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 An Open Letter to the Electors of British 
 
 Columbia 
 
 In Which the Whole Policy of the Govern- 
 ment is Reviewed. 
 
 To the Electors of British Columbia : 
 
 Gentlemen, — 
 
 Owing to my inc.bility to personally 
 address ns many electors throughout the 
 province as I had intended, or would 
 hnve desired. I take this means of laying 
 my views before you. At the eud of 
 another parliament and just before an- 
 other election you are entitled to a per- 
 sonal account of the stewardship of 
 those who have represented you for four 
 years, more especially from myself as 
 having been for the greater part 
 of the time entrusted with the 
 direction of affairs; and also to have 
 8 full and fair oportunity from the re- 
 cord that is before you Ot determining 
 in whom you will repose confidence for 
 another term. 
 
 A BKITISH <'<H.IMIIIA IMH.KV. 
 
 I and the government I represent are 
 before you on the issues which have 
 been created in the management of the 
 affairs of thr Province by us, and not 
 upon issues which have arisen in Do- 
 minion politics. We are before you as 
 British Oolumbians, and on the policy 
 of British Columbia development. We 
 
 are to be judged on matters of adminis- 
 tration, on qncstions of finance, on the 
 moner in which justice has been admin- 
 istered, on things pertaining to mining, 
 on our agricultural policy, on consider 
 ations oif public works and rail- 
 ways, on the general influence 
 for good of the legislation on the various 
 interests represented in this country, on 
 the progress which hns been o£fecte<l, 
 and widely nnd conipnhpiisivoly on the 
 results which mny fairly he claimed to 
 have flown from our efforts. 
 
 A StHiKlard of Coinimrl<)on. 
 
 I do not claim that the present admin- 
 istration has been perfect. We are made 
 up of men who nre humiui, and with all 
 the liability to err of which other men 
 are possessed. We have striven to do 
 that which appeared to ua to be best 
 calculated to benefit the Province in the 
 progress of which we are nil more or 
 less largely interested. While we may 
 not have done the best in all instances, 
 wo claim, nevertheless, to hnve done well 
 by the electorate, and confident of the 
 jua^ness of our cause, we are before 
 you for a renewal of the conliden'^ 
 
 ■M 
 
 / 
 
 m 
 
It)- 
 
 L.^^ Wi'^T-^f ^^ 
 
 which hufl been so jjeiierously extended 
 to UB In the past. II. wo have not whol- 
 ly come up to your expoctatlons, we 
 ask you to carefully coua'.dor whether 
 those who seek to take onr places would 
 have done better or us well. Mxauilne 
 proceedinK« «f tlio Lejiislature tor the 
 past four years, and ask yourselves what 
 policy they have expounded, that If car- 
 ried into efifect would have bettered your 
 present conditions or advanced the in- 
 terests of the province in a degree com- 
 parable with the progress that has al- 
 ready been made. It is a matter of cam- 
 parisoD, a question of policy against pol- 
 icy, of men against men. These consid- 
 erations I ask you to take home to your- 
 selves seriously and by your decision we 
 are willing to abide. 
 
 Intruductloii of Fednrnl iMttueic. 
 
 There have been strong and perslstnt 
 efforts made to divert the attention of 
 the electors from the issues which have 
 arisen in provlucial affairs to those 
 which are of a federal nature, and I 
 know of no stronger evidence of the 
 weakness of the cause of many who are 
 In provincial matters opposed to the pre- 
 sent administration than that they wish- 
 ed to introduce issues which are foreign 
 to our home affairs, and to conduct the 
 campaign on lines which wou!d confuse 
 the electorate and make this government 
 a stalking horse for politicians at Ot- 
 tawa. It was an evidence that they were 
 not strong in legitimate opposition in 
 provincial policy. Many of my sup- 
 porters who were Conservatives, seeing 
 the tendency towards the introduction of 
 Dominion politics, were anxious to di- 
 vide the lines accordingly, and urged 
 such a course on the government. I took 
 a decided stand in that I refused to sanc- 
 tion what I could not endorse. Others 
 again on both sides suggested a coali- 
 tion. The government said NO. That 
 in perhaps a less objectionable form was 
 a recognition of the same principle. I 
 don't believe in mixing up Provincial and 
 Dominion politics. We stand or fall 
 within our own fortress. 
 
 PerRoiial PoHltioii in Politico. 
 
 Personally, I need not tell you that I 
 
 am Conservative and was in my private 
 capacity n supporter of the late adminis- 
 tration at Ottawa. My political senti- 
 ments on that score were formed years 
 ago, when owing to events familiar to 
 most of us sentiment in this Province 
 was consolidated on that side. If anoth- 
 er coure had been pursued at that time 
 in regard to the policy affecting British 
 Columbia, it might have been differjut 
 with me and many others. Originally a 
 free trader, I nevertheless endorsed the 
 principle of protection in the .Vational 
 Policy and I belived from a practi- 
 cal standpoint, all things considered, and 
 particularly in view of the attitude of 
 the United States towards this country, 
 it was in the interests of Canada. I 
 think so still. But whether the Conser- 
 vatives or Liberals were right, it was 
 my right and privilege to vote on Do- 
 minion political issues as I pleased; but 
 as a government, this government has 
 been absolutely without prejudice or 
 without party color. Since the present 
 party at Ottawa has come into power, 
 we have endeavored to act in the same 
 friendly way and without a particle of 
 prejudice, towards them, as we did to- 
 wards their predecessors, and have tiicd 
 in every way and on all occasions to co- 
 operate as far as co-operation was pos- 
 sible in any and all matters affecting the 
 mutual inierests of the Province and the 
 Dominion. I defy any person to lay fin- 
 Kcr on any action of o\i's in relation to 
 the Dominion, which has not breathed of 
 friendship and earnest desire on our 
 part to meet the government at Ottawa 
 half way. We have acted on the prin- 
 ciple that there should be no distinction 
 of politics in interests that are mutual, 
 and party lines should never enter to In- 
 terfere. 
 
 strict NeiitrHlity. 
 
 Therefore, I say, we are before vou is 
 British Columbians on a British 
 Columbian policy. I might point to the 
 disadvantages and the evils arising otit 
 of coalescing in politics with the Domin- 
 ion; but I am not now dealing with ^bat 
 subject, except in so far as it is neces- 
 sary to explain our position, which is 
 and has been one of strictest neutrality. 
 
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 A QITKSTION <M'' (OI'KTKSY. 
 
 It mny be held that in reference to the 
 protection of the Columbia River ut 
 Revelstolfo the attitude of the province 
 •was not one of friendlineRa; and while on 
 that subject I may as well deal with the 
 criticisms of the Opposition. It is stat- 
 ed that the government in this matter at 
 first deuied its responsibility in the prem- 
 ises, then admitted it, and again repudi- 
 ated it. This is not the case. The gov- 
 ernment does not now and never did ad- 
 mit that that work is one which it should 
 undertake, and although it HAS under- 
 taken it as a MATTER OF LOCAL 
 NECESSITY, I can assure you that this 
 is not the last of it— that sooner or later, 
 whatever party is in power at Ottawa, 
 the broad question of the responsibility 
 of the Dominion government in regard 
 to the damage done by the action of na- 
 vigable waters will have to be taken up 
 and definitely settled, and then the Pro- 
 vince will demand consideration and com- 
 pensation for this work. 
 
 lt«v«lHtok« I>r<it«ctioii Il«Vie\v(><l. 
 
 I do not intend to go over the whole 
 subject again'. The correspondence was 
 laid before parliament and has been pub- 
 lished, but so far from there being any 
 discourtesy on our part er disposition 
 to unfriendliness It was entirely the 
 other way. The Dominion government 
 placed the sum of $10,900 in their J 890 
 estimates contingent upon the province 
 voting a like sum. Whether the Domin- 
 ion government was sincere or not in 
 this I do not know, but not a word was 
 said about it until a few days before the 
 session of 1897, and personally I was 
 wholly unaware of such a vote. This 
 government was not consulted about it. 
 and was not notified cl it. If there was 
 any discourtesy If was certainly not on 
 our part. When the government was 
 notified it took the position that the duty 
 lay wholly with the Dominion govern- 
 ment, the same as the protection of the 
 Fraser river banks. If one was a Do- 
 minion matter, so was the other. We 
 considered that to take this up in the 
 way suggested was to assume a far- 
 reaching responsibility, and coming on 
 
 us in the beginning of a trying session 
 the government had not time to take it 
 up seriously wiih the Dominion govern- 
 ment. On this point I may say thai no 
 niiin in the House has talked so strongly 
 on the treatment of this Province by the 
 Dominion as the late member for Koote- 
 nny, Mr. Kelli«, who in all things except 
 the Columbia river at Revelstoke, made 
 it one of his main political planks. In 
 respect to that matter, because it affeot- 
 his own support, he was willing to take 
 the onus off the Dominion, and with that 
 consistency for which his political career 
 is noted is aa strongly denouncing the 
 Provincial government, because It re- 
 fused to accept his view of the situation, 
 tion. . ^ 1 
 
 Tli«« (iuvvrniiipiit'H 1><ihI(|oii Kxplaiiied. 
 
