplated with the pub- ic appearances it would involve. Probably 1,000 people had gathéred at the Central station when the Transcon- tinental train from Montreal, to which Mr. David MeNichols' private car, Met- apedia, with d Roberts and party on board, pulled in to-day. soon as the crowd caught sight of "Bobs" a ringing cheer broke the stillness of the Sabbath. Lord Roberts at once stepped into Ear Grey's private carriage and was driven direct to Rideau Hall. It was noted with regret that Lord Roberts looked feeble and did not carry himself with the same jaunty air that he did when he arrived at Quebec A GERMAN COLONY, es Sale of Twenty Thousand Acres of Land ear ; Calgary, July 81.--An important sale has been made by the Canadian Pacific Railway of 20,000 acres of land within the irrigation block to German farmers from North Dakota. The area is situa- ted northeast of the city of Calgary. majority of the colonists go into occupa- tion immediately, and the remainder next spring. This, with the German farmers already settled in the locality, makes the ceniianag of one of the largest German colonies in the west. It is pected that a large number of Suctiaae w settled in the Dakotas will join this colony shortly, BREATHE HELP FOR CATARRg. --o-- oa Livingstone is Having Splen- id Reports from Hyomei Users. ------ > It's the poison germs in the air you breathe that creates and feeds catarrh. Hyomei simply catches these germs on their way to work and destroys them. Tho first -- of Hyomei air kills all catarr. This eke the air you are breathing in --_ helpful, it goes on its way through the ai bronchial tubes and aes " Sareod® ith germ destroying wer that cannot be resisted, it: soothes aol heals the wounded and inflamed membrane. This is why Hyomei is so instantly helpful for any distress of the breathing -- aa Pokies bronchitis, asthm umonia, they are 'the ™ life that Tvoeasl kills, " a Complete Pp guaranteed outfit $1.00. Sold by J. Livagetons jr., talk to him e waon City, Jay 81---Yoln Grant, | or meneal ukon Council for South Sold by Dealers. Price 50 cents. i YOU DON'T SLEEP WELL? Better Correct Matters Before Nerves "and Health-Are Shattered. Without sleep Gece ean be no bodily zone to-day, it does per box at Yall dealers, RIEL'S SON IS DEAD. eee Last of Immediate Family Passes Away. " Winnipeg, Man., July 31.--The last of the immediate family of Louis Riel, the famous rebel, passed out at one o'clock to-day, when his only remaining son, ean Louis Riel, died at St. Boniface Hospital of a complication of diseases. Jean Louis Riel was born in Montana, 86 years ago, during his father's resi- dence there, following the first rebellion. e was well educated and finally took up the profession of a civil engineer. A few months ago he wentto Quebec, where he was married to Mile. Laura Cozeau, a sweetheart of his youth, and the couple had just come here w take up life together. Have Youa 'ou a Horse, If you want to keap him in_ shape, never him ,him suffer pain. Rub on "Nerviline"--it is no' for curing psn swellings and stiffness and sore uscles. For internal use in et ceatoos and colic, Nerviline is a perfect marvel. In ry erating stable ou'll find Nerviline because keeps uces theis veter- man or dealers, good story is told of a former Ham- ftven newspaperman, who is now at the head of one of the Jarge institutions of the province. He is the son of a Methodist minister, who is one of the veterans in that denomination. story concerns the wedding of his sister. The editor-brother attended, _ be day after a oe humoro' us accou the proceedings n the vii of his paper in which the facts of the ceremony were set forth, minus the us- ual adjectiv es which accompany the "write-up" of such a rm event, His father © 1d offici ad among the expr: ssions used wer The cere- mony wa performed by tic bride's dad in order to keep the money in the fam- ily." "Regarding the presents--the least said of them the better; for the most part they consisted of hardware and crockery." What the bride did to