Adscam: Official scandal of the Sun newspaper chain

I count 10 references in the morning papers. Developments: • Jean Chretien personally, uh, sponsored several of the more dubious Adscam spending proposals to go before Treasury Board. In a sure sign the Martinites are prepared to hang him out to dry, the current Treasury Board president remarks it is "unusual" for a PM to put his own signature to such a request. Moreover, the Globe reports TB was assured the contracts would be put to competitive tender. • A stunning Star story (that's enough alliteration -- ed.), from previously confidential documents, showing officials in Public Works were frantic over an October 2000 internal audit that would expose "mismanagement of millions of dollars of taxpayers' money" in the sponsorship program. The story says the documents indicate "officials knew of much more serious problems than were publicly revealed more than three years ago." Indeed, "Public Works officials planned answers that would deny systemic problems, political interference or criminal wrongdoing." Eventually, a sanitized version of the audit was posted on the department's web site, shortly before the election was called. • Liberal caucus members, especially in the West, are nervous about a spring election, but Martin seems more determined than ever to floor it and hope they get through before the worst is known. It is 2000 all over again. • And why hasn't more been made of this side of the affair – a little practice known as "drycleaning" that may explain where at least some of the $100 million went. Essentially, it is alleged various government bigwigs (we're not told who) used the ad agencies as a kind of ATM, charging personal expenses – expensive clothes, 'lady friends', bottles of Petrus – to the agencies' accounts. Bingo: Bigwig charges ad agency, agency charges government, government charges taxpayer. Will that be cash, or Adscam? Several Senators are said to be outraged.