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GA 
 
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THE LOCAL ELECTIONS- 
 
 LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE 
 
 CAMPAIGN PAMPHLET, 
 
 CONTAFNINO 
 
 FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PEOPLE, 
 
 RELATIVE TO 
 
 THE ISSUES TO BE DECIDED IN JUNE. 
 
 ALSO 
 
 IheSpeochlf.ILlIdilli,E:t.,llI.r.F., 
 
 (opposition lkadeu,) ^ 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE MASS MEETING, HELD AT RICHMOND 
 HILL, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 25rH, 1879. 
 
 TORONTO : 
 Williams, Sleeth & MacMillan, Printers, 124 Bay St. 
 
 1879. 
 
 h 
 
 I 
 
 fi 
 
 ■ ■ 
 
 1->*l- >>7 
 
 .## 
 
Ml) 
 
 i «j 
 
 aafci 
 
 ^(.n 
 
THE LOCAL ELECTIONS I 
 
 The Issues to be Decided by the People at the Polls 5th June. 
 
 THE FINANCIAL POSITION. 
 
 «!' 
 
 Sandfield Maodonald opposed the Con- 
 federation scheme on the ground that it 
 would result in too much govermment. 
 However, when the British ^orth Ameir* 
 ica Act became law, and the union of the 
 Provinces was oonsum mated, he loyally 
 accepted the situation, and served the 
 country with rare devotion to the day of 
 his death. Last summer, in a speech at 
 Lindsay^ Hon. George Brown, who 
 libelled Sandfield diaily from 1867 to 
 1871, recanted and paid the dead states- 
 man a worthy tribute. " Sandfield 
 Macdonald," said Mr. Brown, " was a 
 man who would neither do wrong him- 
 self, nor allow those around him to do 
 wrong." As first Premier of Ontario, 
 Sandfield laid it down as his chief prin- 
 ciple, tbat economy in Local affairs was 
 necessary to the existence of the Federal 
 system. Holding this view, he guarded 
 the public chest jealously ; indeed it has 
 been said, and with some degree of truth, 
 that his parsimony brought about bis 
 defeat. Had he spent the public money 
 with a lavish hand, as his successors have 
 done, he would have secured the allegi- 
 ance instead of arousing the hostility of 
 
 the powerful rings and combinations 
 that always beset a full treasury. In 
 1869, while visiting St. Andrew's, in the 
 County of Glengarry, where he was 
 buried three years afterwards, he was 
 accused of "niggardliness," by a promin- 
 ent local politician, and his reply is worth 
 reproducing : "I admit I am niggardly. 
 I deal with the public money as though 
 I were dealing with my own personal 
 fun«ls. I am (juite convinced — I took 
 this ground during the Confederation de- 
 bates — that an excessive or extravagtJit 
 expenditure would m the long run lead 
 the people to comp'.^'n of the cost of 
 Local government, tond the next step 
 would be the overthrow of our present 
 governmetital system. So lung as I have 
 the honor to be a member of the Ontario 
 Crovernment, I shall continue to be 
 ' niggardly,' for economy, the strict«irt 
 and most careful economy, is the sheet 
 anchor of the Federal constitution." 
 When this faithful public servant was 
 defeated in the Legislature, a new order 
 of things was established, and his succes- 
 sors, aflfecting to despise his policy of 
 parsimony, launched out into excessive 
 