her brother the next time she met him does not require any great gift of imagination to adeq ately picture. c Question For Every Reader, --se-- s Pills are different--they regulate and cleanse the system so gently, act so silently you scarcely realize you've taken medicine. You are cleans apeatite improves-- color clears--sleep is restored. Every an, woman and child i . ag by De Hamilton's Pills. Try 4 is*] 2) 3. = oc Ss 5 VCE B22 8O 888 Fall Term Opens Sept. 1. Gy (Of, ZY STRATFORD, ONT. The sooner you siege a course in this school the you may ex of ough and practical. oer students always succeed. We-assist gra We have fires ors. ELLIOTT & McLACHLAN, Principals. ee te th i th tp te th te ed RAILWAY GRAND TRUN SYSTEM Seaside Excursions From Listowel. Return Tickets Will be Issued as Follows: gg ag P. E, I., $29 25 ; Hali- fax, N.S., "John, N. B., $26.25 ; M mien nN $26.25 ; Port- nd, Me., $18.70; Old Orchard, sue. 18.95 Kennebunkport, Me., $19. urra sages ; North Syd: ney, s. Propet a from all stations in Ontari Tickets ale will be sold to Cacouna. Cap a L'Aigle, Little Metis, St. Irenee, Rimouski, River du Loup, Mulgrave, N. ei Shediac, N. S. ; Summerside, P. E. ; Sydney, Parrsboro, Pictou, N. S.; Cony bolttes, N. B.; Dalhousie, N. B, Good Going August 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th. Returning from destination on or before August 3lst, 1098. For further information regarding choice of routes, stop-over privileges, sleeping car reservations, etc., apply to Grand 'Trunk Ticket Agents, or address J.D. McDONALD, District Passenger Agent, Union aia Toronto, Ont. J. A. HACKING, Town Agent. SPECIALS <eBOR---------- =H Saturday and Monday BARGAIN DAYS ney. () Listowel's Low Price Makers, GRAY, BERNIE & CO. 6 only Ladies' all-over net Shirt Waists, nicely made and beautiful designs, silk slips, extra special for our bargain days only....++..$2 59 20 only Ladies' fine Muslin Shirt Waists, nice- ly made, beautiful new designs, regular $2 and $2 25, bargain days only.......... 149 10 only éxtra fine Shirt Waists,very tine mater- ial, extra value at $3 50, toclear at...... All Shirt, Waists at $4 to clear on bargain days BC OU. wages cca ceeetacveasssasvsenss 9 98 BARGAINS IN MUSLINS All Muslins to be cleared out at Special Low Prices, toc lines for 8c, 2oc lines for 15c, 25c¢ lines for 18%%4c. 100 only 3 bushel Grain Bags, extra quality A, this isavery large bag ata very small price--per dozen......eees. 39 only Girls' and Boys' '25c line for 18c,35c line for 24c,50c line for 3 100 only Men's Straw Hats, wide leat, worth up to 15c, to clear on bargain days your CHOICE <4 ese tieweveesew a0%s eos sincere ee All Straw Hats at Bargain Prices. 15c lines for 1oc, sent eee 29 Sailor Hats to clear 10c GRAY, BERNIE & GO. Gage bag ng! | Great Clubbing Offer, : The Weekly j | mail and Empire AND The Standard FOR $1.30 Un to the End of 1908. t -- Sa 1 We have effected arrangements whereby we can make this unprecedented offer, which means Two Papers for Almost the Price of One. Send in names at once and get the full advant- age of this great clubbing offer. a --- --P Ae > =. TY Ret ; 1 } é beet Ae eee ae ae aes a hh =o OUR«_ Photographs are better this year than ever, New Moulding in our PICTURE FRAMING DEPARTMENT. KODAKS and SUPPLIES mi always in stock. GLEARING SALE OF WATCHES, CLOCKS, JEWELERY, EYE- GLASSES, SPECTACLES, irst-class panes from $5 up, 'Gold Glasses from $4 up all waranted. or Resairine prompt, reasonable and satisfaction guar- anteed at old stand. S. M,. SMITH. WATCH OUR WINDOW for the latest designs in Jewelery, Fancy Goods, Post Cards, Etc. We Always Endeavor to Show the NEWEST STYLES. J. GABEL, Jeweler, Optician, Engraver, Issuer of Marriage Licenses.. was made on the Sth of August, 1905, | tractor could not afford to do the work | indigestion that Sie; guaran satisfac- ( A LE E and Mr. Emmerson recommended the 'for the price. The Deputy - Minister * tion or money back. Price 50 cents. about it. A. M. SMITH, Depot Agent. ® e "4 dilace Street. - - .