 Now, then, as to our position in this 
 matter. The vote was not put on for 
 that purpose in 1897. It may have been 
 a mistake, or it may not, in view of the 
 action the government subsequently took, 
 but it was a matter considered not to bo 
 within our rights. However, in going up 
 to Revelstoke last summer, I was strong- 
 ly urged to take the matter up, and see- 
 ing for myself the loss to property that 
 was likely to ensue, I wired and wrote to 
 Ottawa urging the necessity of protec- 
 tion and offering as a matter of 
 urgency to co-operate. The reply 
 was "No vote," and I was remind- 
 ed of our refusal to co-oiierate. I wrote 
 and urged again, but without avail. I 
 then sent up our own engineer to report 
 for the purpose of getting an 
 estimate. After receiving the re- 
 port I wrote again in order that 
 the Minister of Public Works might 
 provide a sum in the estimate of T^e 
 current year. Our representations wore 
 made in the most courteous manner, iind 
 with but one desire, and thot to help the 
 people of Revelstoke. Hon, Mr. Tnrte. 
 in a moment of spleen— and I absolve his 
 colleagues from all blame, — wrote as dis- 
 courteous and undignified a letter as 
 was possible for one minister of the 
 Crown to address to another, and in or- 
 der to justify himself, testily represent- 
 ed it as a protest against this govern- 
 ment throwing the responsibility of non- 
 
 I 
 
iK-tion <iii IiiN (Icpiirtnioiit. lii thih he 
 WH8 wholly misleading. Thin jjoveru- 
 nuMit (ild not nttcmpt to do anything of 
 the kind. It is true we held that the 
 Dominion KovernmiMit wna responaiblc 
 for the protection of the river bank, but 
 not for tile work not having g(me on, 
 which wnH another and difTerent matter. 
 1 did point out, however, that in refus- 
 ing NOW to co-operate with the pro- 
 vince Hiinply as a question of etiquette, 
 the Minister would be responsible for 
 any loss that might occur. 1 hold it to 
 be the most childish, not to any culpable, 
 thing of which a minister of the Crown 
 could be guilty, when whoi'^snle destruc- 
 tion of pr<)perty was threatened, to hold 
 back on a point of ethics. The estimate 
 of the engineer for a complete job was 
 $45,000; but in view of the great and im- 
 minent danger to the province, we took 
 it in hand and did a portion sufficient 
 for protection, at its own cost. The 
 work was performed expeditiously and 
 well, and I am glad it has been success- 
 ful in withstanding the high water. 
 
 Fur the Klcoturii tu I>f<!i<le. 
 
 This was the only conflict or irritation 
 of any kind that has occurred betv.-een 
 the tAvo governments, and as to the na- 
 ture of the descourtesy in this case, and 
 the responsibility for it which is alleged, 
 1 leave you, the electorate, to judge. I 
 have referred to the relations of the Pro- 
 vincial and Dotainion government as at 
 present constituted to show you that our 
 efforts and our desire have been to fos- 
 ter goodwill and to advance co-opera- 
 tion in matters of mutual interest aiid 
 benefit, so far as by any acts of it was 
 possible to achieve that end. 
 
 KKTTICK TKKMS KOIt ItlCITISH 
 C'OLITMIUA. 
 
 This leads me to the considentrion of 
 our relations with the Dominion in a gen- 
 eral and constitutional way, and into 
 which the question of partizan politics 
 does and should not enter; but neverthe- 
 l»'ss of verj great moment. It is not a 
 question of one administration or the 
 other being in power at Ottawa. It is a 
 question affecting the whole future of 
 British Columbia and her rights as a pro- 
 
 vince. At the time of Confederation the 
 representHtivis of British Columbia 
 made a good bargain so far as they could 
 see then, but they could not possibly 
 foresee how every detail would work out. 
 The Dominion fultilleil its part of the ar- 
 rangement, perhaps not to the letter, but 
 80 far as the essence of the coutract ia 
 concerned. I find no fault with that, 
 nor do I wish now to aci; the part of 
 agitator or romeutor of unrest or dis- 
 satisfaction; however, under new condi- 
 tions and in the light of new develop- 
 ments we see that this province is pay- 
 ing more than its share, is contributing 
 in a greater degree than it receives aa- 
 nunlly, after allowing for all reasonable 
 charges for cost of government and gen- 
 eral expensed.. , r i -fl i^J^i 
 
 Tlie KMilwHy Siliiutioii, 
 
 I wish to .eler more particularly 
 to the railw^iy Hituation, which l» 
 involved with this subject. There ii 
 concurrent jurisdiction in railway mat- 
 ters between the Province and the Dc 
 minion, and as the railway problem ia 
 coming to, and will sooUr be THE prob- 
 lem of politics in this Province, I foresee 
 conflict. In addition to that there should 
 be a well detined ratio of sapport or assiat- 
 unce to railways, which we all admit, 
 are of the most vital importance to this 
 country. The government in its railway 
 policy of lust session endeavored to es- 
 tablish a ratio of two to one as between 
 the Dominion and this Province. But 
 thut may not be a correct ratio. lu my 
 opinion it is far too low, conaideriag ail 
 the benefits the Dominion derives from 
 railway construction in this Pro- 
 vince, particularly in the matter of cus- 
 toms revenue. If the Province hud 
 control of its own customs revenue, it 
 could build its own railways without 
 outside assistance on any railway pol- 
 icy it might choose to adopt, because 
 there has been recently an excess of near- 
 ly one million dollars annually over what 
 is received back in the form of expendi- 
 ture from the Dominion. You will plain- 
 ly see how our interests are affected by 
 such an arrangment. More than that, 
 the government of this Province in the 
 matter of assisting railways is practical- 
 
ly at the mercjr of the Doiiiinion iih to 
 wbut compniiicH it luay contrnct with. 
 hecniiHe if the Duiiiiniun Oorernmeiit 
 gives it support to a compouy or anjr par- 
 ticular scheme, the Prorincc is practically 
 bound to ri'COKnlze its choice or do wltli- 
 out railwajH. As none or few of the im- 
 portant enterprises can be financed with- 
 out Federal aid, it is self evident that the 
 two KovornnientH must agree, or, in oth- 
 er words, if we want railways, we must 
 qccppt thir choice; and so in the past all 
 enKiiipering of railway charters and roil- 
 way deals has been carried on with a 
 view to the support of botb governments. 
 This is inevitable, and must continue to 
 be so under present conditions. The 
 possibility of conflict, however, is al- 
 ways Imminent; and while the Province 
 has certain inherent rights of eminent 
 domain, it is uncertain how far the right 
 of the Dominion extends in respect to 
 charters granted under its authority. 
 This is a grave question, and must be 
 settled. Moreover, the Dominion hns. 
 under the British North America Act 
 superior jurisdiction and can declare any 
 railway to be for the benefit of Tanidn. 
 and assume control, even thouph It had 
 been built largely by provincial aid. 
 
 Ciioverniiient Rnllwnys. 
 
 Bee how this affects the question of 
 government ownership, not to speak of 
 moral and real property rights. 1 am 
 not opposed as a matter of theor.v or 
 principle to government ownership o.' 
 railways. I can see how. under pi-oper 
 management and under certain condi- 
 tions, it is possible and might even bt- 
 benvflcial. I only regard the suggestion 
 as impracticable under our present con- 
 ditions and present relations with the Do- 
 minion. If we assume that sentiment 
 some day may be consolidated in favor 
 ef government as aeninst private owner- 
 ship, who would build and own them? 
 It would either have to be the Province 
 or the Dominion. Both conid not con- 
 trol them, unless by ROME NEW AND 
 MUTUAL ARRANOEMl'^NT. The gov- 
 ernment that owned the great 
 Inter-provincial lines would also 
 have to own and control the 
 
 small lines and feeders as well. 
 Nowndoys, when the interchange 
 of traffic is essential to nil railways on 
 a large or small scale, the independence 
 of small lines on a paying basis is out 
 of the question— is inipracticable Wi> 
 have an instance in the Island of Van- 
 couver in the Victoria and Sidney Rail- 
 way, which without any connection to 
 afford it more than local traffic can nev- 
 er be made to pay, and will continue 
 to be a burden to the province. There- 
 fore, I say. government ownership, in 
 provinces, can never be brought within 
 the pale of practical politics. ' , - * 
 
 .\ OpiiuiihI Will be Mndc ,. 
 
 It is necessary, therefore, in view of 
 the foregoing considerations, which I 
 submit arc cogent and important, to 
 take anollicr step, and to approach the 
 Dominion Government, in no support of 
 of unfriendliness or antago lism, and ask 
 for a revision of the terms of Ton federa- 
 tion, particularly in the matter of rail- 
 ways, or railway jurisdiction, and gener- 
 ally to review our interfinancial relations. 
 It is proposed that delegates or represen- 
 tatives of this government shall go to Ot- 
 tawa at an early day, hikI submit to the 
 authorities there some of tliesc consider- 
 ations and perhaps others as well. We 
 sliall make railways the biisis of negot- 
 iations. What wc want, if not a re- 
 vision, is an understanding which shall 
 form a compact, written and bindin;;. 
 that o'.ir reqniromoiits and rights shall 
 b(< dearly detiiied and reeogiiizcfl. W<> 
 want better terms, we want fairer terms. 
 Xova Scotia when it foiind that the 
 bargain it had entered into and was 
 bound by. failed to fnllil its expectations 
 and necessities, went to Ottawa, laid its 
 case before the govoriiment. and ob- 
 tained redress. So far from tliat action 
 disturbing the safety of Confederation 
 this recognition laid the foundation on a 
 firmer and more enduring basis. Mani- 
 toba has just come in for additional re- 
 cognition; and British Columbia's plea is 
 one of justice and riglit and must 
 ultimately prevail. There is a miscon- 
 ception in the east as to the position 
 of British Columbia and its relations 
 
(o tliv noiiiinioii, hut thv people of 
 UuHtcrn Guimtlu only require to huve 
 the 0H8e prcMeuted to them fairly nnd 
 fully to undemtaiKl uutl ucquieHce. 
 
