"GRAFT " IN ARGENTINA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 14

"GRAFT " IN ARGENTINA.

Argentina appears to be the ideal country for legislators who desire to be generous with the taxpayers' money. In spite of the statement by the Finance Minister that economy must be the order of tho day, both Houses pf Congress have recently. voted large sums in tho form of subventions to all and every class of applicant. So reckless has been the disposal of the public funds in this respect that a senator called attention to the matter in Congress, and the Finance Minister was requested, to report on the state of tho Treasury. In reply the Minister iuide tho position clear in a very few words, and reiterated his previous remarks in regard to tho necessity for economy in expenditure His protest does not appear to havo had mnch effect upon the .Argentine legislators, as after he had spoken they- immediately voted the sum of 400,000 dol. in subventions to public libraries. Already this year, states the "Review of tho River Plate," Congress. has voted about 8,000,000 dol, in subsidies to societies of every description,and the little care that is taken can be gathered from, the fact that ono day a certain sum .was twice voted ' the same society. If this sort of thing is to continue there will never be any possibility of putting tho Argentine finances on a proper footing. From remarks that have been made in Congress absolutely no caro is taken in investigating the claims of any of tho applicants for these subventions, and, what is much more to. the point, onco the money has been voted and paid no. account is asked for as to how it has boon expended. This is where the abuse exists, and it has been shown that even private individuals have been enabled to obtain subventions, the money apparently going into their own pockets. It is high time, adds the "Review," that a special office should be created in the Finance Department to look after and carefully inquire into all applications for pensions;, subventions, etc., before the applications aro sent on to Congress, and if voted to seo that they are properly applied.

Every member of the Hertfordshire Constabulary was enrolled during the tenure of office of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Daniell,- who has resigned after thirty-ono years' service as chief constable.