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6
ONTARIO ELECTIONS 1894
A BRIEF REVIEW OF
SIR OLIVER MOWAT'S
GOVERNMENT.
THE
RECORD AND PLAXKORM
OF THE
Conservative Opposition.
TWENTY YEARS OF REFORM ADMINIS-
TRATION IN ONTARIO.
In a short time the electors of Ontario will be called upon
to exercise their franchise and indicate through the ballot boxes
whether the present governing party in the Legislative Assembly
shall be entrusted with power for another four years, or a change
shall be effected whereby the Opposition, led by Mr. Wm. R.
Meredith, shall assume the responsibility of governing the Pro-
vince through the incoming legislature.
It is well that the memories of the people should be refreshed
in reference to some of the more important acts of the govern-
ment of Mr. Mowat during the past twenty years, and also to
compare the methods of legislation and the expressed views of
Reform leaders of former legislatures with the acts and legisla-
tion of the so-called Reform leaders and legislature of the present
day. It is not intended to give a detailed review of the
legislation of the past twenty years, nor to conduct an exhaus-
tive enquiry into the doings of Mr. Mowat's party during all
that time, but to present some facts drawn from official and
rther authentic sources that may awaken the electors to the true
condition of affairs in the Province. The record of the Mowat
government has been one of broken promises, violated principles,
graspi.ig propensities, centralization of power, reckless and
wasteful mismanagement of public monies, and venal legislation,
which should arouse those who prefer good government and a
careful administration of the affairs of the Province to the mere
triumph of party and office-holding partisans.
Owing to a lavish patronage, a reckless expenditure of
public monies, the exercise of galling tryanny over a large
number of men engaged in business that must receive the seal of
sanction from the Provincial government, and, not among the
least of many advantages, the benefit of a flagrant and iniquitous
distribution of the electorate, the government of Sir Oliver
Movvat has been enabled to keep itself in power for the past
twenty years.
A careful perusal of the following pages will show how the
public expenditures have increased far beyond the increase in
the ordinary receipts, and how the natural and limited resources
of the Province have been unduly trenched upon to keep up
the waste.
It is a matter for the most serious consideration whether
this will be allowed to go on for another decade or two and the
Province be brought to the door of direct taxation, or that an
economical government, such as the first administration of
Ontario after Confederation, be again installed in office by the
votes of the people.
Another matter for serious thought on the part of the great
free-governing and liberty-loving citizens of this Province of
Ontario is the centralizing methods of the oligarchy that now
rules at Toronto. In the past twenty years our local govern-
ment, instead of broadening down and extending the self-gov-
erning tendencies of the people, has been narrowing up and
limiting their powers until almost every appointment to office or
position of any kind that once was the gift of the municipal
councils or local officers, is now centred in the government at
Toronto, and made subject to the approval of a party head or
leader.
It will thus be seen that in election times the government
has an army (thousands strong and well generalled and equipped)
of license inspectors and commissioners, bailiffs, division court
clerks, gaolers, registrars, police magistrates, crown land agents,
fire and wood rangers, etc., etc., to assist in keeping it in power,
no matter how strong may be the desire of an honest electorate
to get rid of it.
The old Family Compact of by-gone days has been suc-
ceeded by a new Family Compact quite as oligarchical in its
nature and fully as tyrannical in its functions, and hundreds who
have felt its withering breath and unfortunately come within the
reach of its grasping tentacles, )iave many and lasting reasons to
wish for a qhange. This Compact is crushing the life blood out
of the people of Ontario, by stripping them of the power to deal
with their own local affairs, and robbing them of their hard
earnings through sources of useless officials thrust into fat offices
created for no other purpose than to provide for troublesome
friends at the country's expense. Scores of such officials are to
be found all over the Province, and ever}' session of the legis-
lature sees more offices created and new men pensioned on the
public, all in the name of good Reform government.
It is high time that the people of Ontario became aware of
the deception that is practised upon them by a wasteful admin-
istration, a combination of practical politicians who have no
opinions in common except those of plunder and enjoying the
sweets of office, a government that has filled the land with
office-holders, that has failed to develop the vast resources of
the Province, and to aid in bringing to the best agricultural and
dairying section of America, hosts of industrial farmers, who in
other lands are seeking such homes as Ontario can offer them.
For twenty years this government has posed under the guise of
Reform, yet nearly every real reform measure that passed the
legislature during that period was introduced or suggested
by Mr. Meredith or one of his followers of the Opposition, while
many measures in the direction of justice and reform that have
been introduced by members of the Opposition, and which
would meet with the hearty approval of every honest elector,
have been persistently refused by Mr. Mowat and voted down
by his followers in the House.
The Opposition appeals to the Province on the ground that
during all these twenty years it has striven to preserve the
liberties of the people and the rights of self-government by our
municipal and other local organizations ; to guard the treasury
and the public domain ; to secure justice and equal rights to all
classes and every citizen against the machinations of those who,
having deadened suspicion by . J professions of purity and
liberality, have legislated chiefly in the interests of their sup-
porters and friends, have wasted the resources of the Province
and spent the accumulation of their predecessors with a reckle.ss
hand.
6
CENTRALIZING.
For many years past one chief aim of Sir Oliver Mowat's
government has been to centralize all power and authority at
Toronto.
One after another the rights and privileges formerly en-
joyed by the people -and exercised through municipal bodies
have been taken away from them and merged into sDme depart-
ment of the government. Many officials were once chosen by
local authorities and were not the creatures of any political party,
nor, as not a few of them are at present, the minions and election
agents of the government at Toronto. In not a few instances
have whole electoral districts been demoralized through the
corruption practised in making these appointments and close
constituencies carried for the Reform party through the influence
thus exercised by the government frequently in direct opposition
to the will of the independent and honest electorate of the
district. So long has the Reform oligarchy at Toronto been
allowed to trample upon the necks of the patient electors of
Ontario and pose as reformers and purists that the leaders have
grown contemptuous of the people and have assumed that the
Province is all their own and for their especial benefit and that
of their party favorites and friends. Electors in every district
of the Province can look about them and find proofs of these
assertions in the number of government appointees who are
regularly drawing good pay from the public chest, and who are
busy as bees in summer when an election is on, doing political
service for the party. Before the administration of Mr. Mowat
no such army of heelers and parasites was known in Ontario.
There was no employment for such a staff, because the govern-
ment was carried on in the interests of the people and economy
prevailed in every department. Under the centralizing influ-
ences of so-called Reform all these agencies are necessary to
maintain the party in power and keep the people in proper sub-
jection to the autocrats who rule.
THE GOVERNMENT APPOINTS AND THE
PEOPLE PAY.
But a still further objectionable feature of this system of
making appointments by the government is that the localities
are compelled to pay the salaries of these officials in whole or in
part without the people having anything to say in the selection
of the officer for the position. The power to appoint should
carry with it the power to pay, and if the official be required in
the service of the government, the government should pay his
salary. In this way the cost to the Province of all these pen-
sioners and useless office-holders would be known to the people,
whereas at present it is next to impossible to find out the salaries
and fees and emoluments of one kind and another drawn by
them.
Should the Mowat government be continued in office, the
people may prepare to see themselves still further shorn of
power in the choice and appointment of municipal and other
officials, such as county clerks, county treasurers, county con-
stables, county auditors, and to find the management and
control of certain local institutions taken completely out of their
hands.
REDISTRIBUTION AND INCREASE
IN REPRESENTATIVES.
No sooner had the government of Sir Oliver Mowat got
safely seated than it began to look about for means to entrench
itself, and without any precedent or justification, without even
consulting the people, a scheme was prepared to increase the
number of members from eighty-two, as fixed by the Confeder-
ation Act, to eighty-eight. In order to accomplish this, the ori-
ginal boundaries of several electoral districts were changed, and
the manipulation was carried out to serve the basest of party
purposes. Mr. Meredith, then (1875) ^s now a member of the
8
House, moved a resolution condcmninj5j the increase, but was
voted down by the whole strength of the Mowat party.
Following is the resolution moved on the i8th Dec., 1875,
by Mr. Meredith :—
" That it is inexpedient that the number of members con-
" stitutingthe Legislative Assembly should be subject to frequent
"or capricious changes; that the nuinber thereof was fixed by
"the Confederation Act at eighty-two and the .same is amply
" suflficient for the efficient carrying on o he legislation apper-
" taining to the said Assembly ; that no good reason tor the pro-
" posed increa.se has been shown to exist and that the bill be rc-
*' committed to a committee of the whole House with instruction
** to amend the same by striking out the words ' eighty-eight '
" in the first section and substituting therefor 'eighty-two.' "
Every one of the forty-four Reform members of the House
voted against the resolution.
Not content with the increase of six additional members in
1875, Mr. Mowat has since increased the representation to
ninety-one by adding two more through another iniquitous gerry-
mander in 1885, and one in 1889 for the district of Nipissing.
That Nipissing and Algoma were entitled to representation is
not questioned, but that any increase in the whole number of
members is wholly denied. No public inconvenience or difficulty
has ever been experienced, nor had there been any detriment
suffered by reason of there being but eighty-two members in
the Hou.se. There was no agitation at any time or place for the
increase, but, on the contrary, public opinion was, and now is,
averse to increased representation in the Provincial Assembly,
it being almost universally held throughout the Province that a
decrease in the number of members would materially improve
the legislation of the House, lessen the cost of the sessions, and
in all respects be adequate to the legislative requirements of the
Province.
In the recent session of 1894, the number of members
has been still further increased to ninety-four, i.e., twelve
more than the entire number in the first legislature of the
Province.
9
MR. MOWAT'S GEKRYMANDER.
A more scandalous abuse of power has never been shown
in Canada than that of the gerrymander by Mr. Mowat in 1885.
No respect was paid to township or even village boundaries or
limits. Representation by population was wholly ignored.
There appears to have been but one end in view, and that was
to so arrange the electoral districts that the Reform party
should have a majority of members in the House no matter
which party polled the majority of votes in the Province.
THE MINORITY SCHEME IN TORONTO.
An unjust and wholly indefensible scheme was worked in
Toronto to stifle the voice of the people of the Queen City. A
minority candidate was declared entitled to a scat by this in-
famous Acc, and the voting power of the city, on a division in
the House, was reduced to one, whereas if the city had been
treated as all other ridings of the Province, its vote would, be-
yond a doubt, have been three against Mr. Mowat on every
division on party lines. This vile scheme was ignominiously
abandoned by the government in the session of 1893, after hav-
ing .r.et with condemnation all over the Province. As a proof
of the unfairness and cowardliness of the readjustment measure
of 1885, let it be observed that the government have a majority
of full twenty members in the legislature, while out of the
whole vote cast throughout the whole Province, the government
party did not have as much of a majority as would elect two
members in two separate constituencies. Taking the unit of re-
presentation at 2 1 ,366 as laid down by the Reform leader in
Ontario (see page 15, * The Record of the Mowat Govern-
ment"), and so acted upon in the redistribution of 1885, out
of the ninety-one seats in the Province, forty-eight have less
than the required population and but forty-three (counting To-
ronto as three) have the required number and over. Then to
reveal the unfairness and dishonesty of the Act it is only neces-
sary to point out that Mr. Mowat holds thirty-two seats of the
forty-eight where the population is less than the required unit,
while the friends of Mr. Meredith hold but sixteen of these seats.