 Ol'lt POLICY OK VVHIAC WOKKH. 
 
 And tfaia nnturiilly lends me to the 
 (■•'.nBideratioii of our ovtii ProTincinI 
 policy of public worlcs nnd ruihvay de- 
 velopntent. This, I may Hay. nssociated 
 with the queatioD of finance with which I 
 will deal presently, is the pith and ker* 
 ni'l of our appeni to you, and the aubjoct 
 which above nil others requires atten- 
 tion. I am prepared to meet fairly and 
 squurely the Opposition critica in all 
 matters connected with our policy in 
 this respect. There nre side issues and 
 trivial objections, which our opponents 
 will maintain and which they hold up to 
 the eyes of the electornte to confuse the 
 mind and obscure the wider nnd more 
 important questions of public policy. 
 With these political particles in an at- 
 moaphere of dust I cannot deal in a let- 
 ter outlining nnd reviewing the scope of 
 Government acta extending over a term 
 of years, except to say that taken indi 
 vidunlly and in the aggregate, they 
 fairly represent the measure of the mei< 
 who are conducting the Opposition tight 
 and a fitting employment for their pecu- 
 liar talents for microscopical invea- 
 tigation. By their methods of scientific 
 enquiry the microbes, which we are to!<l 
 exist in myriads in nature, in us and all 
 around us, are made to look like ele- 
 phauts and other giant creatures, nnd if 
 they could only induce the electora to 
 look through their little glnasea, they 
 would frighten them all into hyaterica. 
 There are otLera of them with telescopea 
 aweeping the political heavens for stray 
 comets and dead worlds, which tlireaten 
 to fall down and knock us into smither- 
 enea. I ask you like scnsilde men to 
 take n common sense and every day bus- 
 iness view of political matters in Brit- 
 ish Columbia, and I am quite confident 
 that you will neither be disturbed nor 
 alarmed. 
 
 One of I)evelo|iiiient, 
 
 I have dealt in my speeches on the 
 
 floor of the House with the public worki 
 of this province and our policy In rela- 
 tion thereto. It hns been one of develop- 
 ment. In ten years we have spent, inde- 
 pendent of railway aid,aome five milliooa 
 of mf>ney In roads, brid;fes, wharves, 
 public bnildingn, hospitals, charities, 
 education, nnd the like. At the end of 
 tht> coming fiacal year, 
 sp«'nt over six milllona. 
 include the cost of 
 buildings. These thinj^s 
 They are what the 
 nnd demand. You 
 well try to develope 
 
 we will hare 
 
 This does not 
 the parliament 
 
 are necessary. 
 
 people want 
 might a a 
 this prov- 
 
 ince without spending money to open it 
 up In a variety of ways, as for a farmer 
 to mnke a farm pay without first clear- 
 ing, fencing It, erecting buildings, etc. 
 We have here a province, 400,000 aqaare 
 miles in extent, rugged In Its exterior, 
 and divided into geographical sections 
 which must be connected by lines of 
 communication, administered, educated, 
 protected, populated. It means that 
 in order that ita reaonrcea may 
 be made available and its possibili- 
 ties realized, we must spend large sums 
 of money, here, there and everywhere. 
 We must first provide the fncilitiea of in- 
 tercourse nnd means of doing business 
 before business can be done. Thnt inct 
 in n word explnina our policy of public 
 works and our financial position at the 
 same time. We cnnnot sit dotvu and 
 wait, Micawber-like, for something to 
 tarn up before we net. We must act 
 thnt things may turn up. We must be 
 missionaries as well as administrator)^ 
 we must bo pioneers for the pioneer. In 
 every district we are met with demands. 
 Our opponents who cry against the debt 
 incurred to meet these requirements, in 
 each district complain that money en- 
 ough has not been spent. Every Opop- 
 aition candidate strives to make you be- 
 lieve thnt the government is extravagant 
 in every other constituency but his own 
 and in thnt he assures you, if elected, no 
 want would go unsupplied.and that every 
 grievance would be adjusted at any cost. 
 If, however, they came to power with 
 a general policy of Inissez fuire, of cur- 
 tailment of expenditure, of doing with- 
 
 I 
 
out public works rather than borrow, and 
 put it in force, yon would soon realize 
 bow grevioualy yon had been deceived, 
 and what false friends and false pro- 
 phets they had been. 
 
 Not Time to Htop Yet. 
 
 Uf courae. a time must come when 
 borrowing should cease, but that time 
 b)iM not arrired yet. When the country 
 is well opened with railways as a farm 
 is with drains, when main roads have 
 boon completed in the important settle- 
 ments, when mining is developed, when, 
 in short, the efFect of expenditure is be- 
 ing felt in new sources of, and expanding 
 rGvenue, then the Income will meet our 
 expenditure, but until then it would be 
 folly to stop half-way and lose the bene- 
 fits of what hud already been done by 
 ten ring it uncompleted. 
 
 Iiifln«noe on Uevenue In KoiitenHy. 
 
 1 will refer presently to the govern- 
 ment railway policy, but I wish to point 
 to Kootenny to show the influence of a 
 liberal expenditure on revenue, and we 
 may reasonably anticipate thnt as Koote- 
 nuy is only one of the many rich mining 
 districts in the province capable of simi- 
 lar results, the same beneficial effect will 
 be general. During ten years the gov- 
 ernment has spent (apart from railways) 
 in round numbers $600,000 in public 
 worlis, roads and trails, hospitals, etc., 
 in Kootenay, East and West. In addi- 
 tion to that the following railways have 
 been assisted liberally: Columbia and 
 Kootenay, Nakusp and Slocan, Kaslo 
 and Slocan, the Nelson and Fort Shep- 
 pard, the B. C. Southern, the Columbia 
 and Western. Mirk now the advance in 
 revenue as shown in the following taken 
 from the public accounts. 
 
 1888 $ 26,425 08 
 
 1889 22,995 94 
 
 1890 48,995 94 
 
 1891 43,986 88 
 
 1892 67,465 49 
 
 1893 91,050 97 
 
 1894 67,923 64 
 
 1896 82,106 58 
 
 1896 140,842 28 
 
 1897 348,804 03 
 
 $939,540 71 
 
 I need say no more to point to the wis- 
 dom of the course pursued and the pos- 
 sibility of an equilibrium being soon M- 
 tablished between revenue and expendi- 
 ture. . I 
 
 A C'l«Hn Ii«cor<l. 
 
 Borne complaint has been made about 
 the way we have expended the money in 
 the various districts. It is stated that 
 we have wasted it, etc. Such a atate- 
 ment is extraordinary from the fact 
 that in ten years, after scrupulous and 
 exacting criticism, the Opposition has 
 failed to point to one important inatance 
 in which thip has been established.. 
 
 Five million dt>llars is a lot of money 
 to spend publicly and there are many 
 districts in which to expend it and a 
 a wide expent of country covered and a 
 variety of conditions to be taken into 
 consideration. It is strange that in all 
 that time the records of the House do not 
 show a single investigation or a proof es- 
 tablishing these statements. It is true, 
 there have been many vague assertions, 
 but a specific chav^e has never been 
 laid, or a specific wrong nli^ged. I de- 
 fy the Opposition to come forward and 
 Hhow it. Can any government in Canada 
 point to a clfaner record? Surely in '■he 
 face of this the Opposition to the govern- 
 ment should blush to repeat what they 
 have never had the courage to make 
 pood on the floor of the House. 
 
 Huw the Monry U Spent. 
 
 With reference to the manner of ex- 
 pending road money, I will just say that 
 it is and always has been the policy of the 
 government to expend it in the Jlstrlet 
 by day labor, employing ns fa' is pos- 
 sible the people of the district, who are 
 thus enabled to reap the advantage doub- 
 ly. It has worked out well, and I see no 
 reason to change it. We have improved 
 the system, however, to this extent, by 
 appointing an engineer of Public Works 
 throughout the Province under whose 
 supervision the whole will be carried on. 
 The Government has been fortunate in 
 securing for this purpose, a gentleman 
 whose abilities as well as his experience 
 for a number of years as resi- 
 dent engineer for the Dominion Govern- 
 
I 
 
 ' ment hnre eminently qunllHed lilin for 
 that duty. Of course, thoHft in 
 cbarre of works have Hometltnes made 
 miHtaki::i and those who are employed 
 as contriK'torh niid <»therwlM«' Bi>nn'- 
 times try to net ahead of the government 
 but as a rule I think onr Public Works 
 are efficiently and honestly carried out; 
 and Huch hnv«* been the aim and «'ffort of 
 the Lands nnd Workn Department, 
 which thojgb much abused, b<. cause it 
 is the great spending department of the 
 Province, is open to the most rigid scrut- 
 iny both as to its officials and its me- 
 thods. * 
 
 THK OilVKKNMKNT'S ItAILWAY 
 POLICY. 
 