 L, 
 
 
 n 
 
expendituro. The roaiilt bears wituesB 
 to the accuracy of Sundtield'a furesight. 
 The public burdens have become alinoBt 
 intolerable, and men do not hcHitato to 
 say we have far too much governmenl. 
 ic IS certain, unless a ladical chang3 is 
 UDide, tliat tliu revolution he foresaw will 
 spring up, and that before uianv years. 
 The agitation against the cost of Local 
 l(ovornnient is not contiued to Ontario ; 
 It is general throughout tiio Dominion. 
 In one or tvvc vi the J^rovincea they have 
 abolished, or are about to abolish, the 
 Legislative c'ouncils ; while in others 
 Local Union is proponed. The prevail- 
 ing opinion in the Provinces referied to 
 is that the Federal system must be pre- 
 served at any cost, and it is felt that 
 economy is the only means of salvatii>u. 
 i'his is also the view taken by the Oppo- 
 sition in the Ontario Legislature. Mr. 
 Mowat and his followers, and the Minis- 
 terial press throughout the Province, 
 with a few notable exceptions, maintain, 
 on the other hand, that the public bur- 
 dens can be still further increased with- 
 out straining the back ot the tax-payer or 
 imperilling the existence ot the present 
 system, indeed they hold that a sweep- 
 ing measure of economy, such as the 
 Opposition favor, would result in the de- 
 struction of this system. It is for the 
 people to judge of the respective posi- 
 tions of the two parties, and a[ivo a deci- 
 sion in the best interests of the country. 
 The Dominion, with a population of 
 4,000,000 pet)ple, is governed by a 
 Governor-General, seven Lieut-Gover- 
 nors ot Provinces, and the Lieut-Gover- 
 nor of the Korth-West Territories — nine 
 governors in ail. We have sixty-tive 
 Executive Councillors, viz. — 
 
 Dominion 13 
 
 Ontario G 
 
 Quebec 7 
 
 Nova Scotia 9 
 
 New Brunswick 8 
 
 P. E. Island 6 
 
 Manitoba 4 
 
 British Columl)ia 3 
 
 North- West TerritorieE 3 
 
 Keewatin 
 
 (55 
 
 We have 660 representatives, the Ex- 
 ecutive Couusellers included, viz. : 
 
 House of Coinmona 206 
 
 Honatc 77 
 
 Ontario Assembly 88 
 
 Quebec Assembly 65 
 
 Quebec Legislative Council 24 
 
 Nova iScotia A&»embly. 38 
 
 Nova Scotia Legislativo Council IS) 
 
 New Brunswick Assembly 39 
 
 New Brunswick Legislative Counsel . . 16 
 
 P. E. Island Assembly 28 
 
 P. E. island Legislative Council 7 
 
 Manitoba Assembly 28 
 
 British Columbia Assembly 25 
 
 660 
 
 This is one representative for every 
 6,000 souh, or one for every 600 votei s, 
 reckcciing every tenth person a voter. 
 In the same proportion, the United 
 States would have 7,260, and Great 
 Britain, 6,000 representatives. The 
 British Empire, with its 280,000,000 
 people, would have over 40,000 repre- 
 sentatives. The cost of Civil Govern- 
 ment, i. e. of the salaries, contingencies, 
 &c., of governors, ministers and depart- 
 mental clerks, is as follows : 
 
 Dominion ^13,000 
 
 Ontario 159,003 
 
 Quebec 165,000 
 
 Nova Scotia 34.000 
 
 New Brunswick.. 21,0CO 
 
 Other Provinces 32,000 
 
 $1,224,000 
 
 The cost of Legislation, i. e. indemni- 
 ties to members, salaries of the Speakers^ 
 clerks, &c. , is as follows : 
 
 'A 
 
r 
 
 r 
 
 Dominion 159(3,000 
 
 Ontario 122,000 
 
 Quebec 108,000 
 
 Nova Scotia 3»,000 
 
 New Brunswick 41,000 
 
 Other Provinces 60,000 
 
 81,010,000 
 The uust of the adiiiiiiiatration of Jus- 
 tice, /. I', of maintaininj{ the maohiuery 
 of law, 18 BA follows : 
 
 Dominior ?o05,000 
 
 Ontario 280,000 
 
 Quebec 405,000 
 
 Nova Scotia 18,000 
 
 New Brunswick 17,000 
 
 Other Provinces 36,000 
 
 lgl,32().000 
 
 The cost of £aucatioii, which is paid 
 wholly by bhe Provinces, is as follows : 
 
 Ontario ^ 550,000 
 
 Quebec 301,000 
 
 Nova Sootia 220,000 
 
 New Brunswick ll!t,000 
 
 Other Provinces 82 I^KX) 
 
 jni- 
 ers. 
 