10
! !
In not a few of the seats held by the government the population
is ahnost one-third less than the unit, showing that they have
been thus formed to make safe pocket boroughs for Ministers
of the Crown and favorite supporters of the government. In
the other forty-three districts, where the average population is
but slightly over the exact unit of representation, by a dis-
honest division of counties and grouping of townships the
government again secures a majority of the representatives.
Every effort on the part of the electors in many of the ridings
of the Province to secure justice and fair play is thwarted be-
fore hand by this unscrupulous and fraudulent Act of the
Mowat Ministry, which should meet the disapproval and con-
demnation of every honest citizen of the Province.
The Opposition has been weakened by dishonest and
disreputaole tactics called legislation, by acts that will ever
be looked upon as a disgrace to the Assembly that forced
them upon the statute books, and ineffaceable stains upon
the escutcheon of the party that enacted them. If such offences
are condoned by the electors after they have been exposed, how
long will it be ere the chains of tyranny and despotism are
fastened too securely upon the electors of the Province to per-
mit of a free choice being made of our constitutional rulers, for
how can the voice of the majority be heard or its will become
law when the electorate is muzzled and manacled beforehand by
those who were entrusted to watch over the people's interests
and see that even-handed justice is meted out to all ?
$70,000 WASTED ON EXTRA REPRESENTATION.
The principle embodied in Mr. Meredith's motion was in
favor of economy and a fair representation of all parts of Ontario,
Had it been accepted by the legislature of that day and ob-
served since, it would have saved the Province fully $70,000 in
sessional alldwances and mileage paid totheextra members alone,
but Mr. Mowat and his party followers rejected Mr. Meredith's
honest proposal, in order that their arms should be strengthened
and their hands upheld by untair and dishonest representation
in the House and at the country's expense.
11
THE LIQUOR LICENSE ADMINIS-
TRATION.
No actions of the government are more open to censure
than those relating to the administration of the liquor license
law. In every district of the Province the working of the
License Act has been a lever in the hands of the friends of the
government to assist in keeping the party in power. It has
been used most corruptly and most tyrannically to oppress and
coerce men engaged in the liquor business, and not to the end that
temperance should be promoted and the law enforced, but that
the candidates of the Mowat party should be elected. Inspec-
tors and commissioners are chosen from the ranks of the Grit
party alone, in direct violation of the pledge given by Mr. Mowat
when the Act was introduced in 1876, and no more active
election agents and canvassers are to be found during a cam-
paign than these very inspectors and commissioners. In many
parts of the Province a regular traffic in licenses has been carried
on through the agency of inspectors and commissioners, and in
scores of instances respectable men have been forced out of the
business and their houses closed until a man of the right political
stripe was put into possession of the place, when the license was
re-granted.
THE OPINION OF AN HONEST MAN.
A prominent Reformer, and prohibitionist, speaking at a
public meeting of advanced prohibitionists, held in Owen Sound
in September, 1893, said, respecting the administration of the
License Act : " The men who compiled the License law might
" have been actuated by good motives, but twenty years' ex-
" perience with the law had shown that so far from promoting
" sobriety, it had actually developed the business, not only as a
" business speculation, but as a political force. The law was
I
i I
iM'
U X)
I
12
" very badly administered. Whenever there was a strong pro-
" liquor sentiment, the law was not enforced, because a strict
" enforcement would drive their supporters out of the party and
** defeat that party at the elections. A loose and scandalous
** enforcement was therefore unavoidable."
That the Mowat government has prostituted the License
Act for the basest purposes, few will deny ; that they have used
it to maintain themselves in power is beyond a doubt ; and that
temperance men and liquor men have been used as the party
slaves and hirelings of a double-dealing administration, pretend-
ing at one time to favor prohibition and so enforce a proper
respect for the law and at another time playing into the hands
of liquor men and licensees to secure their money, their influence
and their votes, is plain to any person who watches carefully the
movements of the government and its license officials.
Besides using the Act for party purposes, it has also made
the granting of licenses a medium for securing campaign funds
and filling the depleted coffers of the treasury at the expense of
the municipalities.
Prior to the passing of the Crooks Act, and the taking away
from municipalities of the power to license the sale of liquors*
and for several years afterwards, all, or nearly ail, the monies
derived from licenses went into the municipal treasury and was
spent among the people in road making, street repairs, etc.,
etc. In 1884 the government of Mr. Mowat imposed a special
Provincial tax and took a large share of the funds thus obtained,
leaving the municipal authorities the balance But as money
grew scarce in the Provincial treasury, the government deter-
mined to take a larger share from the municipalities, and in 1886
an Act was passed imposing a larger Provincial fee on every
license granted, thus compelling the local councils to impose a
much larger fee for licenses (which in most instances would have
been found exceedingly harsh and unfair), or to accept as the
share of the municipality a much smaller sum than heretofore for
each license granted. As a proof of how this new measure has
worked, the following figures taken from a return brought down
by the Provincial Secretary on 12th April, 1893, show how
13
the government has profited and the municipalities have lost by
the Act passed : —
.
,A
(/)
Amounts Paid to
cirs
C 0-- .
c 2 c *^
License Inspectors
Year.
■ c
in ■? 4j c
5 +^ <-> «
3 *- u k. e
and Commissioners
u
3938
Gros
Amo
Rais
Licei
Amo
Paid
Mun
iti(
Amo
Paid
Onta
Gove
me
i
and other expenses
Under the Act.
1876-77
$439457 96
$281243 58
$79589 81
$78624 57
2 °
1877-78
3691
375228 98
249166 55
77516 55
48545 88
1878-79
3729
363620 33
229902 52
75213 05
58504 76
13^
1879-80
4049
413013 79
269647 28
87198 19
44168 32
1880-81
4073
408798 76
271574 69
89207 14
48016 93
3^s c
1881-82
4163
423482 71
258945 54
91948 75
72588 52
V^ 3
1882-83
4196
433052 S7
284379 79
93523 28
56149 80
1883-84
4233
443095 40
287246 31
93225 70
62623 39
in th
lurth
hird
1884-85
3997
538714 24
283589 80
192867 02
62257 42
pear
he fc
thet
1885-86
3167
450072 97
231433 91
165285 62
53353 44
"■beg
1886-87
2000
401481 65
153716 59
216455 78
31309 28
1887-88
1886
392675 17
156979 89
201542 45
34152 83
•a M
« rt <=
1888-89
2485
470855 50
190297 79
232511 55
48076 16
-f-l
1889-90
3609
680560 55
297353 45
307281 02
75926 08
i-si
1890-91
3578
680298 68
294968 26
308200 17
77130 J
35-0
1891-92
3455
665809 10
289^187 41
300604 33
75517 31
.2 m
1892-93
3413
664169 00
289996 00
297644 47
76529 00
3 8o
Superannuations, Gratuities and Pensions,
1892 15.745 00
23
CROWN LANDS DEPARTMENT.
Considc ng the cmormous annual cost of the Crown Lands
department, the benefits received by the Province have been
very small during the past ten years at least. Mad the govern-
ment not been forced to make periodical raids upon the timber
wealth of the northern and north-western parts of Ontario, and
by this means replenish the depleted treasury from timet' time,
little, indeed, would have been done toward opening up and
settling the fine lands of Algoma and Nipissing. In respect to
these districts, the policy of the government has been one of
stagnation and oppression. Hundreds of settlers who went
into Algoma in years past have been driven out and compelled
to seek homes elsewhere because of the illiberal, greedy and
blundering policy of Mr. Mowat's government. So strong is
tiie feeling against the government at Toronto, that at present
all through the districts of East and West Algoma many prom-
inent men have openly advocated the secession of the north-
western part of Ontario from the rest of the Province, and
the .setting up a new Province with a capital and government at
Sault Ste. Marie or Port Arthur, Owing to the illiberal timber
policy of the Ontario government, disputes between crown
timber agents, timber licensees, and the settlers on farming lanus
are of frequent occurrence Farmers seeking homes in our
unsettled western country cannot be induced to remain long in
a place where they are obliged to pay timber dues to the govern-
ment upon every stick of pulpwood, cedar, spruce, etc., that
they sell to get a little ready money to help them in their
pioneer days. The Conservatives of the legislature have made
repeated efforts to have these abuses remedied, but on every
occasion they have been outvoted by the government and its
following in the House. On the 3rd April, 1890, the following
mmmmam
t
H i-
ilil; ■!
!!! i
24
resolution was moved by Mr. Marter and seconded by Mr. Hud-
.son : — " That whenever the quantity of pine timber growing on
" any located lot is less than fifty thousand feet (50,000), such lot
" shall be withdrawn from license, and the locatee shall, on
" obtaining his patent, be entitled to such timber, under such
" regulations as may be passed for the purpose of securing as far
" as practicable,the same being retained as a timber reserve for local
" use." This motion was voted down by Mr. Mowat and his
followers. A grosser act of injustice was never committed by
any government against the settlers in a new district, and this
with other acts of a similar character has driven many from
Algoma and made discontent in every township where lumber-
men are found operating.
The Opposition in the legislature has also tried to lessen the
time in which a settler is obliged to remain on his land before
he can receive his patent from five to three years, but in this
also they were defeated by the government. (See votes and
proceedings of legislature, April 3rd, 1890)
As a proof of the failure oi^ the government's policy in
settling the Province, let the follov/ing facts be noted : From
1875 to 1883 the expenditure in connection with the Crown
Lands department was nearly $900,000, and during that period
5,863 persons are reported as having settled in Ontario in free
grant localities. From 1884 to 1892 the expenditure in connec-
tion with the Crown Lands department was over $1,000,000,
while the number of settlers was only 2,838, i.e., in 1891, when
the expenditure was fifty per cent, more, the settlers were one
hundred per cent, less in number. How is that for a liberal
policy and a pretended progressive government ?
In 1892 there were issued to settlers 352 patents for Crown
Lands, while during the same year no less than 396 lots, the
locations of former years, were cancelled, the number of cancel-
lations being actually more than the number of patents issued,
all owing to the narrow, greedy and parsimonious policy of the
autocrats who rule at Toronto. During 1893 there were 322
26
patents issued to locatees or settlers and 356 lots, the locations of
former years, cancelled for non -performance of settlement duties.
(See Crown Lands Commissioner's Report , 1892-93),
The larpe expenditures of the Crown Land department are
alarming. There are thirty-four clerks in the various offices at
Toronto, drawing annually $39,960 in salaries, besides the com-
missioner himself and an assistan. commissioner, the latter
receiving a salary of $2,800.
In 1 892 'Jie twenty-eight Crown Land agents of the Province
sold or leased 47,691 acres, and for their services were paid
$10,293. Six crown timber agents drew $8,100 in salaries and
$2,510 for expenses, disbursements, etc. During 1891-92-93
eight agents for the sale of lands sold lands to the value of
$8,501.35, and drew in the way of salaries for their services
$9,750. Here is the record as revealed in the reports of these
years : —
R. McPherson, 4 sales, 373^ acres; value, $271.95 ; salary
paid, $1,500.