 The next thing for consideration In 
 connection with public works is the rail- 
 way policy of the government. Railways 
 are the great essentials to development 
 in all new countries, and this is particu- 
 larly true of British Columbia. It has 
 always been recognized by everybody, to 
 have success, to make and build up a 
 Province out of materials we have so 
 abundantly, we must have railways. 
 The question has been bow to get them. 
 When Tve started out the government of 
 the day adopted what had been the 
 policy of other provinces and of the Do- 
 minion of Canada to subsidize by land 
 grants. It was the only way we could 
 assist. Our credit had not been estab- 
 lished in the money markets. We could 
 not give money, we had plenty of land, 
 so we had to ^ive land. In this way the 
 B. & N. Railway was built, and to this 
 policy is due the inauguration of the 
 splendid railway facilities with which 
 Kootenay is now provided— the Colum- 
 bia & Western, the Kasio & Siocan, the 
 Columbia & Kootenay, the Nelson & 
 Fort Sheppnrd and the B. C. Southern. 
 Although the p)vornment h.id recognized 
 a policy of guarantee of interest, a de- 
 parture was made ou the building of the 
 Nakusp & Slocon. This was the second 
 stage in the development of policy. The 
 land system was good when there was no 
 better, but is open to objections, and al- 
 though the land grants so far alienated 
 by railways contain' "* no large extent of 
 arable or pastoral lands a growing 
 
 sentiment is opposed to that sys- 
 tem, a fact which the joverument re- 
 coguixed when it took the second Htep re- 
 ferred to. But as stated In my speech 
 on the Public Works I^an Act, the sys- 
 tem necessarily implies an' in- 
 deflniteness and uncertainty as to 
 I he amount for which the I'rovitirp. 
 becomes liable; and with the experience 
 we have already had we decided to 
 adopt last year the policy of giving a di- 
 rect and stated amount per mile, by 
 which an exact and known liability 
 assumed. This policy assumes two 
 things, which are admittedly true in our 
 present circumstances: (1) That it is 
 necessary to assist railways in onier 
 that they may be built, and (2) that as- 
 siHtanco Ik beiioMcial and reHuits in a di- 
 rect benefit and gives an indirect nnd 
 adequate return in the increase of the 
 revenue. This year we made a step fur- 
 ther as illustrated in the Coast-Tesiin 
 railway, and stipulated for a share of 
 the proceeds. To some ertent, however, 
 the merits of every railway proposition 
 uiUHt be considered individually. You 
 cannot in a country like British Colum- 
 bia apply a hard and fast principle inas- 
 much as a different set of conditions sur- 
 round and affect each proposition. Those 
 who imagine that some ideal railway pol- 
 icy can be evolved which will cause rail- 
 ways to be built spontaneously and with- 
 out cost to the Province would find t'aat 
 the problem if a gigantic one, and not 
 quite removed from the sphere of mira- 
 cles. Railways cost money, especially in 
 a country sparse in population and pro- 
 lific in mountain ranges. Capital is 
 Htubborn and hard-headed, and when you 
 come to deal with it your theoristi^ find 
 that theory is one thing and practical 
 railway building is another. You must 
 adapt your polic.v *" your conditions, 
 your financial cai:i''iJ>B and the re- 
 quirements of tht- ; t\fst'ng public. Ex- 
 perience is the 1 est Ujicter, and we have 
 proceeded on the -AUes rhich experience 
 has dictated, pioLt.ag in each advance 
 by what bas gonr; > -itcvo. In the mcau- 
 time construction hui gone on and has 
 been even rapid. Our efforts have been 
 successful in accomplishing what we set 
 
 li 
 
 'i 
 

 
 'I 
 
 'i 
 
 oat to perform, and the length of i-ail- 
 wajra already countructed, and In coane 
 of constractioD, and of-linea reaaonabiy 
 in proapect and provided for, ia over 1,- 
 60() Diilea. Thia ia a record of practi- 
 cally ten yeara. It <■ ooo tr, which we 
 can point with aome pride, aii , "tn be a 
 factor of the future developmo, . of the 
 province, the potentiality of ' b ch ncilh- 
 er you nor I can well eati uto at the pre- 
 aent time. I have pre lo tnly pointed to 
 the remarkable way in which rnllwity 
 conatrnction haa I)enefitted tfa-t Koole- 
 naya, and the influence it haa directly 
 brought to bear on the reveiiuea ariaiag 
 out of those diatricta. 
 
 A C'o»i|il«tiiiK L-ink. 
 We have already provided an arterial 
 eyatcm for British Columbia, which when 
 completed, will render the further assidt- 
 ance to railways unnecessary as the 
 sources of trafBc will have been provid- 
 ed so as to make further railway build- 
 ing Belf-Bustaining. In the south rail- 
 way facilities are being liberally provid- 
 ed and when the B. 0. Southern and the 
 Bast Kootenay roads are completed, the 
 business arising out of the great de- 
 velopment there will be of imense vc' 
 ume. Oc the north the line from '.le 
 coast to Teslin Lake, and the C:s8lar 
 Central, which ia now getting uv ier way, 
 will, when opened for traffic/ensure an- 
 other large volume of tn»,^xic there. We 
 have then the comi^'Jting link, from 
 south to north thro.-.^h an immensely fer- 
 tile plateau, t- construct. With the 
 traffic olreo'^y in existence and the tri- 
 butary lines from the coost at the south, 
 centre and north, that will be an under- 
 taking easy of accompWebment, and one 
 that capitalista will toke hold of volun- 
 tarily as affording a substantial profit 
 and immense returns. 
 
 PROVINCIAL FINANCK. 
 
 Closely associated with the subject of 
 public works and railway development is 
 that of finance. In 1887, when I had the 
 honour of being called to the Cabinet as 
 Minister of Finance, I began to enquire 
 into and consider serionsly the advisa- 
 bility of re-organizing the bystem of ob- 
 taining loans. At that time, as you are 
 
 Hware. the money required to be be... '• 
 Oil from time to time was obtained oj 
 individual loans on conditions similar to 
 those upon which municipalities and cor- 
 poratiDUH issue their di>l)eutures, each 
 loan being issued without reference lo 
 any system or to any previous loans. 
 Ah the result of my iMuinirieA, and noting 
 upon the best financial advice of finrn- 
 ritra in London, an Act was paHMi'd au- 
 thoriiing the issue of 3 per cent, inscrib- 
 stock. This action of the government 
 was very much critici8e<l and the goverr- 
 ment was severely blamed for two 
 things: First, for not issuing stock »'.' 
 par; and secondly, for paying a cer* in 
 n mount as premium for the purr ,e of 
 Bt'cui.iiK the conversion of ioay /already 
 in existence, carrying t\ hi;,.'«;r rate of 
 interest. I have alreadr/ on numerous 
 occaHions in my Bud*',' Speeches in the 
 Legialatnre, and i^r .tddressing the elec- 
 tors fully exr-'aned the advantages 
 arising out o^Lain financial policy, which 
 was reall; 'Arrowed from threat Britain 
 hersel' ibe example having' been set by 
 th^'^reat Chancellor of the Exchequer 
 ' ir. Qoschen. In Great Bi-itain uo one 
 questions the wisdom of such n policy, 
 because the public anen of that country 
 understand and appreciate its import- 
 ance. In British Ooiimibin it was gener- 
 ally accepted with satisfaction at the 
 time, and I do not knov/ that any person 
 since that time has put forth any valid 
 reasons why we should return to the old 
 system, or why, In fact, we should not 
 have adopted the present one; but there 
 have been certain of 6tfr opponenta 
 whose assumed knowledge of finance has 
 warranted them in raising the objections 
 referred to. 
 
 I'motiiTsI Benefltf) Derived. 
 The result of adopting the policy of is- 
 suing inscribed stock and of conversion, 
 predicted by myself when it was decid- 
 ed upon, has been fully realized. What 
 was then maintained was that the Pro- 
 vince would reap a very great perman- 
 ent benefit by having its stock listed In 
 the money markets of the world In es- 
 tablishing its credit on a permanent ba- 
 sis, and lowering th« general rate of ia- 
 terest It was ret;ognized then that in 
 
? 't1 
 
 10' 
 
 order to carry out the great enterprises 
 which the development of the Proyince 
 would render imperative, it would be 
 neceBsary from time to time to go to the 
 money markets to raise large sums of 
 money for this purpose, which, from that 
 time forward could be obtained on much 
 more favorable terms. The loan of 1891 
 was issued at 86, or a discount of 14 per 
 cent.. This at the time when the pro- 
 vince had practically no credit and was 
 little known outside of the Dominion of 
 Canada, was the best that could be 
 done, and was at that time considered a 
 must successful loan. Id 1893 deben 
 tores were issued at 91, and in 1895 the 
 12,000,000 loan was floated at 95. Thus 
 we see that notwithstanding the debt had 
 been materially iut.-eased In that time, 
 the credit of the Province had gone 
 steadily up, and that the rate of dis- 
 count had been correspondingly reduc- 
 ed; or in other words, while the discount 
 on the first loan issued ou the inscribed 
 stock principle was 14 per cent, and the 
 net rate of interest was 3 5-8 per cent. 
 in 1895 the rate of discount had fallen 
 to 5 per cent., and the net rate of inter- 
 est to 3 1-10 per cent., and the cost of 
 floating the loan in the latter instance 
 was 3 3-10 per cent., which included all 
 charge in connection therewith, includ- 
 ing those of undti writing. 
 