 $1,332,000 
 
 Lastly, the cost of Customs, Excise, 
 Post Office, Government railways, i^c, 
 being the salaries of Government em- 
 ployes in those branches of the service 
 which belong to the Federal (iovoru- 
 ment, 's as follows : 
 
 Pensions and Superannua- 
 tions S 217,000 
 
 Customs 722.00U 
 
 Excise 211,000 
 
 Weights and Measures Ill, 000 
 
 Post Office 1,705,000 
 
 Government Rail ways. Canals, 
 
 &c 2,352,000 
 
 Fisheries and Lighthouse Ser- 
 vice 507,000 
 
 iiS,885,000 
 
 The ii^irea throu^i^hout are those for 
 1877, the latest obtainable in a complete 
 form ; the figures for 1878 not having 
 been submitted yet in Qiiebec, Nova 
 Scotia, British Columbia, and Prince 
 Edward Island. To sum up, the total 
 cost of government. Dominion and Pro- 
 vincial — exclusive of the amouiits spent 
 on Immigration, Police, Peiiitentaries, 
 Debt Management and Interest, Hospi- 
 tals and Charities, Indians, Public Works 
 Maintenance, &c. — is upward of ^10,- 
 750.000 a year, or over 1*2.50 uer head of 
 the population. In addition to this load, 
 moreover, we have to oiirry our munici- 
 pal governments, of the cost of which it 
 is impossible to form an estimate. In 
 Ontario alone, there aru 39 counties with 
 county guvorninents, and 490 township 
 municipalities, and 172 incrirpo^ated 
 cities, towns, and viliage^, each with itH 
 little government, its office-holders, and 
 paraphernalia. It needs no argument to 
 prove that all this is a tremendous tax 
 upon the energies of the people. Whole- 
 sale reduofhion and simplitication could 
 not fail to be advantageous ; certainly 
 they would save the Federal sy.stem 
 from the agitation by which it is already 
 menaced. 
 
 The present Dominion (l!ove^nni^.nt, 
 although the short time they have been 
 in office huj: been fully occupied in the 
 preparatiiin of measures of vast import- 
 ance, have already taken a step in the 
 direction of economy. The new Goveni- 
 meiit in Nova Scotia — the so-called Re- 
 tor m Government of that F^rovince was 
 hurled from power on the memorable 
 17th September— have also entered on a 
 policy or retrenchnmnt. although the 
 Refoim majority in the Legislative Coun- 
 cil has baulked, for the time being, their 
 efforts to abolish that body ; and the 
 men who have just been called to power 
 in Prince Edward island are moving on 
 the same line. In this Province, the 
 necessity for economy is etjually press- 
 
 =1 
 
ing. The bugua Retortnen who have 
 niled U8 for seven yeari, have added 
 enormously to the cost of every branch 
 of the public service. They did wrong, 
 but it was of a piece with their general 
 extrHvngance, when they increased the 
 number of representatives. In the 
 Dominion Parliament it is only right and 
 proper that the leading Province in the 
 Union should have a commanding repre- 
 sentation ; but there is little need for 
 eighty eight members in the Local 
 House. And the Opposition opposed 
 strongly Mr. Mnjrat's Bill, adding eight 
 new niembers at thu last general 
 election. 
 