J. D. Cockburn, 50 sales, 6,707^ acres; value, $3,353-75;
salary paid, $1,500.
T. J. Ryan, 17 sales, 3,626f acres; value, $1,549.87; salary
paid, $1,500.
D. J. McDonald, 45 sales, 8,580^ acres; value, $1,948.22;
salary paid, $1,500.
W. L. Nichols, 22 sales, 3, 430 J acres; value, $687.56; salary
paid, $1,500.
J. F. Ruttan,7 sales, 761 acres ; value, $530.00; salary paid,
$1,050.
C. P. Brown ('90-91), salary paid, $1,000.
Wm. Turner ('92), salary paid, $200.
The following are instances of the work done and pay received
by agents for locating settlers in the free grant districts of the
Province (see pages 20-22 Crown Land Commissioner's
Report, 1893):—
26
Salary.
- $200
- 200
A. W. Wood, Plevna, 4 settlers located - - -
W. Turner, Sault Ste. Marie, 6 settlers located
Geo. Hamilton, St. Joseph's Island, 10 settlers " - 2CX3
W. Wilson, Fort Francis, 8 " " - 200
J. F. Ruttan, Port Arthur, 2 " " - 250
W. Fielding, Minden, 14 " " - 500
D. Anderson, Apsley, 15 " " - 500
C. R. Stewart, Haliburton, 13 " " - 500
W. L. Nichols, Thessalon, 2 " " - 500
The total number of purchasers under the Free Grants and
Homestead Act during 1893 was 52, and the whole number of
settlers 446, while the cost to the Province for agents' salaries
was $7,850, an average of almost $151 per settler.
Miscellaneous inspectors and other items amounted to
$1,397. Thirty -three wood rangers received $27,084, and
sundry fire rangers, $31,976. The gross expenditure of the
department for 1892 was $274,206; that of 1891 was $290,-
953. while that of 1890 (the year of the general elections) was
$310,328. Notwithstanding that there are now over 1501
townships open to free grant settlers, m&ny of which townshipsj
have not a single settlement, the reckless policy of carrying on
surveys at lat^e cost to the Province still continues, and in 1892
$38,086 was paid for crown surveys in new townships. Thei
army of hangers-on must be kept employed and some show ot
work must be made for the monies paid to these worse than
useless officials. Since 1883 over 100 townships have been
surveyed out at a cost of $271,000, and in four-fifths of them
scarcely a settlement can be found. Men cannot be induced to
settle in a district where the land and timber regulations are so
oppressive and cruel.
During the session of 1893 the Conservative Opposition
endeavored to prevent a further outlay at present in this direc-
tion, and moved that the item of $35,000 for surveys of town-
ships in new districts be struck out of the appropriation for 1893.
The motion was voted down by 48 to 29, every government fol-
lower in the House voting with the majority.
27
Tn
a
There are tens of thousands of fertile acres in Algoma,
good land as men could desire to cultivate ; the climate is con-
ducive to health ; the seasons are pleasant ; markets for every
kind of farm produce are plentiful and prices good ; the
eastern half of the district is nearly 1,000 miles nearer to the
Atlantic sea-board and the great consuming centres of the
world than the farm lands of Manitoba and the western prairies
which are more rapidly settling up ; there are excellent water-
powers for manufacturing purposes ; one of the finest railways
in the world passes directly through the district, and during the
season of navigation hundreds of passenger and freight steamers
call at ports dotted all along the lake fronts of this vast region, and
still the land seekers from the crowded east will not settle in
Algoma. And why ? Because it is run by a narrow, restrictive
administration at Toronto, whose only object has been to
draw all the money it can out of the resources of the district
and spend as little as possible to develop it. Every part
of Ontario suffers from this petty policy of picayune poli-
ticians, and will continue to suffer while such men are at the
head of our Provincial affairs. The building of the C.P.R.,
between 1880 and 1886, gave an impetus to the settlement and
development of the northern and north-western parts of our Pro-
vince far ahead of anything ever done by the Provincial govern-
ment, and, but for the stimulus then received, those vast and
fertile districts would yet be in their primeval condition. The
Mowat government has done much more to develop the liquor
license political machine and the school-book monopoly plunder
than it has ever done to open up and develop the resources of
natural wealth in the Province, and another twenty years of
such rule would leave us, as a Province, far behind other pro-
gressive states or countries of equal intelligence and advantages
for material progress and prosperity.
■Mi
28
HOW THE MONEY IS WASTED.
In the construction of bridges out of colonization funds,
a very large proportion of the money expended goes to pay
bosses and overseers, while the amounts paid for labor are cor-
respondingly small.
The following figures taken from the official record show
the amounts expended in several instances for overseers and
labor respectively.
COMBERMERE BRIDGE.
Account of B. Wickett.
To amount of pay as overseer in charge ofCombermere
bridge from nth February to 25th April, both
days inclusive, 74 days at $3.50 per day $25900
To amount of pay lists of working parties 565 52
(See Journals of 189 1, page 103.)
COMMANDA CREEK BRIDGE.
Account of B, Wickett.
To amount of pay as overseer in charge of Commanda
Creek bridge from 23rd March to 5th June, both
days inclusive, 34 days at $3.50 per day $119 00
To amount of pay lists of working parties 123 84
(See Journals of 1891, page 97.)
EAST RIVER BRIDGE.
Account of B. Wickett.
To amount of pay as overseer in charge of East River
bridge from 24th Oct. to loth February, both days
inclusive, 56 days at $3.50 per day $196 00
To amount of pay lists of working parties 183 79
(See Journals 1891, page 85.)
29
STEPHENSON TOWN LINE BRIDGE.
Account of B. Wickett.
To amount of pay as overseer in charge of Stephen-
son Town Line bridge from June to 17th October,
both days inclusive, 68 days at $3.50 per day $238 CX>
To amount of pay lists of working parties 137 10
(See Journals 1891, page 91.)
DRAPER BRIDGE.
Account of Thos. Halliday, Overseer.
To amount of pay as overseer in charge of re-build-
ing the Draper bridge from 4th August to 31st Oc-
tober, both days inclusive, 69 days at $3.50 per day .$241 50
To amount of pay lists of working parties Nos. i to 3... 312 27
(See Journals 1891, page 169.)
TROUT CREEK BRIDGE.
Account of B. Wickett, Overseer.
To amount of pay as overseer in charge of Trout Creek
bridge from 23 rd June to 26th October, both days
inclusive, at $3.50 per day — 33 days actually en-
gaged framing, constructing and overseeing ; 5 days
looking after timber and iron and taking measure-
ments of Menzies' bridge $133 00
To amount of pay lists of work ing parties
(See Journals i89i,page 165.)
69 82
GURD BRIDGE.
Account of B. Wickett, Overseer.
To amount of pay as overseer in charge of Gurd bridge
repairs from 27th October to 2nd November, both
days inclusive, 7 days at $3.50 per day $ 24 50
To amount of pay lists of working parties
(See Journals 1891, page 161.
14 62.
■
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' I
80
MUSQUOSH BRIDGE— i8c,j.
Account of B. Wickett, Overseer.
To amount of pay as overseer in charge of Musquosh
bridge from 3rd of July to 6th September, both days
inclusive, 49 days at $5.50 per day $171 50
To amount of pay lists of working parties, Nos. i to 3 92 93
(See Journals 1891, page 155.) —
EXTRAVAGANCE vs. ECONOMY.
During the session of 1893 the Oppositioi by direct motions
endeavored to save the Province FORTY-TWO THOUSAND TWO
HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS, $7,275 of which was
voted for salaries or increase of salaries to useless officials, and
$35,000 to be squandered for unnecessary surveys of new
townships.
By opposing the government in the appointment of certain
other salaried officials, wholly unnecessary in the public service,
the Opposition endeavored to still further promote economy in
the departments, but so ready were the followers of Mr. Mowat
to do his bidding and accept the dictum of the government,
that every move in this direction on the part of Mr. Meredith
and his colleagues in the House was voted down.
SQUANDERING COLONIZATION ROAD MONEY.
During an investigation before the Public Accounts Com-
mittee in 1892, it was shown that one J. D. Simpson, a road
and bridge builder and inspector in the service of the govern-
ment, drew $760 besides all expenses for 195 days' absence
from his home in Samia, part of the time travelling around from
one locality to another where roads and bridges were under
construction. The gross amount paid Simpson was $1,418.50,
81
171 50
92 93
and when a demand was made by the Opposition members of
the committee that Simpson's expense account should be shown,
it was alleged that the book or manuscript containing the same
was at his home in Samia. Simpson was ordered to proceed
thither and return with the same. He never returned, and to
this day the expense account has not been forthcoming. This
is one specimen of the reckless and corrupt management going
on at the department.
notions
m TWO
ich was
als, and
of new
f certain
service,
lomy in
Movvat
rnment,
/[eredith
>NEY.
its Com-
i, a road
: govern-
absence
md from
re under
1,418.50,
PAYMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS.
During 1892 an investigation took place before the Public
Accounts Committee re the method adopted in paying certain
officials in connection with some of the public institutions of the
Province. As a case in point the pay of Dr. Clark, medical
superintendent of Toronto Asylum, was taken up. That officer
receives by way of salary $.?,cxx), but it actually costs the
Province nearly three times that amount for his salary, table
allowances, furnished house, gas, fuel, and other items of
expenditure incurred by him. The Opposition objects
to this covert plan of paying public officers and maintains
that they should receive only fixed sums and no allowances or
perquisites of any kind. In the session of 1892, after this inves-
tigation, a motion by Mr. Marter, seconded by Mr. Kerns, to
give effect to the views of the Opposition in this matter was
voted down, every follower of the government in the House (48
in number) voting against the motion. Mr. J. W. Langmuir,
formerly inspector of asylums, was examined before the com-
mittee, and, in answer to the following question :
"Will you explain what difference it would make in the
"duties if officials were paid a salary covering everything neces-
*' sary for living outside as now, what difference would that be
" over the present system ?"
replied as follows : —
• "I think you would have great difficulty to get the legis-
"lature to vote the requisite amount to cover these supplies
"and perquisites not included in the estimates. If you gave
p*
82
" Dr. Clark $4,000 instead of $2,000, I doubt very much if you
" gentlemen with economical ideas would favor it. You would
"think he was getting more than he is entitled to."
It therefore appears that the government dare not ask the
legislature to vote the amounts which are paid certain of its
officials,, because the members would demand greater economy
in dealing with these public servants, and what the legislature
would refuse to do openly the government does covertly, and
thus fleeces the Province out of thousands of dollars every year.
What do the people of Ontario think of such an honest, eco-
nomical administration of its affairs ?
The investigation before the same Public Accounts Com-
mittee showed that all supplies for the public institutions are not
bought by tender, nor even at the lowest current prices, as any
retail business man would do, but are bought from political
friends of the government and at prices from ten to twenty-five
per cent, higher than the current values of such articles. Con-
sidering the enormous amounts that are expended annually on
supplies for the maintenance of the various public institutions
of the Province which are not tendered for and the enhanced
prices paid for them, it must be clear to every impartial ob-
server that the annual loss to the Province is many thousands, all
of which goes to enrich those who vote for and otherwise sup-
port the government of Sir Oliver Mowat.