 Conversion of t)l<l Loans. 
 As to the cost of conversion, this was 
 rendered advisable from financial con- 
 siderations, from the fact that the larger 
 the amount of inscribed stock that 
 could be placed upon the market, the 
 more favourably would investors regard 
 it, ard in this way it was possible to 
 place a sufficient sum on the market to 
 render the operation n snccess. In order 
 to deal in the money markets of the 
 world It must be understood bit there 
 are certain conditions governing invest- 
 ments, and the larger the sum to be 
 placed is the easier it is to finance, 
 provided always, of course, the security 
 is good. You all know that in London, 
 or in any of the other large money cen- 
 tres, only large propositions arc enter- 
 tained, and the larger the amount of 
 stock that can be placed on the market 
 
 at once the better are its chances for 
 success. For instance, if you go to Lon- 
 don and endeavor to float a company, the 
 capital of which is only $50,000 or $100,- 
 000 the chances are, no matter how good, 
 intrinsically the scheme may he, yoa 
 would only be laughed, at for your pains, 
 while one requiring from 250,000 
 pounds to 1,000,000 pounds would be ser- 
 iously considered, if not taken up. The 
 conditions which affect government 
 loans are precisely similar, and It is for 
 this reason, and upon the advice of the 
 best financial men in London that the 
 schemeof conversion was undertaken. It 
 was successful in aohieving the object 
 we had in view, and when we had at- 
 tained that conversion ceased and the 
 balance of the old loans will be allowed 
 to mature. 
 
 Credit Firmly Kstabllshed. 
 I have already, I think, as on previous 
 occasions, clearly indicated the advan- 
 tages to the Province through inscribed 
 stock and the conversion of the debt, 
 and our best informed critics are forced 
 to admit that the policy is a sound one, 
 but affect to question some of the de- 
 tails. The financial credit of the prov- 
 ince has been placed on a sound and per- 
 manent basis, and as already been 
 shown has steadily advanced since 1891, 
 each succeeding loan being placed on 
 more advantageous terms. At the pre- 
 sent time the British Columbia securi- 
 ties are quoted at from 103 to 104, indi- 
 cating a great degree of confidence on the 
 part of investors, and ranking our 3 per 
 cent, inscribed stock with the best Col- 
 onial securities. This I contend is a 
 most creditable position for British Col- 
 umbia to occupy and is one which 
 would not be possible had it not been 
 that our financial policy had been re- 
 organized. We can go on from this out 
 and borrow all the money we require for 
 purposes of development at a large an- 
 nual saving to the Province, and if this 
 government had done nothing more to 
 warrant the support of the electorate I 
 submit that this result would havE- been 
 suflBcient to entitle it to most favorable 
 consideration at the hands of the elector- 
 ate. 
 
 I 
 
 -I'l 
 
'■'•mm'^r ■ * 
 
 11 
 
 I 
 
 The New Loan. 
 
 With reference to the new loan to the 
 amount of $5,000,000, which the govern- 
 ment has obtained authority to issue, I 
 may say that this large sum will not be 
 all required at once, but only as the 
 works to which it is intended to apply 
 are undertaken and proceeded with. It 
 is satisfactory to know, too, that the 
 prospects of new loans to that amcunt, 
 if required, are excellent. I have al- 
 ready had a number of enquiries for a 
 prospectus from men representing large 
 financial firms, so that we may reason- 
 ably expect that the amount placed on 
 the market will be taken up several 
 times over. 
 
 Revenue and Kxpendiiure. 
 
 A word as to the condition of the fin- 
 ances in respect to revenue and expendi- 
 ture. The Opposition speak about the 
 "deficits" of the government, and the 
 impression Ik sought to be left on your 
 minds that the ordinary revenue is not 
 equal to the ordinary expenditure. This 
 is wholly erroneous. The excess of ex- 
 penditure over revenue is not of the na- 
 ture of a deficit as that term is ordin- 
 arily applied. Let me explain. If a 
 farmer's receipts from the ordinary op- 
 erations of his farm are not equal to his 
 ordinary expenses in the way of plough- 
 ing, sowing, reaping, etc., be is going be- 
 hind. He has a "deficit," but if in the 
 course of the improvements and develop- 
 ment of his farm in order to make it 
 capable of the best results he expends 
 a lot of money on reproductive work 
 such as draining, fencing and building, 
 for which he borrows money, and this 
 extends over a period of years, all the 
 while paying interest, he is not neces^^iar- 
 ily losing money. If, on the other hand, 
 though going into debt annually for some 
 time, his receipts are yearly growing 
 larger and are greater than his ordinary 
 expenditure, outside of improvements, he 
 is really making money, and has each 
 year a corresponding surplus. Now, 
 this is exactly the position of the Pro- 
 vince. It is spending annually large 
 sums of money in opening up the coun- 
 try, in roads, trails, bridges, school 
 I ouses, public buildings, assisting rail- 
 
 ways and so on, which things are neceS' 
 sary and expedient and are reproductive. 
 A new country is like a new farm — it 
 requires improving before it can be made 
 to pay. Its revenue is steadily increas- 
 ing. In 1877 it was $408,000, in 1887 
 $008,000 and in 1897 it was $1,383,00. 
 Our expenditure has increased in about 
 tlie same proportion, but in that time we 
 have spent large sums for public works, 
 which for the last ten years has been 
 about $3,500,000, not including the cost 
 of the parliament buildings or railways. 
 As a matter of fact, our ordinary rev- 
 enue exceeds our ordinary expenditure, 
 which the following statement shows: 
 
 Kevenue, 1806-97. . $1,383,048 
 
 Revenue, 1886-87 540,398 
 
 increase, 253 per cent $ 842,650 
 
 Expenditure, 1896-97 $1,569,071 
 
 Public Works 519,164 
 
 Expenditure less public works$l,049,907 
 Revenue 1,049,907 
 
 Balance excess of expenditure.$ 333,141 
 Allowing $200,000 as ordinary expen- 
 diture on public works, it would leave a 
 surplus of $133,141 of revenue over ex- 
 penditure for 1896-97. 
 
 The Influence of Mining;. 
 
 I have already pointed to the influence 
 of public works and railways in affect- 
 ing the revenue from Kootenay districic, 
 which in the last two years alone con- 
 tributed nearly half a million dollars. In 
 all the mining districts similar results 
 will follow. Kootenay so far is prac- 
 tically the only producing district, but 
 in Boundary and throughout Yale, in 
 Lillooet, in Cariboo, in Harrison Lake 
 district, in Vancouver Island, up the 
 Coast, and in Omineca and Cassiar ex- 
 tensive development is going on and in 
 each of these there is every reason to be- 
 lieve there will be results comparable with 
 what we have in Kootenay to-day. The 
 effect on the revenue, if ut all coiupjii 
 able, and we have no reason to assume 
 it will not be, must in the aggregate 
 place the finances of the province in an 
 eminently satisfactory condition before 
 long. We are simply adopting the old- 
 
12 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 fashioned figherman'a poli(7 of throwing 
 a sprat to catch a mackerel. 
 
 Additional Sources of Revenue. 
 
 We must not forppt, however, that 
 population and development bring with 
 them enlarged responsibilities, ic'>reased 
 expenditure. Are there any increased 
 sources of revenue provided? I have 
 been spealcing so far of the revenues 
 which ordinary arise. In the increase of 
 population we have what is known as 
 the head-tax, or "revenue tax." We 
 may assume that by the next census 
 taking the population will have increased 
 to 250,0(H>, or an increase of 150,000 
 in ten years. That means at least $100,- 
 000 more under the above head per an- 
 num than in 1891. This annually in- 
 creases with population. We have also 
 the allowance from the Dominion of 80c 
 per head, which is another $100,000 per 
 annum after 1901. The mineral tax will 
 be $50,000 more per annum at least by 
 that time. 
 
 In addition to all this, however, the 
 government has had in view new sources 
 of revenue of an important character. It 
 has not been unmindful of the fact that 
 the extraordinary development required 
 within the next few years to give a 
 proper impetus to mining and other in- 
 dustries involves an increase cf liability 
 which it is necesary to provide for so as 
 to preserve the equilibrium betwein re- 
 venue and expenditure and a reserve 
 fund for the redemption of the debt 
 without drawing too largely on current 
 revenues year by year, sufficient at least 
 to pay the sinking fund. I have bad 
 under consideration and I hope to be 
 able to lay before the next Legislature, 
 if I am spared as Finance Minister, a 
 measure with this in view, and that 
 without increasing the present ordinary 
 rates of taxation by one cent. I saj I 
 hope to be able to do this. We cannot 
 do everything at ou'^e, and my time 
 was too much occupied to perfect the 
 measure in all its details to submit it at 
 tbe last session; besides the many othfr 
 important matters occupying the atten- 
 tion of the government pre',luded giving 
 the time necessary to one which will de- 
 mand .ery grave consideration, being 
 
 as it would to some degree at least a 
 new departure, and to some extent a re- 
 organization of the present system. I 
 mention this here, net as au issue in the 
 campaign or necessarily an aditional rea- 
 son for the return of the govrnment. I 
 cannot now ask yon to elect me on a 
 policy, the principle of which is un- 
 known to you, but to show you that 
 the government is fully alive to its re- 
 sponsibilities and the considerations 
 which affect the future financial policy 
 of the country are not being lost sight of. 
 
 THE CIVIL SKllVU'E. 
 