The amount spent by the Government of Ontario on the
maintenance of Public Institutions for the year 1893 was over
A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
ill!
"--• "jk
83
THE FEE SYSTEM.
This system applies to a large number of offices. Those in
which the general public are most directly interested are the
registrars, sheriffs and county attorneys. The registrars
and sheriffs appoint deputies who in most cases do the work
that the law requires from the government officials. The
deputies and clerks employed to do the work are paid by the
registrar, sheriff and county attorney. The deputies are paid
from $400 to $1,000. Clerks get about a dollar per day. The
offices are furnished by the county and with all necessary books.
As the law now stands, the registrar and other officials
collect the fees allowed in the offices, pay the men who do the
work the lowest possible sum and pocket the balance. From
the returns of 1889 it was shown in the House in 1891 that the
balance of the fees, after paying all expenses, deputies and
clerks, in most of the offices amounted to very large salaries,
which were received by the officials who did but little work.
For instance :
The Sheriff of Toronto got per annum $8,805
York " " 4,877
Carleton " " 3,255
" " Leeds & Grenville 3,220
" '* Simcoc got per annum 3,202
Elgin " " 2,945
The same returns showed that registrars of deeds received
even larger salaries and did little, and, in some instances, scarcely
any work.
For instance:
Registrars of Toronto City (2) received per annum $17,514
T!^?^*
RHRB"
ill
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84
Registrars of Lambton County " *• $5,758
" Simcoe " •' 5,123
" Middlesex *' ** 4,932
Huron « " 4,687
*' Oxford " •• 4,226
In 1 891 the Opposition introduced the following reso-
lution : •
" That in the opinion of this ^ouse the system of paying
" Provincial officers by fees is objectionable in principle, and
" the law ought to be so amended as to provide for the remun-
" eration of sheriffs, registrars of deeds, clerks of the peace and
" county attorneys by salaries, instead of by fees, and a like
" char;g ; should be made in the mode of remunerating all other
" Provincial officers now paid by fees, to whom the same could
" be satisfactorily applied."
This was voted down by the government and its followers,
the Attorney-General declaring there was no need of change,
and said further if there were inequalities he would introduce a
bill to regulate them. In 1892 a bill was introduced which was
to come into effect in 1893. It was not to do away, but to
equalize by having percentage paid after the fees reached
certain amounts, but it did not, to any appreciable extent, really
affect the situation. Just fancy the remedy proposed by Mr.
Mowat. After the salary by fees reached $2,000, the official
paid 10 per cent. — that is, if it reached $3,000, he paid 10 per cent.
on $1,000, making $100 to be paid the county. This was such
a glaring failure of justice that this year, 1894, the Opposition
introduced the following resolution — which is their policy to day
— and strikes at the root of this corrupt system :
Mr. Wood (Hastings) moved in amendment, seconded by
Mr. Clancy:
" That in the opinion of this House the present mode of
" appointing and paying by fees, registrars of deeds and other
" county officials is unsatisfactory, and should be changed, and
"that the appointment of all the said officials whose salary or
80
" remuneration is provided, in whole or mainly, by the localities
'' for which they are appointed, should not be vested in the
'* Executive of the Province, but in the people of the locality,
"either directly or througii their municipal bodies."
Mr. Meredith's policy as set forth in the resolution was
voted down on the following division :
Allan,
Awrey,
Balfour,
Barr (Renfrew),
Baxter,
Bishop,
Blezard,
Bronson,
Caldwell,
Carpenter,
Charlton,
Clarke (Lanark),
Cleland,
Conmee,
Dack,
Davis,
Dowling,
Bush,
Nays :
Messieurs
Dryden,
Evanturel,
Ferguson,
Field,
Garrow,
Gibson (Hamilton),
Gibson (Huron),
Guthrie,
Harcourt,
Hardy,
Harty,
Kirkwood,
Lockhart,
Loughrin,
McKay (Oxford),
McKay (Victoria),
Kerns,
Yeas":
Messieurs
Campbell(Durham),McCallum,
Clancy McCleary,
Clarke (Toronto), McColl,
Fell,
Glendinning,
Godwin, ^
Hammell,
Hiscott,
Hudson,
McNaughton,
Magwood,
Marter,
Meacham,
Meredith,
Monk,
McKechnie,
Mack
Mackenzie, C,
Moore,
Mowat,
O'Connor,
Robillard,
Ross,
Sharpe,
Smith (Peel),
Snider,
Sprague,
Stratton,
Tait,
Waters,
Wood (Brant)— 49.
Preston,
Reid,
Rorke,
Ryerson,
Smith (FrontenacX
Tooley,
White,
Whitney,
Willoughby — 29.
86
Mr. Wood (Hasting^) was paired with Hon. Mr. Frascr,
making 50 to 30. This imph'es that the men who do the work
should be paid salaries that are fair and just remunerations ;
that the receipts of office should be paid over to the counties or
cities that appoint the officials, and the sums over these salaries
go to the public benefit ; and further, that the system that has
been a means of corrupting public men by promises of appoint-
ment to these positions, should be done away with entirely. The
government have introduced another bill, having become
alarmed by the public feeling throughout the Province on this
subject, to further regulate. . his act of itself is their highest
condemnation. Why did they refuse to make a change in
1 89 1 and then pass in 1892 a sham f Why did they refuse to
change the law in 1894 and then introduce another bill? The
truth is simply this, they wanted to continue the system so as to
use it for their friends and to influence 600 officials, paid by
fees throughout the Province, to support the Mowat govern-
ment ! I
With all the changes in the law made by Mr. Mowat under
pressure from the Opposition in the House and public sentiment
expressed in the Province, many sheriffs, registrars of deeds,
surrogate registrars and county court clerks continue to draw
very large salaries, amounts out of all proportion to the hours
engaged and the service rendered.
For instance :
CARLETON CO. — P. J. Coffey, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
1892 — $2,674 77
1893— 2,345 48
DUFFERIN CO.— Wm. McMinn, regi.strar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
1892— $2,254 45
1893 — 2,089 48
87
ELGIN CO. — Jas. H. Coyne, registrar of deeds, net salary after
paying all expenses,
1892— $3,6S3 44
1893— 3.094 56
ESSEX CO.— J. W. Askin, registrar of deeds, net salary after
paying all expenses,
1892— $3,269 39
1893— 3.075 36
GREY CO. — Robert McKnlght and Thos. Lauder, registrars
of deeds, net salary after paying all expenses,
1892— $4,593 33
1893— 4.475 93
HASTINGS CO.— Henry W. Day, registrar of deeds, net
salary after paying all expenses,
1892— $2,789 75
1893— 2,381 09
Huron CO. — James Dickson, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
1892— $2,187 40
1893— 2,194 78
KENT CO.— Peter D. McKellar, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all ex J
Ib9_— 4)2,875 39
1893 — 2,329 09
LAMBTON CO. — A. McLean, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
1892— $2,757 94
1893— 2,443 01
mmmmm
wausMt
1
!i
I' i
P ! 'i
38
LINCOLN CO.— Jas. G. Currie, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
1892— $2,789 24
1893— 2,716 32
LONDON CITY— Wm. L. C. Gill, registrar of deeds, net
salary after paying all expens(;s,
1892— $2,018 78
1893— 2,246 85
;l;;,;
ONTARIO CO.— J. Ham Perry, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
1892— $2,535 13
1893— 2,4cx4 52
K'rllhlil
1^1 iil:
OTTAWA.—Alex. Burritt, registrar of deeds, net salary after
paying all expenses,
1892— $2,530 39
1893— 2,872 60
OXFORD CO.— G. W. Pattulb, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
1892— $3,061 77
1893— 3P3I 94
iiiiia
m
PETERBOROUGH CO.— Bernard Morrow, registrar of deeds,
net salary alter paying all expenses,
1892— $2,625 75
1893— 2,506 6g
SIMCOE CO.— Samuel Lount, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
1892— $2,511 22
1893— 2,432 90
»''i.:
89
TORONTO EAST— P. Ryan, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
1892— $3,823 38
1893— 3>i03 24
TORONTO WEST— Chas. Lindsay, registrar of deeds, net
salary after paying all expenses,
1892 — $4,501 02
1893— 3.439, 05
VICTORIA CO.— Chas. D. Barr, registrar of deeds, net salary
alter paying all expenses,
1892— $2,361 54
1893— 2,125 26
WELLAND CO.— Jas. E. Morin, registrar of deeds, net salary
after paying all expenses,
i892-$3,505 S3
1893— 3,382 71
WELLINGTON N.— John Anderson, registrar of deeds, net
salary after paying all expenses,
1892 — $1,892 15
1893— 2,127 25
WELLINGTON S. & C— N. Higginbotham, registrar of deeds,
net salary after paying all expenses,
1892— $2,254 93
1893— 2,109 70
WENTWORTH CO.— Lewis Springer, registrar of deeds, net
salajry after paying all expenses,
1892— $3,447 29
1893— 3436 73
flf^
mm
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40
SURROGATE REGISTRARS.
The following shows the net amounts received in 1891 b>
certain surrogate registrars, most of whom throughout the
IVovince are also county court clerks, and in some instances also
deputy clerks of the crown : —
Brant Co., W. B. Rubridge $2,124 62
Carleton Co., J. P. Featherstone 2,768 91
Elgin Co., D. McLaws 2,248 02
Grey Co., Geo. Inglis 2,260 60
Hastings Co., A. G. Northrup 2,402 07
Huron Co., D. McDonald 2,31 1 65
Leeds and Grenville, S. Reynolds 2,763 41
Middlesex Co., John Macbeth 3,574 65
Northumberland & Durham, John Fisher 2,61 5 85
Oxford Co., Ja.s. Canfield 2,852 92
Perth Co., Jas. McFadden 2,337 94
Simcoe Co., J. McL. Stevenson 2,944 56
Wentworth Co., S. H. Ghent 3,472 1 2
York Co., J. G. Brown (surrogate registrar) 4,041 19
" Hon . A . M . Ross (county court clerk) 4, 1 24 55
" , T. H. Bull (clerk of peace) 2,369 46
The system is rotten to the core. The men who do the
real work get little morethanstarvation wages, while the officials
themselves draw large incomes and do but little, if any, work.
If the present tariff of fees is to remain, who should get the
surplus after fairly remunerating the men who do the work ?
There can be but one answer •. the counties where the work is
done.
The only remedy is a change of system.
The Mowat government refuses this ! Meredith makes it a
plank in his platform.
// is with the electors to decide which it shall be. ,
The salary system carried out by the county councils or
people would mean to pay for work done. The present system
is for a class who want the office for it& emoluments and not for
41
honest work performed. Electors of Ontario, which sj'stem do
you prefer ?
If you believe in a government by the people and for the
people, where men who do work get fairly paid, and you are
opposed to the "Fee System," which, as administered, simply
means gifts to family friends and party favorites of the Mowat
government, then vote for Mr. Meredith.
m
I, r
A SECRET BALLOT.