 Another matter may be here referred 
 to. Attacks have been made on the civil 
 service, not so much as to the system 
 regulating it, as to the number employ- 
 ed in the service and the manner i<p 
 which they perform their work, Th« 
 civil service, I may say, is always con 
 sidered a fair target. An Oposition in> 
 variably finds fault with it. In the ab^ 
 sence of anything else or in addition to 
 all other things, it is always in ordei 
 to abuse it. I may say here tli * In the 
 absence of any specific charges of in- 
 competency or malfeasance or without 
 knowledge really of the duties to be per- 
 formed, this is a very cowardly and un- 
 just course to pursue, because nccessajr- 
 ily the members of the service are un- 
 able to defend thmselves, and are de 
 barred from "talking back," The> 
 can only be defended in the House, 
 where care is taken not to make the 
 charges, by members of the government 
 responsible foi their conduct. Now, th€ 
 civil service is a body of men, like all 
 other bodies of men, made up of indi- 
 viduals varying in character and in de- 
 gree of qualifications. Some are better 
 than others or not so good as others, 
 if you prefer it that way. Taking the 
 average, however, and I have a person- 
 al knowledge of most of them, I think 
 the civil service of British Columbia 
 compares favorably with that of any 
 other civil service, man for man. in In- 
 dustry, efficiency and general character. 
 I know of no one at Victoria who is not 
 fully employed and with whose services, 
 consistent with i-equiromentt of the 
 service, we could dispense without at 
 
13 
 
 least replacioi,' iiini. The work is cou- 
 stantly increasing in all departments, 
 and we are always, if anything, a little 
 behind lusted of ahead of the require- 
 ments in that respect. In the whole ser- 
 vice in British Columbia, I do not be- 
 lieve that we could dispense with half 
 a dozen men out of the several hundred 
 without ns I say, replacing them. I am, 
 pleased to bear testimony to their gen- 
 eral eflBciency, courtesy aud good work. 
 The only reasonable criticism is one that 
 hi)s not occurred to the Oposition, and 
 that is to my mind the lack of a system 
 of gradation and regular promotion, 
 which is now beginning to be felt ow- 
 ing to the increase of numbers. Sever- 
 al years ago the government had decided 
 on a measure of this kind, combined with 
 a plan of insurance, but it was found 
 difficult in so limited a service as it then 
 was to apply a general and rigid system, 
 aud especially to the outside service, the 
 largest by far, in which the conditions 
 and requirements differ so materially in 
 different districts; and the matter was 
 allowed to drop; but in a very short 
 time, if, indeed the time is not already 
 ripe for it, it will require to be consider- 
 ed again. 
 
 THK KKTHSTRIBUTION ACT. 
 
 Coming now to the question of redis- 
 tribution, although we heard a great 
 deal about it in the House, when the 
 fighting men of the Opposition were play- 
 ing heroes to the "gods," we do not 
 hear so much about it at present. The 
 strange feature about it is that the re- 
 distribution measure of 1894, which was 
 so roundly abused at the time, was 
 strongly eulogized by the Opposition in 
 1808. Now, practically speaking, the re- 
 distribution Act of 1898 in no way ma- 
 terial alters the principles laid down in 
 that of 1804, which has been declared 
 by the Opposition in the House to 
 be a just and pqu'table measure. Prac- 
 tically, the same conditions exist now as 
 did then, and no material revision was 
 necessary. Kootenoy in the meantime 
 had grown to be an important and po- 
 pnloufl district and it was proper that 
 it should have increased representation. 
 
 Three new members were added. Van- 
 couver had grown to be on a parity 
 with Victoria and was given an aiMI- 
 tional member accordingly. The only 
 other place in which conditions had al- 
 te ed was Cassiar. Last year and this, 
 owing to the Yukon excitement, atten- 
 tion has been sudeniy attracted to that 
 vast district, which is lUo.OOO squaie 
 miles in extent, and which has a great 
 variety of rich resources. Although 
 from the distance from the centre of ad- 
 ministration it is difficult, if not impos- 
 sible, to get the names of voters there, 
 there '.re nevertheless sevei"..l thousand 
 people "scattered throughout its extent, 
 and with two important railways to be 
 undertaken it is almost certain that 
 thousands more will be there before long. 
 In addition to these thousands of return- 
 ing Yukon miners will spread over it 
 and important interests will be repre- 
 sented and new industries started. Un- 
 der such circumstances it is eminently 
 proper and in fact essential that such 
 a district should be well represented. 
 The present voting population, by reason 
 of the special conditions existing there.by 
 no means represent what is there and in- 
 finitely less than what will be there In 
 a year or two. To apply a rule of re- 
 presentation on a mathematical basis of 
 voting power to an exoeptiontil district 
 like Cassiar is absurd. 
 
 rriiicipleM »ii<l I'rccfdeiits. 
 
 Outside of the three ridings referred 
 to, the basis of repreicntation was set 
 tied in 1804 and the change in condi- 
 tions or population did not justify any 
 change. I cannot do better here than 
 quote what was stated by the late Chief 
 Justice, then Premier, during the cam- 
 paign of 1894, with reference to the re- 
 distribution .. easure of that year and to 
 my mind it is the clearest statement of 
 the principles we have had. It is simply 
 an impossibility in this province to ap- 
 ply any principles of representation on 
 a mathematical basis of population. Mr. 
 Davie said: 
 
 "One thing that the Redistribution Bill 
 provides for is the equitable division o( 
 representation as between the Mainland 
 and Island. Talk as we like about the 
 
w 
 
 14 
 
 uiatter of sectioualiam involved, that ia 
 renlly the kernel of the whole problem, 
 aiud any arrangement that did not ac- 
 complish that would fail to be satisfac- 
 tory. We nil know, everybody knows 
 who is at all familiar with the politics of 
 British Columbia, that the demand for 
 a Redistributiou Bill arose out of con- 
 ditions of inequality in this respect as 
 the result of development in recent 
 years which threw the preponderance of 
 ()opulation on the Mainland. The agi- 
 tation of the Mainland Association and 
 Jill the agitation of the past five or six 
 years has been on those lines. Mr. 
 Brown proposes to make the Oascades 
 the dividing line, but \.hat is and has al- 
 ways been regarded as the natural di- 
 viding line is the Gulf of Georgia. The 
 two large and distinct sections of the 
 province, geographical and political, are 
 the Mainland and the Island. Political- 
 ly this division had its root in the early 
 history of the province, or rather of the 
 provinces, because Vancouver Island 
 and British Columbia were originally 
 separate Crown Colonies, and this dis- 
 tinction has been continued more or less. 
 It is conditio ns that actually exist that 
 we must face, not those which might 
 be. Speaking in round numbers the 
 white population of the Island and 
 Mainland, according to the census, are 
 respectively 27,500 and 37,500. Compar- 
 atively sneaking, tie same lel'itive con- 
 ditions exist in botli. Tbt'refore, an ex- 
 act proportion of representation on that 
 basis is the ft' .rest settlement of a ques- 
 tion into which sectional feeling has un- 
 doubtedly entered to a very large ex- 
 tent, one which has, in fact, been consti- 
 tuted thereby. It settles a long standing 
 grievance, but no sooner was a bill 
 brought down satisfying the conditions 
 of equality than the governm^ut was 
 charged with sectionalism, as though 
 the better way. the just way, to obliter- 
 ate sectiouulism altogether, were uot to 
 remove the cause. In doing this the Is- 
 land has given up two members, the 
 Mainland has gained two. The real 
 grievance of Mr. Brown now is that he 
 has no longer reason to kick. He has 
 lost his only plank and is floundering \a 
 the sea. 
 
 I'ro«e<lpnt in CMiifpfltirutioii. 
 
 " Some fault has been found because 
 Esquimalt still retains two members. * 
 * * There is a principle obtaining 
 here whTch has been observed in redls* 
 trlbution measures in Canada and in 
 England, and which applies to several 
 constituencies both on the Island and on 
 the Mainland. It has had general re- 
 cognition throughout the Empire in mat- 
 ters of representation. 
 
 "At the time of Confederation in Can- 
 ada, so serious a matter as representa- 
 tion had, it is needless to say, careful 
 consideration, and ttr« principle to 
 which we refer was recognized to such 
 a degree as to be embodied in the Arti- 
 cles, which we quote as follows: 
 " ' (4.) On any such re-adjustment the 
 number of members for a province shall 
 not be reduced unless the proportion 
 which the number of the population of 
 the province bear to the number of the 
 aggregate population of Canada at the 
 then last preceding readjustment of the 
 number of members for the province is 
 ascertained at the latest census to be di- 
 minished by one-twentieth part or up- 
 wards.' 
 
 " '(4) Such readjustment shall not take 
 effect until the termination of the then 
 existing parliament." 
 
 " '(52.) The number of members of the 
 House of Commons may be from time to 
 time increased by the parliament of 
 Canada, provided the proportionate re- 
 presentation of the provinces prescrib- 
 ed by this Act is not thereby disturbed.' 
 
 KecogniKed Throughout the Kinpire. 
 
 " It is almost a maxim of government 
 that the right of franchise once granted 
 to an individual should never be taken 
 away except for extraordinary reasons. 
 What is true of the unit is true of the 
 community. In other words, representa- 
 tion in a sense becomes a vested right, 
 which is only interfered with or lessened 
 by reason of materially altered circum- 
 stances, As we have shown, represen- 
 tation in Canada is only permitted to be 
 restricted when a material reduction in 
 population takes place, such as we see il- 
 lustrated in the case of Cariboo. Que- 
 
15 
 
 h^c province, so jenlous w«h if of its iin- 
 olent rights nnd privileges, stipiilntod for 
 fl fixed representntion, one thnt could 
 not be altered, nnd the Fnthers of Con- 
 foderntion. recof;ni7.in); the safe principle 
 we have adverted to, adopted it, and 
 <}uebec, the oldest and primordial unit 
 of Canada, became the standard upon 
 which the representation of the other 
 and newer provinces was based. If we 
 go to Great Britain we find that prin- 
 ciple has been respected. Speaking gen- 
 erally the British constitution wherever 
 in force, though liberal in the enlarge- 
 ment of representation, regards privil- 
 eges once granted as sacred and rightly 
 so, because the stability of the consti- 
 tntion is due to constant and uniform 
 application of stable principles. Any 
 changes that are made are effected with 
 great caution and only when circum- 
 stances and conditions have so altered 
 as to render it imperative in the public 
 interests. As a consequence, we find 
 both in Canada as a whole and in Great 
 Britain disparities in representation, 
 much greater than exist or will exist 
 tinder the new measure of representation 
 in British Columbia, notwitbstanding 
 that population is more uniform and con- 
 ditions less diverse than here." 
 
 OTHKK IMPOHTANT orKSTIONS. 
 
 One or two things more and I think I 
 •will have dealt with the main objections 
 to the government policy. I say "main" 
 oiijections, because it is practically im- 
 possible within reasonable limits to deal 
 with all the Opposition Las to say, much 
 relating to mere matters of detail. 
 Nothing with these gentlemen is right. 
 By no possibility, could this government, 
 according to their peculiar views, have 
 <lone anything, even by accident, which 
 was aot absolutely bad. 
 
 Coniientinn With CoinpanlcH. 
 
 I have been abused most virulently 
 nuil persistently for my connection with 
 one or two English companies organized 
 for the development of the Yukon trade 
 and mining in this province. It has 
 been openly stated that I accepted a 
 sent on the directorate for the purpose 
 of using my position and my 
 
 influence to assist them— of eT«a 
 taking advantage of secret knowl- 
 edge which I possessed aa a 
 member of the Executive to farther their 
 interests and my own. I cannot deal 
 with this matter as I would like to, ow- 
 ing to it being before the courts, having 
 taken a course to which I wati compelled 
 to place my defamers where they would 
 be compelled either to prove their state- 
 ments or stand before the public in their 
 true light. In the meantime I can only 
 say that I have lived long enough in 
 British Columbia and am suflSciently 
 well known in private and public life to 
 abide in confidence the result of that 
 action and the verdict of the people of 
 the Province as to whether I have pros- 
 tituted or am capable of prostituting a 
 public trust for private and mercenary 
 purposes. In taking the position I did 
 so, not without enquiry as to the per- 
 sonnel and objects of the companies and 
 as a right to which my public office was 
 no bur, or wjth which it was not incon- 
 sistent or incompatible. If my name was 
 in any way improperly used it was with- 
 out my knowledge or authority. The 
 Opposition press has quoted with great 
 eagerness extracts from English papers 
 on the subject, which they are still p«r 
 iidiug as campaign literature. I just 
 submit ' )r their consideration an extract 
 from the proceedings of the Imperial 
 parliament, taken from the London 
 Daily Timeo- 
 
 "Mr. Field (Dublin, St. S'atrick's) ask- 
 ed the First Lord of the Treasury whe- 
 ther he would grant a return of the 
 members of the House who were direc- 
 tors of one or more public companies. 
 
 "Mr. Balfour— I do not think anvthing 
 would be gained by such a return. 
 
 "Mr. MiicNeill (Donejjal, S.) askf^d the 
 right hon. gentleman whether he was 
 aware that 23 ministers divided 47 di- 
 rectorates amongst them. 
 
 "Mr. Balfour— No, I am not aware of 
 that." 
 
 I had not intended during the time 
 that this matter was before the courts 
 to have referred to it, but the indecency 
 with which the Opposition disregarded 
 the law in this respect compels me to re- 
 fer to It. 
 
16 
 
 Tlie MortKMgt? Tax. 
 
 Auotber matter that has been persist- 
 ently kept before the electors is the mort- 
 gage tax-, and upon this question the Op- 
 position Ih appealing for support on ac- 
 count of its proposal to nbolish the 
 tax on mortgages, altogether. There is 
 anything between $15,000,000 and $25,- 
 000,000 invested in mortgages in this 
 ProTince, which under this proposal, 
 would escape taxation entirely, and 
 the Province would lose $60,000 in rev- 
 enue. There is a great deal of confu- 
 sion in the minds of many persons re- 
 garding the nature of the tax on mort- 
 gages. There is in the assessment act 
 specifically no tax on mortgages. A 
 mortgage is simply one form of 
 personal property and as such is 
 liable to be assessed. In all the pro- 
 vinces, in all the states of the Union, 
 and in Great Britain this rule obtains. 
 Mortgages are nowhere exempt. They 
 constitute a form of tapttal that should 
 above all others b"e maffe (o pay, be- 
 cause it is not productive and earns a 
 safe dividend. It is not, therefore, a 
 question of whether mortgages should 
 pay taxes or not, because there can be 
 no question as to that; but as to how the 
 government should proceed in order that 
 the man upon whom the tax is 
 levied and who, 't is the in- 
 tention of the Act, should pay 
 and not the borrower. No other sub- 
 ject has had more serious considera- 
 tion than this at the hands of the gov- 
 ernment, which recognizes that in many 
 cases it leads to a hardship. For the 
 purpose of obtaining all the possible data 
 on the subject and a report that ..may 
 lead to a solution f the incidence of 
 taxation falling on the wrong shoulders 
 —though, of course, no one borrowing 
 money can be made to pay it without 
 first agreeing voluntarily to do so— has 
 been referred among other matters to a 
 commission, as the result of wliich. judg- 
 ing from its personnel, I thidk you wijl 
 agree with r^o in saying there ought to 
 be much liglit thrown on the whole mat- 
 ter and a useful report r< ceived. 
 
 Allfii I.Hliiir. 
 
 Alien labor is another question, which 
 
 has come prominently to the front. The 
 government, though it sympathizes with 
 the sentiment in favor of retaining the 
 home marl(et for home and white labor, 
 regards this, owing to the constitutional 
 considerations involved, as an open ques- 
 tion. The government believes in :ill 
 public works, so far as possible being 
 carried on by our citizens, and in all 
 government works of whatever charac- 
 ter the government recognizes and acts 
 on that belief. The whole subject of 
 employing Chinese underground in coal 
 mines is before the courts and wc ex- 
 pect an authoritative decision before long 
 from the highest court in the realm to 
 which it has been referred. The alien 
 law of 1897 was passed with the con- 
 sent and the assistance of the govern- 
 ment, but the Liutenant-Governor saw 
 fit on his own responsibility to withheld 
 his sanction before it was referred to 
 His Excellency at Ottawa for review. 
 From the reply received from the Min- 
 ister of the Justice at Ottawa 
 it will be seen that the Domin- 
 ion refuses to take the responsi- 
 bility of declaring it valid, and there 
 are, therefore, grave doubts as to its 
 constitutionality. If it were a question 
 alone affecting the Chinese the diflBculty 
 would not be so great, althougli the 
 whole subject is one for judicial refer- 
 ence, but in dealing with the Japanese 
 it is dealing with a nation that is recog- 
 nized as civilized and whatever may be 
 our provincial interests or our individual 
 sympathies or views we are not permit- 
 ted to infringe on treaty rights that the 
 Imperial Government is bound to re- 
 spect and maintain. I trust that the 
 constitutional limitations of the Provin- 
 cial legislature will shortly be strictly de- 
 fined, and that the whole subject may be 
 cleared up. Of this you may be assured 
 that so far as in the power of the pro- 
 vince lies the rights and interests of la- 
 bor will be upheld. Upon that score 
 the legislative enactments on our statute- 
 books will compare favorably with those 
 of any other province or part of the 
 Dominion or Empire. There is absolute 
 equality established under the law and 
 every right and intemt are fnlly pro- 
 tected. 
 
>S 'V^* 
 
 17 
 
 1 '■■*f4 
 
 Alliiflri' Llceimeii. 
 
 Th*' (juestioii of niinorK* lici'iiHi's is iiii- 
 other that hits had the vory HoriouB con- 
 Bideiatioii of th^' governmeut. It Ih, uu- 
 derstand, as in the case of tbc mortgage 
 tiiz, one which has always been in exis- 
 tence in British Columbia, and for which 
 this government is not in any way le- 
 hponsible, as you would he led to believi'. 
 This government luis simply not altered 
 the law, that is all. It was announced 
 some time ago that this tax on work- 
 Jnfc' miners in nietallifennis mines wowld 
 be taken off, but a yreat deal of opijosi- 
 tion was raised, on the ground that the 
 majority of the miners in the new dis- 
 tricts, many of wh(»ni, by the way, are 
 prospectors and claim owners as well, 
 lire not British subjects, and while earn- 
 ing tt livelihood and having aft the ad- 
 vantages of citizenship, would contribute 
 . jiracticnlly nothing to the revenues oi 
 (he country. This is something the force 
 of which cannot be denied. I am willing 
 to admit the justice of there being nu 
 distinction among working miners yf 
 any class, and the governmeut is dis 
 posed to place all on equal footing ai 
 Miou as it can see its way clear to do so. 
 Ihe governmeut will endeavor to so ad- 
 just the matter, keeping in mind the ob- 
 jection which has already been referred 
 to, as to meet the whole requirements of 
 ihe case. It is a matter surrounded with 
 some diUlculties; but can, I believe, bo 
 lemedied satisfactorily. Bear in mind 
 that the miuers of Kootenay have not 
 asked to have this tax taken off; in fact, 
 there were strong representations made 
 that they desired to have it left on. They 
 did not object to the tax, as they wish 
 ihe privileges of locating and recording 
 claims; but they do object to the working 
 miuers in the coal mines being exempt- 
 ed. There is a good deal of difference, 
 however, after all, between metalliferous 
 mining and coal mining, and the priv- 
 ilege of locating and recording claims, 
 which is valuable to those engaged in 
 ■me is totally useless to the other. There 
 ii» really a new condition of affairs we 
 linve to deal with, now that mining has 
 -iievelopea Into a permanent industry. 
 
 and it is one with which former govern- 
 ments have not had to deal. 
 