Since the passing of the Ballot Act by the Provincial gov-
ernment, the Opposition has many times protested against that
provision of the act whereby every ballot is numbered by the
deputy returning officer on polling-day, thus rendering it possible
to discover how any elector has voted. It is maintained oy
many, and not without good and sufficient reasons therefor,
that the government of the day, through its friends, has taken
ad\'antage of this provision of the act to intimidate and coerce
voters into voting for government candidates all over the
I'rovince and that the supposed secrecy of the ballot is destroyed
and only a delusion and a fraud. To guard against this condition
of affairs and guarantee any voter an undoubted secrecy as for
whom he votes, the Opposition has, on more than one occasion,
moved that the numbering of the ballots be dispensed with in all
elections to the Legislative Assembly. On the 27th March,
1894, Mr. Whitney moved, seconded by Mr. Willoughby, * ' That
" in opinion of this House, it is necessary to a free expression of
" the popular will that the use of the numbered ballot paper
"should be discontinued and the ballot for the election of mem-
"bers of the Legislative Assembly be made a secret ballot."
■H
If ■/
1
42
!
,(ii;..!ll
ill
v
On the vote being
taken the House divi
Yeas:
Messieurs
ded as follows : —
Barr (Dufferin),
Hiscott,
Preston,
Bush,
Hudson,
Reid,
Campbell (Algoma
, Kerns,
Rorke,
Campbell (Durham), McCleary,
Smith (Frontenac);
Clancy,
McColI,
Tooley,
Clarke (Toronto),
Magwood,
White,
Fell,
Marter,
Whitney,
Glendinning,
Meacham,
Willoughby,
Godwin,
Meredith,
Wood (Hastings)^
Hammell,
Monk,
Nays:
Messieurs
Wylie — 30.
Allan,
Evanturel,
McMahon,
Awrey,
Ferguson,
McNaughton,
Balfour,
Field,
Mack,
Barr (Renfrew),
Garrow,
Mackenzie, C,
Baxter,
Gibson (Hamilton),
Moore,
Biggar,
Gibson (Huron),
Mowat,
Bishop,
Gilmour,
Paton,
Blezard,
Guthrie,
Robillard,
Bronson,
Harcourt,
Ross,
Caldwell,
Hardy,
Sharpe,
Carpenter,
Harty,
Smith (Peel),
Charlton,
Kirkwood,
Snider,
Clarke fl^nark).
I^ockhart,
Sprague,
Cleland,
Loughrin,
Stratton,
Conmee,
McCallum,
Tait,'
Dack,
McKay (Oxford),
Waters,
Davis,
McKay (Victoria),
Wood (Brant)— 53.
Dryden,
McKechnie,
ill: I
48
GOVERNMENT HOUSE EXPEN
DITURES.
Among other expenditures of the monies of the Province
objected to by the Opposition is that known as Government
House Maintenance. The salary of the Lieut.-Governor, which
is paid by the Dominion government, is $10,000 per year. No
objection has ever been raised by the Opposition to this eum,
but in addition to the salary the Provincial government has paid
for maintenance of the Government House at Toronto, since
1867, amounts varying from $1 5,000 to $25,000 per year. That
the people may have an opportunity of fairly judging the posi-
tion taken by the Opposition on this large annual outlay, we
present the following list, taken from the chief items of expen-
diture on this institution as shown by the public accounts from
1868 to 1892:
Private Secretaries $26,904
Official " 15,192
Messengers 1 1 ,291
Contingencies « 24,8 16
Water 8,044
Gas 21,119
Fuel 36,835
Gardeners and Caretakers 33.587
Cleaning snow 2,057
Tinsmithing, plumbing and gas-fitting 30,214
Plastering and brickla>ing 5,844
Painting , I9j456
Carpentering 5,702
Trees, plants and seeds 8,446
Furniture and furnishings 71,031
House cleaning 4,023
,;ll
44
1 (ii I
■!■■ ■!ii! I
Work on grounds (5 acres). $12,043
Original cost of residence 78>302
The Opposition members of the legislature believe that all
this expenditure by the Province is wholly unnecessary and
unjustifiable ; that the Lieutenant-Governor should be provided
with a suitable office in which to discharge the official duties of
his position and a secretary to attend therein at the expense of
the Provincial government, but that all other such expenditu»es
as enumerated above should cease at the expiration of the term
of the present incumbent. To this end the following resolution
was introduced on the 20th February, 1894 :
" That in opinion of this House the maintenance of govern-
" ment house and the establishment connected therewith at the
" expense of the Province should, after the expiration of five
** years from the appointment, or other earlier determination of
" the term of His Honor the present Lieutenant-Governor, be
"discontinued." The government opposed the resolution, and
on a division on March 14th, the House stood as follows: —
For the resolution :
Messieurs
Barr (DufTerinj, Kerns,
Bush, Kirkwood,
Campbell (Algoma), McCallum,
Campbell (Durham), McColl,
Clancy, McNaur^hton,
Clarke (Toronto), Magwood,
Marter,
Meacham,
Meredith,
Miscampbell,
Monk,
Glendinning,
Godwin,
Hammell,
Hiscott,
Hudson,
Preston,
Reid,
Rorke,
Smith (Frontenac),
Snider,
Tooley,
Whitney,
Willoughby,
Wood (Hastings),
Wylie — 32,
Against the resolution :
Messieurs
Allan, Dowling,
Awrey, Drvden,
Balfour. Evanturel,
McKechnie,
McMahon,
Mack,
46
Barr (Renfrew),
Baxter,
Biggar,
Bishop,
Blezard,
Bronson,
Caldwell,
Carpenter,
Charlton,
Clarke (Lanark),
Cleland,
Conmee,
Dack,
Davis,
Ferguson,
Field,
Ffaser,
Gibson (Hamilton),
Gibson (Huron),
Gilmour,
Guthrie,
Harcourt,
Hardy,
Harty,
Lockhart,
Loughrin,
McKay (Oxford),
McKay (Victoria),
Mackenzie, C,
Moore,
Mowat,
O'Connor,
Paton,
Robillard,
Ross,
Sharpe,
Smith (York'X
Stratton,
Tait,
Waters,
Wood (Brant)— 50.
OPPOSITION TO POPULAR OPINION.
The government of Mr. Mowat has resolutely opposed
every popular movement of recent years and forced its followers
in the House to vote down every measure proposed by the
Opposition in this direction.
In the session of 1892 a bill was passed respecting the fees
of certain public officers. While under discussion Mr. Wood
(Hastings) moved, seconded by Mr. S. White, that the surplus
income that said bill provides for, instead of going to the gov-
ernment, should be paid over to the county or city councils for
local uses. The government voted this down. (See page 160,
Journals of 1892.J
Mr. Kerns then moi-ed, seconded by Mr..Marter, providing
that the surplus inco )f the registrar of f' is, which said
bill provides for, be paid over into the Provincial treasury.
The government voted this down. (Seepage 161, Journals
of 1892.)
M
mmmm
i6
Mr. Clancy then moved, seconded by Mr. Wood (Hastings),
that power be conferred upon county councils to appoint
registrars of deeds, fund the fees of the office, and pay by salary
the registrar and clerks of said office. The government voted
thisjproposal down. (See pages i6i and 162, Journals of 1892.)
Mr. Preston then moved, seconded by Mr. Monk, to fix the
maximum net income of certain officers as follows : Clerks of
division courts, $i,5cxd; registrars of deeds, $2,500; sheriffs,
$3,000 ; local registrars of the High Court, deputy clerks of the
crown, county court clerks ^nd surrogate registrars, $2,000;
and for applying the surplus fees for public uses. The govern-
ment voted this down and the bill was finally passed. (See
pages 162 and 163, Journals of 1892.}
On the 9th April, 1892, a bill was before the House to
amend the Registry Act, when Mr. McColl moved, seconded by
Mr. Whitney, that "No greater fee than 25 cents shall be
" charged for searching the abstract index with respect to any lot
"or part of lot as originally patented by the crown, or as after-
" wards sub-divided into smaller lots as shown by any registered
" map or plan thereof whatever number of entries may be con-
stained therein." The original bill as proposed by the govern-
ment provided for the collection of a larger amount than 25
cents. The government voted down the Opposition amend-
ment, vhich would have saved many hundreds of dollars annually
to persons buying lands or those giving mortgages. The amend-
ment by Mr. McColl was directly in the interest of the people
and against the greedy government official, hence the govern-
ment would not let it pass. (See page 176, Journals of 1892.J
When a bill respecting the election of members to the
legislature was under discussion on the 12th April, 1892, Mr.
Meredith moved to prevent persons having any contract with
the government for the performance of any work or the furnish-
ing of any goods, effects, food or materials, or any persons hold-
ing a liquor license from the government, from giving or
promising, directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable
consideration for the purpose of promoting the election of any
47
candidate to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario ; or in any
way influencing or affecting the result of such election. His
motion declared that any violation of the law in these respects
should be regarded as a corrupt act and would in due course
subject the offender to a severe punishment.
This was a blow at Mr. Mowat's power with the liquor
dealers and the persons who furnish supplies to public institu-
tions without tender or competition, and against all government
contractors, hence it was not allowed to pass, but was promptly
voted down by the followers of the government. (See page
192, Journals of 1892.)
Where is the hone-st man in Ontario, Conservative or Re-
former, that disapproves of Mr. Meredith's motion, and why
should not Mr. Mowat have allowed it to pass if he desires the
honest administration of public affairs ? Electors of Ontario
should and will remember this act of the Mowat government
when the opportunity is given them to record their votes against
hypocrisy and dishonest tactics in a self-styled upright admin-
istration.
On the same day and while the bill was still under discus-
sion, Mr. Wood (Hastings) moved, seconded by Mr. Clancy,
for secret balloting in election of members to the Legislative
Assembly. By a vote of 50 to 29 the government refused to
allow the amendment to pass. (See pages 192 and 193,
Journals of 1892.)
The sacred right of every free man in this dominion to cast his
vote as he pleases, free from intimidation, coercion, pressure,
threats or discovery is denied, and has been denied for years, by
the Reform administration of Sir Oliver Mowat — the only
oligarchy, the only spy government, the only cowards that fear
the force of honest public opinion, the only tyrants that enslave
the free will of British Canadians.
On the same day Mr. Whitney moved, seconded by Mr.
Campbell (Algoma), that the penalty of imprisonment as pro-
vided for in the former act in respect to the election of mem-
bers for the Legislative Assembly, and which the, government
48
now proposes to strike out, be ''ontinued in the new act. The
government voted this down by 51 to 29. (See pages 193 and
194, Journals of 1892.) The necessity for severe penalties
against the committal of such offences is becoming more apparent
to all honest electors, but Mr. Mowat and his friends think
differently.
On the 17th April, 1893, Mr. Monk of Carleton introduced
a bill to facilitate the registry of mortgages and to reduce the
expenses of the s^ame. The government promptly voted the bill
down. (See page 143, Journals of 1893.) This measure was
most assuredly in the interest of all persons who are obliged to giv2
mortgages, since the cost for registering such instruments would
be greatly reduced.
On the i8th May, 1893, Mr. Miscampbell moved, seconded
by Mr. Clancy, "That this House disapproves of the policy of
" disposing of the timber reserves of the Province without its
"approval being first obtained, and is of opinion that the right to
"cut timber upon the present reserves should be sold under such
" conditions as will insure the manufacture of the lumber cut there-
" from within the Province, and more effectually guard against the
" unnecessary cutting and destruction of the small timber growing
"on such reserve."
Surely a motion of this kyid should have met with approval
in the House. Why should not the people's representatives be
consulted as to the sale or other disposal of the property of the
Province. If the lumber on these reserves were manufactured,
or even partially manufactured, in the Province, there would be
work for the mills now idle in all our north country and employ-
ment at home for thousands of men who have been driven out
of Ontario by the unwise policy of the government at Toronto
and who are working in the saw mills in Michigan towns that
draw their supplies of logs from Ontario.
BuJ: no such step as this would be allowed by the govern-
ment, so the motion was voted down by 48 to 27. (See page
148, Journals of 189'J "i
i.iaiii!';:
49
CROWN LANDS MALADMINISTRATION.
In no case has disregard for economy and for popular con-
trol over expenditure been so flagrantly manifested as in the
administration of Hon. Mr. Hardy's department. Apart from the
annual subsidy given by the Dominion Government, the Crown
Lands of the Province constitute the chief item in its revenue,
and the principal protection of our people against fuiure direct
taxation. Hence the absolute necessity of care in the disposal
of these lands, caution in the sale of timber limits, consultation
with th° representatives of the people as to the best means for
the preservation of our forests, and refusal to permit a
great Provincial asset to be depleted and destroyed by specu-
lative purchase, or by the American policy of shipping our
logs by millions to the other side of the line for manufacture.
Yet in all these respects the government has been grossly
remiss.
A few figures will demonstrate the importance of the mat-
ter. Between the years 1872 and 1892 there were received from
the sale of Crown Lands and other lands under the control
of the government a total sum of nearly $3,500,000. This
was expended for the ordinary purposes of government
and in spite of the .statement made by Hon. E. B. Wood, Pro-
vincial Treasurer in 1 869, that these lands should be considered
" a permanent source of revenue." Turning to the exploitation
of our forests which has been going on, it seems clear that as
the mythical surplus came to be more and more needed, the
government has looked in a steadily increasing degree to the
timber resources of Ontario for aid. During the first ten years
after Confederation the receipts from the sales of timber, includ-
ing bonuses, interest, timber dues and ground rents, were
i
'
60
$4.353.000 1 during the second decade they amounted to
$5,569,000, and estimating the receipts during the following ten
years at the figures shown from 1887 down, we have for that
period a total of $ 1 1 ,000,000, or a grand total of $2 1 ,000,000, most
of which has been taken from the assets of the Province and
turned into the revenues of a wasteful government.
It must be remembered that these resources are not
inexhaustible. The experience of the United States, the words of
eminent students of forestry everywhere, the depleted remains of
the once vast forests of Michigan, Maine and other States, the ex-
perience even of the Belleville and Ottawa districts, prove be-
yond dispute how much care is needed in this direction. It is true
that we still have the finest pine on the continent and perhaps
the greatest supply of timber, but unless the protests of Mr.
Meredith are heeded, the extravagance of the ministry checked,
and the policy of the Opposition adopted, thissplendid Provincial
resource, which .should be a permanent source of income — in-
creasing as the value of the timber is enhanced — will go the
way of our neighbors and leave us upon the sharp edges of
direct taxation, where the people will be in a position to regret
their past indifference. . :
The policy of the government is essentially a makeshift one.
The first step in r ' -ue Crown Land's policy is the making of
proper regulat' ; the prt .ervation of young timber ;
guarding ap .^utting before ripe for the axe, and the re-
foresting o. amber lands where depletion has taken place.
Such — when almost too late — is the American policy, and such
are the views urged by Mr. Meredith and steadily voted
down by the government. In 1875 the government forced its
followers to abrogate the then existing regulation as to cutting
young timber, and it has rfever been restored. But recklessness
is not the only charge in this connection made and sustained by
the Opposition. It has been urged again and again that the
government persistently refuses to allow the House to pro
51
nounce as to the propriety of makinp; sales or settlinfjf (as it lias
the constitutional ri^ht to do) the terms and conditions upon
which licenses should be issued. The Department of Crown
Lands consequerstly docs as it likes with our timber liinits and
manipulates them to the advantaj^c, not of the Province, but of
the Treasury or the party followers. To illustrate the conse-
quences, it may be pointed out that in 1872 the government
disposed of upwards of 5,000 .square miles on the shores of
Lake Huron. None of the limits were operated until 1886, the
result being that the enormous profits arising from increased
value went to the speculators who had purchased them from a
kindly ministry. A few instances will suffice to show the re-
sults of this policy.
I
One of the limits in question was sold in 1872 for $185 a
square mile, or $6,660 for the 36 miles it contained. At the
same time an adjoining limit of the same area was disposed of
for $430 per mile, or a total $15,480. In 1892, and after a lum-
bering firm had taken the board pine off for .several years, these
two limits were sold for the nice little .sum of $550,000. In an-
other ca.se and at the same sale, a limit of 36 square miles was
given away for $85.00 a mile, or $3,060. It brought $90,000 in
i888. So much for what should have been a careful guardian-
ship of the Province's interests in this important matter. And
it surely accentuates the demand of the Opposition that their
protests shall be heeded and that a department controlling
$21,000,000 of timber sales since Confederation shall submit its
policy and arrangements to the control of the people's repre
sentatives before, instead of after, the sales have been effected
or the licenses given.
Over and over again Mr. Meredith has urged reform and
change in the giving of these destructive licenses. The Opposi-
tion desires to make it a condition that the timber cut under
Government license, and practically belonging to the people,
shall be manufactured by our people within the Province, and
i
ip ,
62
for the general benefit of a Canadian population. As it is now,
and has been for some years, the logs cut in Ontario forests are
carried to Michigan, or other border States, and there cut into
lumber, causing as a natural consequence the closing of Can-
adian mills, the decrease of employment for many deserving
men, and the wholesale transfer of valuable industries to
neighboring States. If the Dominion Government has to step
in and remedy this conditio* jf affairs by an export duty, the
retaliatory action of the United States which will probably
follow, will be due to the Ontario ministry refusing to do its
simple and easy duty of placing a common-sense provision
in licenses granted foreign or local lumbermen.
One more point should be considered in connection with
the claim of the government that the demands of lumbermen
make these frequent sales necessary. The value of the timber
limits is constantly increasing. Where 459 miles realized
$1,317,662 in 1887, 673 miles brought $2,315,000 in 1892.
Hence the advisability of caution before making sales and of
not allowing anything but the most imperative necessity to
guide the action of the Crown Lands Department. Whether
the state of the revenue provides that necessity, Mr. Harcourt
may be left to say. But in 1887, when the first named sale
was made, there were actually 5,974 miles under license and
not operated by the lumbermen, who held them for speculative
purposes, and who would not even pay ground rents and other
dues. In 1890 there were 6,333 i^iiles held in a similar manner,
and in 1892, when the second large sale was made, 7,562 square
miles, or one-third of the whole number under license, were held
for speculative purposes and not operated. So that it is
abundantly clear that there was no real need for these sales ex-
cepting that which came from the financial difficulties of the
Ontario ministry.
It must seem apparent, therefore, to any fair observer that
Mr. Meredith and the Opposition are correct in denouncing the
wastefulness, misrepresentation and maladministration of the
-'!■■
58
Crown Lands Department, and should be strongly supported
by the people in urging economy, patriotism and parliamentary
control in the management of these great Provincial assets.
MINERAL DEVELOPMENT.
i
No country or portion of a country in the world has
greater and richer mineral resources than Ontario. Yet for years
the do-nothing Mowat government has neglected this vast
source of individual wealth and Provincial revenue. All the pro-
tests and proposals of the Opposition have gone for nothing and
stores of copper, silver, iron, coal, gold, nickel and other minerals
lie in our soil, not undi.scovered, but almost entirely undeveloped.
And this simply for want of those qualities of energy and
enterprise which a wise ministry should possess wherever the
interests of the people are concerned.
In the states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin during
1890 $23,000,000 worth of iron-ore were raised and the value of
the pig-iron produced was over $5,000,000. Yet the mineral
wealth of these states is hardly equal to that of the Province of
Ontario. The Gunflint iron range and the Matawan range of
Ontario are said to be respect ivel}'- continuations of the celebrated
Mesaba and Vermillion ranges of Minnesota and to possess
equal, if not greater, mineral wealth. And so in other parts of
the Province and in respect to other minerals. But the govern-
ment refuses to do anything for this struggling industry and
what is produced goes largely to the other side for manufacture.
On page 13 of the report of the Bureau of Mines for 1892
appears a stinging comment upon this strange inactivity and
kck of business enterprise :
" For a country which possesses rich resources of soil,
timber and minerals and which has large amounts of capital in-
54
' vested and seeking investment, much of it employed in the
** neighboring states, the Province of Ontario is singular in being
" almost alone among the great commonwealths of our continent,
" without a blast furnace for the production of metallic iron."
The Opposition desires to remedy this condition of affairs,
and, by judicious encouragement given to capitalists, to start
smelting works, employ the many required at the good wages
always given in this particular branch of work and make this great
Province hum with the sound of a new and important industry.
Such a policy of broad, liberal development wouk in the opinion
of Mr. Meredith and the Opposition, increase the value of our
Crown domain ; enhance the revenues of the Province, and give
a stimulus to business, not only locally, but throughout the entire
Dominion.
EDUCATION POLICY.
It is the duty of the state and perhaps its highest and noblest
function, to furnish at the public expense a sound primary
education for the children who are to constitute its future
citizens and rulers. This training should be of a character to
build up the mental power of the child without warping it by
partisan efforts or the injudicious, injurious effects of instruction
guided by personal beliefs and prejudices. Hence the necess-
ity of a broad, liberal school policy, controlled by a superin-
tendent or chief who is entirely apart from political, sectional or
sectarian influence. This, in a word, is the policy of the
Opposition.
As matters stand now, politics permeate the entire edu-
cational system of Ontario, from the head of the department
down to the latest appoifitment as school-teacher. Too often,
as was proven in the Hagarty and Carlyle instances, these most
I'
65
important positions are the reward of political merit, promotion
being the result of party loyalty rather than of proved efficiency.
The result is that the Provincial educational system, with all its
great possibilities for good, is being ruined by the petty manipu-
lation of politicians, instead of being, as it once was under the
Rev. Dr. Ryerson, as it is in England to-day, and as it should be
once more in Ontario — apart from politics and parliamentary
struggle and in the hands of independent officials, guided solely
by devotion to the educational interests of the Province.
During the last two decades, 'nost ot our troubles in an
educational sense have been caused by the attempt to combine
education and politics under the one head. All the changes
in the Separate school law which have raised so much strife and
discussion, have been made since the non-political Superinten-
dent of Education was replaced by a partisan Minister of Edu-
cation interested largely in the success of his party and the
propagation of his party principles. This system, the Opposi-
tion contend, must go and be succeeded by one of greater
purity and efficiency. In addition to this, the policy of Mr,
Meredith in educational matters may be summarized as
follows :
I. That in the cities, towns and villages of Ontario, Public
and Separate school trustees must be elected by ballot and
thus stand upon equal terms.
II. That the trustees in Separate schools should possess
the same qualifications as trustees in the Public schools.