 IMI'OKTANT IXTKKKSTS. 
 
 I have not so far dealt specitically with 
 the many important interests which have 
 had the consideration of the goverumeat 
 for a number of years— such as mining, 
 agriculture, labor, etc., etc. Concerning 
 these I have but to say that ♦he legisla- 
 tion affecting them is before you in the 
 statute books, and it is with pleasure that 
 1 can point to the fact that in each of 
 these the government has adopted the 
 most advanced and |)ractical measures 
 that are anywhere to be found in opera- 
 lion on this continent. In some* important 
 respects we have set the pace for the 
 rest of the Dominion. 
 
 Milling uiut Milling; Lhwh. 
 
 Our mining laws have reached a state 
 of development admittedly equal, if not 
 superior, to thos? of any other mining 
 country in the world. The facilities 
 which they afford for the prosecution of 
 the industry, the protection which is ex- 
 tended to the interests of capital and 
 labor employed therein, and the equitable 
 nninner in which the laws governing it 
 are administered, are all recognized as 
 eminently satisfactory and beneficial. 
 The Dominion government has paid this 
 Province the high compliment of adopting 
 our cod(! in its entirety for the whole 
 Northwest Territory, and unorganized 
 portions of Canada. I need not refer to 
 the character of the work done by the 
 mining bureau, inaugurated a year or 
 two ago, or the splendid results that have 
 been achieved. There is but one senti- 
 ment tliroughout the province in regard 
 to that. The reports issued have inspired 
 coulidence everywhere, and we have the 
 ! atisfaction of knowing that they are 
 eagerly sought after and are reliable 
 guides to our mineral resources. 
 
 Agricultural Legislation. 
 
 I have been accused of having made 
 a "hobl.y" of tiuunce by a leading mem- 
 ber of the opposition, the editor of the 
 Nows- Advertiser, who states that a man 
 with a "hobby" is dangerous. Well, I 
 never regarded it as a bad thing at al! 
 
18 
 
 to have ii "hobby." I never knew a niun 
 yet to Hut'ceed h; unythinj? who did not 
 make it ii hobby; and if the gentleuuui 
 referred to conKratiilntes himself upon 
 bis own failures urisinK from his lack of 
 one, he is welcome to the consolation the 
 fact affords him. I was t;oinK to say, 
 however, that if I had a hobby other 
 than tinaucu it was the development of 
 agricultural interesta in this Province; 
 and let me say here that in the atten- 
 tion which has been paid to agriculture in 
 British Columbia and the practical legis- 
 lation and administration affecting it, 
 this provinc-e is clearly ahead of the oth- 
 er provinces and fully abreast of the 
 times. 1 claim without fear of contradic- 
 tion that the present interest which has 
 been manifested among our farmers in 
 their prof'28sion and the improved meth- 
 ods coming in vogue are a direct result 
 of efforts the government has put forth. 
 In the assistance given to agricultural 
 societies; in aiding and encouraging the 
 Fruit Growers', Flockmasters' and 
 Dairying Associations, in establishing a 
 Department of Agriculture, a Board of 
 Horticulture for educational and 
 protective purposes, and Farmers' 
 Institutes, and our most recent 
 act in providing for Agricultural 
 Credit Associations and travelling 
 libraries, a practical impetus has 
 been given to the industry, and a far- 
 reaching intluence will be exercised in 
 its :uture. Take the Board of Horticul- 
 ture alone, and it has saved many thous- 
 ands of dollars to the farmers in the rigid 
 system of quarantine established, and 
 will btf productive of many thousands 
 more in the practical asslatance that its 
 members have rendered to farmers, ll 
 other provinces had instituted a similar 
 system it would not have been necessary 
 for the Dominion government to have 
 stopped the importation of nursery stock, 
 which, though it may be necessary for 
 the rest of Canada, is mu».h to the detri- 
 ment cf British Columbiji at the pres- 
 ent time. 
 
 Cta«ap Money and Fanners' Institute*. 
 
 In the Farmers' Institutes a system 
 has been established which is highly ap- 
 preciated and is doing great good. By 
 
 the act providing for Agricultural Credit 
 Associations, a system largely borrowed 
 from Europe, where it has proved to be 
 eminently successful and whereby the 
 means it has at hand for obtaining money 
 tor purposes of development at low inter- 
 est, tending to greatly cheapen the gen- 
 eral rate, the government has taken a 
 long step forward and has set an examiil'> 
 to the whole continent. The OppositioD 
 in its efforts to weaken the cause of 
 cheap money refer to it as "political hum- 
 bug." It is signibcant, however, that 
 they did not dare to oppose it in the 
 House, thoDgh they did their beat to ren- 
 der it inoperative by introducing ameud- 
 n>""t" that if adopted would have made 
 it useless. If it was "humbug" it was 
 their duty to have opposed it. I may suy 
 that I was never more earnest or sin- 
 cere in any public measure than in my 
 endeavor to find a practical solution of 
 the problem of "cheap money" as it is 
 called, and I am fully impressed with 
 the importance of the effort that has been 
 made. No community had ever a better 
 opportunity than the farmers of British 
 Columbia now have to get money at prac- 
 tically government rates. The machin- 
 ery is there to take hold of, and it rests 
 with the farmers themselv 3. If the 
 principle of co-operation is • ot accepted 
 and acted upon, the government caumt 
 be blumed. It is a new departure upon 
 this continent, and will be a matter of 
 slow growth; but if the system has stood 
 the test of half a century in Europe, 
 having attained to enormous proportions, 
 then it shmild stand the test here. 
 
 All Agriciiltiirnl Coiniiilssion. 
 
 There are a number of other subjects 
 — problems of agriculture — irrigation, the 
 mortgage tax, cold storage, etc., which 
 have been referred to a commission, com- 
 posed of two men, whose position in re- 
 lation to agricultural matters, and whose 
 abilities as farmers must command the 
 respect of all; and their selection will, 
 in the judgment of all who know them, 
 be the best guarantee that the govern- 
 ment intends to deal seriously and earn- 
 estly with the subjects assigned to them 
 for investigation. More I need not say. 
 
19 
 
 ' 
 
 Labor I^awM. 
 
 In reHpect to labor interestn, 1 cau ouly 
 repeat in other wonltt what I have al- 
 ready Btoted when referring to the Alien 
 law. No necessary nieuHiire of protoc- 
 tion in the rights to which every man is 
 entitled in pursuing his avocations of life 
 has been denied. Not only do the many 
 measures on the statute book testify to 
 that, but the satisfactory relations which 
 exist between the employer and employed 
 in this province is proof of it. 
 
 ItKITISH COLlTMItIA WKt.1. 
 <J<»VKKNKI>. 
 
 It is unnecessary here to refer to our 
 municipal code, to the administration of 
 justice, to the efficient system an<l high 
 standard of education in the Pr vince. 
 to the laws which govern and affect per- 
 sonal and property rights or the high 
 moral status of every community. These 
 are well established in the good opinion 
 of our own citizens and in the outside 
 world as well. 
 
 All these are considerations which in 
 a campaign of abuse ond partizan oppo- 
 sition are lost sight of or studiously ig 
 Dored by the opponents of the govern- 
 ment. They are matters, however, for 
 the electors to seriously consider, and 
 considerations which induce the govern- 
 ment to confidently seek their support 
 and renewal of confidence. I say unhesi- 
 tatingly that British Columbia is one of 
 the best governed of the provinces to- 
 day in all matters affecting the inter- 
 ests of its citizens. 
 
 A FAKTY AVITHOCT A POLICY. 
 
 There has not bi'en throughout this 
 
 campaign a single detail of policy enuo- 
 elated by the Opposition. They claim 
 to have a platfonu with numerous 
 planks; but, I am open to contradiction 
 when I say that, b"yon(l the most virul- 
 ent abuse and extravagant criticism of 
 what the government has done, there bus 
 not been a single and well-defiucd stat;- 
 ment of bow thf Opposition would bar* 
 dealt with any of the many important 
 matters that have been dealt with by the 
 government, had they been in power; or 
 how they propose to deal with any other 
 matters that are now before or may 
 come before the country in the near fu- 
 ture. If this may not be true I chal- 
 lenge tbe production in tangible form of 
 an answer. If it be true, then I ask you 
 to accept the Opposition protestations at 
 their true value. 
 
 In concluding my remarks to you, nec- 
 essarily of a lengthened character, I 
 make not personal appeals for support. I 
 have been just ten years In public life 
 as a minister of the Crown and as your 
 servant in assinting iu administering 
 your affairs; and if in your opinion I 
 have executed that trust faithfully I on- 
 ly request that you will continue to ex- 
 tend the confidence reposed in me and in 
 the administration of which I have th«.- 
 honor to be leader, for so long, for still 
 another term; and I shall, as iu the past, 
 endeavor to fulfill the duties pertalui'ig 
 to my office to the best of my ability in 
 your interests and to your satisfaction. 
 
 I am. Gentlemen and Electors, 
 Years faithfolly, 
 
 J. H. TURNER