III. That the Roman Catholics of the Province should be
left free choice in supporting or not, as they|see fit, the Separate
schools, and that no presumption that a Roman Catholic is
necessarily a supporter of the Separate school in his vicinity
should be established by law.
66
IV. That 'the provision by which the Separate School
Board is given the choice of a member of the High School
Board should be repealed.
On April 4th, 1890 (page 193 of the Journals of the House),
Mr. Meredith embodied the policy of the Opposition in the
following motion, which was seconded by Mr. A. F. Wood,
and voted down by the government :
" That this House doth declare that the rights guaranteed
by the British North America Act to the supporters of Separate
or dissentient schools are civil riglits appertaining to them as
citizens, and that the assumption that any church organization
or body, or the bishops, priests or ministers thereof, are entitled
to control the ratepaper in the exercise and enjoyment of
such, his individual right, or to command obedience to its or
their direction, by them or by the trustees of any such school,
in the exercise by them of such rights, or the performance
by him of the duties delegated to him by the State, is wholly
unwarranted and dangerous to the State and ought to be
resisted ; and this House doth further declare that it is within
the constitutional right of the Legislature through the Depart-
ment ot Education to regulate such schools, and particularly
to prescribe the text-books to be used in them, and that the
said department ought, in the exercise of that right, to make
provisions regulating the text-books to be used in the said
schools, except those employed in giving religious instruc-
tion when and where such instruction is permitted by law."
((
i<
(<
i(
<<
((
«
C(
<(
(C
((
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((
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«(
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This was defeated on a division by 49 to 31 votes. What
the Opposition contended for in 1890 it urges with equal force
in 1894. Mr. Meredith and his supporters recognize that under
our constitution the privileges enjoyed at Confederation by
Roman Catholics cannot be prejudicially effected by legislation.
But none the less it is felt to be of the very highest importance that
the extent of these privileges should be accurately understood,
that no pressure of political interests or sectarian influences
! I
i I
"'I
"Si,
wrwm
57
should be permitted by the government to enhance the scope
and authority of the Roman Catholic or any other church.
Under the political manipulation of our school system, however,
this evil has been growing greater every year. The Oppo-
sition maintain that there is no warrant for the position or claim,
that Separate schools are anything else than State schools
which must be regulated and controlled by the Legislature,
subject only to the limitations imposed by the pact of Con-
federation. They believe, in a word, that these schools arc as
much State schools as are the Public schools and as fully under
the control of the Legislature.
One other strong reason there is for the abolition of political
control over our educational s ^ 2m. Higher education,
or the maintenance of high schools, collegiate institutes,
etc., is becoming yearly a greater burden upcn the people, and
the sums expended are out of all proportion to the amount given
for the support of the public schools, which are, after all, the
foundation and most important part of our system of education.
In 1872 the total sum spent on education in Ontario was $421,-
703. In 1892 this had risen to $653, 161. During these twenty
years the grants in aid of primary schools, beyond the recent
increase in th6 amount given to poor or weak schools, has in-
creased very little — only $34,000, or 18 per cent, in the case of
public schools — while those to high schools have increased by 30
per cent. It may be noted in this connection that in 1872 the
high school inspectors cost $4,000 and in 1892 $8,463, or an in-
crease of over 100 per cent.
Altogether, and after deducting the entire cost of maintain-
ing public, separate, poor and high schools, so far as the Pro-
vincial treasury is concerned, more than $280,000 was left in 1892
to be expended very largely in the frills and fripperies of educa-
tion introduced by the present head of the Education Depart-
ment. The School of Pedagogy, inspectors of teachers' institutes,
large salaries given to useless officials or partisan appointees —
these and similar expenses eat into the large sum mentioned.
II
58
Political control of the Department is a main cause of this ex-
travagance, as it is of the disgraceful school book monopolies
which have characterized Hon. Mr. Ross' administration,
and so enriched various publishers at the expense] of the
people of Ontario. Under this system also the pressure of
political friends may even effect an Opposition and tempt it to
make attacks upon the head of a department which should be
so far above so serious a danger as that of becoming the shuttle-
cock of political parties.
All these and many minor evils the Opposition believe
can be largely remedied by the organization of a non-partisan
department of education. If given the opportunity Mr. Mere-
dith will endeavor to carry out this policy, and purity our edu-
cational system by the adoption of more elevated methods and
the application of principles of justice rather than of political
expediency to its management and control.
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.
There is no doubt in the minds ol our people that the
Dominion is over-governed, and that one of the main causes of
this difficulty is the extravagance, vanity and greed of power
exhibited by the Ontario Government. The Government and
legislative machinery of Canada and its various Provinces
cost nearly $4,000,000 a year — far too much for a small popu-
lation — and yet the Mowat government have for twenty years
been piling up expenses in every department, making new
offices, spending money lavishly upon Parliament buildings,
and increasing, by constant tinkering with legislation, the cost
of government and of legal procedure, besides adding to the
general burden of taxation. As one step along the road of
59
economy Mr. Meredith desires to do away with the yearly
sessions of the Legislature and hold them once every two years,
as is the case in all but seven States of the American Union.
It is claimed that at least $70,000 a year would be sav^d
and much hasty and ill-considered legislation prevented, ivt
present, constant tinkering with the laws is the only excuse for
the annual sessions, and this fact was recognized by the govern-
ment itself in 1881, when it introduced the following clause in
the speech from the throne :
" We shall give our serious consideration to the question
" whether the time has not come when the public interest may
" be sufficiently protected and at the same time a considerable
" saving of expense be effected by confining future legislation
" to every alternate annual session, except in cases of special
' emergency."
They now oppose the reform advocated by Mr. Meredith
concerning which so strong a Grit journal as the Manitoba Free
Press (Feb. 17) says : " An annual session creates the demand
" it is intended to meet. With bir -nial sessions the amount
" of legislation would probably not be greater at each term,
"and it would be better considered." The same paper sup-
ports the contention of the leader of the Opposition as to the
.saving of expense which would follow. It is probable that
here again the Province will recognize that economy and
efficiency are the mottoes of the Opposition, and extravagance
and indifference to popular requirements the moving principles
of the government.
60
CONCLUSION.
To sum up the difference between the two parties in
Ontario is easy. On the government side is the desire to retain
office at any expense, the evidences of widespread corruption
in public appointments, in the making of positions for
favorites, in the subsidizing of partisan interests, in -the
constant recurrence of nepotism. On every hand we see
the willingness to sacrifice public interests to sectarian support
and an extravagance in public expenditure and in the handling
of our crown lands and timber resources, which are bringing
Ontario to the verge of heavy direct taxation. And with alt
this there seems to be an absolute Czar-like indifference to
public opinion ; a persistent refusal to meet the demand for
mineral development ; a complete indifference to the protests
against centralization of power, the pensioning of political
favorites, and the prostitution of our educational system.
On the Opposition side is the record of twenty years of
battle for economy, purity and efficiency of administration.
During that time it has consistently struggled for the principles
which it presents to-day — reduced expenditure, careful man-
agement of Provincial resources under the constitutional control "
and advice of the Legislature ; protection of our timber from
internal dangers and United States manufacturers ; develop-
ment of our great mines and resources ; abolition of political
control over education ; economy in legislation by establishing
biennial sessions ; a secret ballot in all elections ; government
control over Separate schools, and equal rights to all classes
and creeds in the community. Upon these principles Mr. W.
R. Meredith and the Conservative Opposition in Ontario are
willing to stand or fall ; to fight vigorously and successfully or
fail honorably.
61
APPENDIX.
Votes and Motions in the Late Session of the
Legislature,
On the Opposition motion to discontinue Government
House at the Expense of the Province, the proposal was de-
feated by the following party vote, March 14th, 1894:
nays.
Messieurs
Allan,
Dowling,
McKechnie,
Awrey,
Dry den.
McMahon,
Balfour,
Evanturel,
Mack,
Barr (Renfrew)
Ferguson,
Mackenize, C,
Baxter,
Field,
Moore,
'
Biggar,
Fraser,
Mowat,
Bishop,
Gibson (Hamilton)^
O'Connor
Blezard,
Gibson (Huron),
Paton,
Bronson,
Gilmour,
Robillard,
Caldwell,
Guthrie,
Ross,
Carpenter,
Harcourt,
Sharpe,
•
Charlton,
Hardy,
Smith (York),
-
Clarke (Lanark),
Harty,
Stratton.
Cleland,
Lockhart,
Tait,
Conmee,
Loughrin,
Waters,
Dack,
McKay (Oxford)
Wood (Brant)— 50.
Davis,
McKay (Victoria),
1
•
62
YEAS.
'
•
Messieurs
I Barr (Dufferin),
Kerns,
Preston,
Bush,
Kirkwood,
Reid,
Campbell (Algoma)
, McCallutfi,
Rorke,
Campbell (Durham'
),McColl,
Smith (Frontenac),
■ Clancy,
McNaughton,
Snider,
Clarke (Toronto),
Magwood,
Tooley,
Glendinning,
Marter,
Whitney,
j Godwin,
Meacham,
Willoughby,
Hammell,
Meredith,
Wood (Hastings),
Hiscott,
Miscampbell,
Wylie— 32.
Hudson,
Monk.
On March 15th, Mr. Wood moved, seconded by Mr. Clancy,
' That in the opinion of this House the present mode of ap-
' pointing, and paying by fees, registrars of deeds and other
'county officials is unsatisfactory, and should be changed, and
' that the appointment of all the said officials whose salary or
* remuneration is provided, in whole or mainly, by the localities
' for which they are appointed, should not be vested in the
' Executive of the Province, but in the people of the locality,
'either directly or through their municipal bodies."
This was voted down by a subservient government ma-
jority as follows :
YEAS.
Messieurs
Bush, Kearns,
Campbell (Durham), McCallum,
Clancy, McCleary,
Clarke (Toronto), McColl,
Preston,
Reid,
Rorke
Ryerson,
C< 1
68
ap-
her
and
or
ities
the
lity,
ma-
Fell,
McNaughton,
Smith (Frontenac),
Glendinning
Mag wood,
Tooley,
Godwin,
Marter,
White,
HammcU,
Meacham,
Whitney,
Hiscott,
Meredith,
Willoughby— 29
Hudson,
Monk,
NAYS.
Messieurs
Allan,
Dry den.
McKcchnie,
Awrey,
Evanturel,
Mack,
Balfour,
Ferguson,
Mackenzie, C,
Barr (Renfrew),
Field,
Moore,
Baxter,
Garrow,
Mowat,
Bishop,
Gibson (Hamilton),
O'Connor,
Blezard,
Gibson (Huron),
Robillard,
Bronson,
Guthrie,
Ross,
Caldwell,
Harcourt,
Sharpe,
Carpenter,
Hardy,
Smith (Peel)
Charlton,
Harty.
Snider,
Clarke (Lanark),
Kirk wood.
Sprague,
Cleland,
Lockhart,
Stratton,
Conmee,
Loughrin,
Tait,
Dack,
McKay (Oxford),
Waters,
Davis,
McKay (Victoria),
Wood (Brant)— 49
Dowling
#
'On March 27th Mr Whitney moved, seconded by Dr.
Willoughby, " That in the opinion of this House it is necessary
" to a free expression of the popular will the use of the num-
" bered ballot paper be discontinued and that the ballot for the
"election of members of the Legislative Assembly be made a
'' secret ballot."
1i
64
This was also voted down on the following division :
YEAS.
Messieurs
Barr (Dufferin),
Hiscott,
Preston,
Bush,
Hudson,
Reid,
Cam[)bcll (Algoma), Kerns,
Rorke,
Campbell (Durham), McClcary,
Smith (Frontcnac),
Clancy,
McColl,
Tooley,
Clarke (Toronto),
Magwood,
White,
Fell,
Marter,
Whitney,
Glciidinning,
Meacham,
Willoughby,
Godwin,
Meredith,
Wood (Hastings),
Hammell,
Monk,
NAYS.
Messieurs
Wylie — 30.
Allan,
Evanturel,
McMahon,
II
Awrey,
Ferguson,
McNaughton,
-
Balfour,
Field,
Mack,
Barr (Renfrew),
Garrow,
Mackenzie, C,
'
Baxter,
Gibson (Hamilton),
Moore,
1
Biggar,
Gibson (Huron),
Mow-it,
Bishop,
Gilmour,
Paton,
■ i
Blezard,
Guthrie,
Robillard,
;
Bronson,
Har court,
Ross,
Caldwell,
Hardy,
Sharpc,
'■
Carpenter,
Harty,
Smith (Peel),
Charlton,
Kirkwood,
Snider,
Clarke (Lanark),
Lockhart,
Sprague,
1
Cleland,
Loughrin,
Stratton,
Conmee,
, McCallum,
Tait,
■
Dack,
McKay (Oxford),
Waters,
Davis,
McKay (Victoria),
Wood (Brant)— 53
,
Dryden,
McKechnie,
fl •
6i
Mr. Meredith's motion on April nth, "That in the opinion
" of this House the election of Public and Separate school
"trustees in cities, towns and incorporated villages and in
"townships in which township boards arc established, should
" be by ballot," was defeated on this division :
Yeas.
Messieurs
Barr (Dufferin),
Bush,
Campbell (Algoma),
Campbell (Durham),
Clancy,
Dack.
Fell,
Glendinning,
Godwin, i
Hammell,
Hiscott,
Hudson,
Kerns,
McCallum,
McCleary,
McColl,
Magwood,
Marter,
Meacham,
Meredith,
Miscampbell,
Monk,
Preston,
Reid,
Rorke,
Rycrson,
Smith (Frontenac),
Tooley,
White,
Whitney,
Willoughby,
Wood (Hastings),
Wylie— 33.
Nays.
Messieurs
'•
Allan,
Evanturel,
Mack,
Awrey,
Ferguson,
Mackenzie, C,
Balfour,
Field,
Moore,
Barr (Renfrew),
Fraser,
Mowat,
Baxter,
Gibson (Hamilton),
O'Connor,
66
ii
, Bishop,
Blezard,
Bronson,
Caldwell,
Carpenter,
Charlton,
Clarke (Lanark),
Cleland,
Conmee,
Davis,
Dowling,
Dry den,
Gibson (Huron),
Gilmour,
Harcourt,
Hardy,
Harty,
Kirkwood,
Lockhart,
Loughrin,
McKay (Oxford),
McKay( Victoria),
McKechnie,
McMahon,
Patoil,
Robillard,
Ross,
Sharpe,
Smith (York),
Smith (Peel),
Snider,
Sprague,
Stratton,
Tait,
Waters,
Wood (Brant)— 51.
The important resolution presented as follows by Mr. Mis-
campbell and seconded by Mr. Clancy, was voted down as
usual :
"This House disapproves of the large expenditures which
" are made annually by the Crovvn Lands Department for
" Surveys, amounting to upwards of $35,000 per annum, and of
"the sums paid by the Department to unnecessary Crown
"Lands agents, and it regrets that the Executive and the De-
" partment persist in the practice of disposing of the Crown
"Timber reserves of the Province without consulting or obtain-
**ing the approval of the representatives of the people in this
"House, and wholly fail to take any adequate steps for pre-
" serving the standing timber, and especially the smaller trees,
" from unnecessary waste and destructon ; and this House de-
" plores the improvidence which characterizes the management
" and disposal of the timber upon these reserves, which has
" destroyed, in many parts of the country, the saw milling
" industries which flourished there, and has transferred the
"business which they formerly carried on to the State of
<.
•
67
Michigan and other States of the neighboring Republic, and
is fast depriving the Province of its most valuable asset, and
one, if adequately and intelligently cared for, safeguarded
and managed, would continue to furnish a large revenue to
the Province for years to come, but which, as now mis-
managed, is rapidly disappearing."
The division was as follow -i
•
Yeas:
Messieurs
Bush,
Hudson,
Reid,
Campbell (Algoma), Kerns,
Rorke,
Campbell (Durham), McColl,
Ryerson,
Clancy,
Magwood,
Smith (Frontenac),
Clarke (Toronto),
Marter,
Tooley,
Fell,
Meacham,
White,
Glendinning,
Meredith,
Whitney,
Godwin,
Miscampbell,
Willoughby,
Hammell,
Monk,
Wood(Hastings) — 29
Hiscott,
Preston,
Nays:
Messieurs
■
Allan,
Dryden,
McNaughton,
Awrey,
Evanturel,
Mack,
Balfour,
Ferguson,
Mackenzie,
Barr (Renfrew),
Field,
Moore,
Baxter,
Garrow,
Mowat,
Biggar,
Gibson (Hamilton),
O'Connor,
Bishop,
Gibson (Huron),
Paton,
Blezard,
Guthrie,
Robillard,
Bronson,
Harcourt,
• Ross.
68
Caldwell,
Hardy,
Sharpe,
Carpenter,
Harty,
Smith (Peel),
Charlton,
Kirkwood,
Snider,
Clarke (Lanark),
Lockhart,
Sprague,
Cleland,
Loughrin,
Stratton,
Conmee,
McKay (Oxford),
Tait,
Dack,
McKay (Victoria),
Waters,
Davis,
McKechnie,
Wood (Brant)— 53
Dowling,
McMahon,
•
The following motion was moved by Mr. White, seconded
by Mr. Hudson, on April 27th : " That it is essential to a non-
" partisan management of the educational affairs of this
" Province that the department should not be under the control
" of a political head, and that the office of Minister of Educa-
"tion should be abolished."
It was defeated, but by a smaller majority than usual :
Yeas:
Messieurs
»
Barr (Buffering
Hiscott,
Meredith,
Bush,
Hudson,
Miscampbell,
Campbell (Algoma),
Kerns,
Monk,
Campbell (Durham)
, McCallum
Preston,
Clancy,
McCleary,
Rorke,
Fell,
McColl,
Ryerson,
Glendinning,
Magwood,
White,
Godwin,
Marter,
Whitney,
Hammell,
Meacham,
Willoughby — 27.
B^am
ed
3n-
his
;rol
ica-
69
Nays:
V
Messieurs
V
Allan,
Field,
Mack,
Awrey,
Garrow,
Moore,
Balfour,
Gibson (Hamilton),
Mowat,
Barr (Renfrew),
Gibson (Huron),
O'Connor,
Baxter,
Harcourt,
Paton,
Caldwell,
Hardy,
Robillard,
Carpenter,
Harty,
Ross,
Charlton,
Kirkwood,
Sharpe,
Clarke (Lanark)
Lockhart,
Smith (Peel),
CleUind,
Loughrin,
Snider,
Conmee,
McKay (Oxford),
Sprague,
Dack,
McKay (Victoria),
Stratton,
Davis,
McKechnie,
Tait,
Dryden,
McMahon,
Waters,
Evanturel,
McNaughton,
Wood (Brant)--46
Ferguson,
*
On April 30th Mr. Whitney, in amendment to Hon. Mr.
Ross' useless proposals in reference to the fees question,
moved : " That the Bill be not now read the third time but be
" forthwith referred back to a committee of the whole House
"with instructions to amend the same by fixing the maximum
net income which shall be payable to the several officials with
«(
70
"which the Bill deals, and providing that the whole of the
" residue of the revenues of their offices shall be applied to pub
"lie uses."
It was lost on the following division :
A
YEAS i
(
Messieurs
Campbell (Algoma),
McColl,
Reid,
Clarke (Toronto),
Magwoodf
Rorke,
Godwin,
Marter,
Ryerson,
Hammell,
Meacham,
White,
Hudson,
Meredith,
Whitney,
Kirkwood,
Miscampbell,
Willoughby,
McCallum,
Monk,
Wylie — 23
McCleary,
Preston,
NAYS,
Messieurs
Allan,
Ferguson,
McKechnie,
Awrey,
Field,
McMahon,
Balfour,
Garrow,
Mackenzie,
Barr (Renfrew^
Gibson (Huron^
Mowat,
Baxter,
Gilmour,
Paton,
Carpenter,
Guthrie,
Rass,
Charlton,
Harcourt,
Sharpe,
Cleland,
Hardy,
Smith (Peel),
*^'^
Dack,
Davis,
Dryden,
Evanturel,
71
Harty,
Lockhart,
McKay (Oxford^
McKay (Victoria^
Waters,
Wood (Brant)— 34
I
Such is the record of motions and votes during one session
of the Legislature. Let the people judge.
W. S. J0H.NST0N & Co'T. Fkintkrb and Book buiumtm
29-31-33 Melinda Str«bt.
•
Biennial Sessions 58
Centralizing 6
Government Appoints and the People Pay 7
Crown Lands Department 23
Crown Lands Maladministration 49
Difference Between the Two Parties — Conclusion 60
Extravagant and Reckless Expenditure 16
Expenditures Compared 20
Extravagance vs. Economy 30
Education Policy 54
Fee System, The 33
Government House Expenditures 43
How the Money is Wasted 28
Liquor License Administration 11
The Opinion of an Honest Man 11
How the Government Has Profited and the Muni-
cipalities Lost 13
The Policy of the Opposition 14
Mineral Development 53
Opposition to Popular Opinion 45
Redistribution and Increase in Representatives 7
\Mr. Mowat's Gerrymander 9
'The Minority Scheme in Toronto 9
$70,CXX) Wasted in Extra Representation 10
Rec^i|}ts &ud Expenditures 17
Railway Aid Certificp.ces and Annuity Bonds 19
Secret Ballot 41
Twenty Years of Reform Administration 3
Vot/es and Motions in Late Session — (Appendix)... 61
",, \;)n Government House Expense 61
"'■'"on Appointing and Paying by Fees 62-69
*V ipn a Secret Ballot 63
"von Election of Public and Separate School Trustees
::::.. byBaiiot 65
'' ^ fin Expenditures by Crown Lands Department, and
'""^^ the Management of Timber Reserves 66
^' oon Non-Partisan Management of Educational Affairs.. 68
< G
t o u
O 00 -
20
30
54
33
• 43
. 28
. II
. II
i-
13
• 14
•• 53
.. 45
.. 7
.. 9
.. 9
... lO
. . 17
... 19
... 41
• • 3
... 6i
... 6i
.62-69
.... 63
ees
65
ind
66
irs.. 68