 On tke ({uestittii of the expenditure, 
 both parties are on the record. The 
 Keformurs retain nothing of their party 
 but the empty name ; and those inde- 
 pendent men who voted for thom because 
 of their strenuous profession of economy 
 while in Opposition, cannot do so again 
 and be consistent. In 1SG8, the tost of 
 Civil Government was $02,000, and in 
 1871, $108,000, being an increase in four 
 years of 17 per cent. In 1878 the cost 
 was $159,000, showing an increase in the 
 seven years of Reform rule of over 41 
 p^r cent. In 1868, the cost of Legisla- 
 tion was $86,000, and in 1871, $94,000, 
 being an increase in the iour years of 9 
 per cent. In 1878 the cost was $126,000, 
 showing an increase in the seven years of 
 Reform rule of 34 per cent. In 1868 the 
 cost of the Administration of Justice was 
 $173,000, and in 1871, $183,000, being 
 an increase in the four years of 6 per 
 cent. In 1878 it was $296,000, showing 
 an increase in the seven Reform years of 
 no less than 61 per cent. ! In 1868 the . 
 cost of Education was $301,000, and in 
 1871, $351,000, being an increase in the 
 four years of 16 per cent. In 1878 it 
 was $556,000, showing an increase 
 in the seven Reform years of 57 per 
 cent. Thus, in those branches of the 
 expenditure which more than any otkers 
 
 * 
 are within the contaol of Ministers, the 
 increases under Reform rule have been 
 out of all proportion greater than the in- 
 creases they condemned under their pre- 
 d' c rB>orB. A comparison of the salaries 
 of 1871 and 1878 is instructive as show- 
 ing how enormously the coat of the 
 machinery of government at head-quar- 
 ters is increasing : 
 
 1871. 1878. 
 Lt. -Governor's OfHce..* 1,496 $ 2,400 
 Atty-General and Ex- 
 ecutive Council 7,640 11,660 
 
 Treasury 11,495 12,300 
 
 Secretary and Regis- 
 trar 9,496 11,900 
 
 Registrar-General 5,006 9,100 
 
 Agriculture and Pub- 
 lic Works 10,366 18,664 
 
 Inspection of Asylums, 
 Registry Oflices, etc. 7,683 9,741 
 
 Crown Lands 29,885 41,780 
 
 Queen's Printer and 
 
 Gmzette 4,534 5,716 
 
 $87,598 $123,261 
 The contingencies are as follo>7B : 
 
 1871. 1878. 
 
 Government House. . .$ 4,603 $ 5,206 
 
 Lt. -Governor's Office.. 306 950 
 
 Executive Council and 
 
 Attorney-General ... 2,602 3,271 
 
 Treasury 2,264 2,423 
 
 East Wing Nil. 3,218 
 
 Secretary and Regis- 
 trar 4,676 6,120 
 
 Agriculture and Pub- 
 lic Works 3,496 3,036 
 
 Inspection of Asylums, 
 
 etc 715 2,126 
 
 Crown Lands 8,454 10,120 
 
 $27,015 $35,469 
 In other words, while the salaries and 
 contingencies of Oiyil QQYernmaut in 1871 
 amounted to $114,613, they al!!*''^"**^' 
 last year to $168,720, an increase of 4^ 
 per cent. The cost of Legislation, 
 
 ^ 
 
1,120 
 
 L036 
 
 126 
 120 
 
 m. 
 
 oaiitting the cost of thb gentii»l eleotioni 
 in 1871, it as foUowi :— 
 
 1871. 1878. 
 
 Salaries I 8,725 f 11,300 
 
 SeBBional Writers, Ac. . 4,212 8,044 
 
 Postages and Pont 
 Office 2,420 3,25« 
 
 Indemnity 37,800 71,171 
 
 Stationary, &o 11,412 18,720 
 
 Printing and Binding. 1,847 1,838 
 
 Libraiy 731 2,807 
 
 Contingencies 7,510 0,258 
 
 «74,fi72 $12«,4«'i3 
 
 T(i sum up. Civil Government and 
 Legislation — the two branches of the ser- 
 vice which are under the noses of Min- 
 isters and subject entirely to their 
 control— cost in 1871 8189,285, and in 
 1878 8285,183, or an increase of over 50 
 per cent. 
 
 The following table of the receipts and 
 expenditure from 1868 to 1878 shows an 
 enormous increase in the expenditure ; 
 and an increase, too, out of all proportion 
 to the increase in revenue : 
 
 Rer.e ipf.i. E.rpe n<l If iire . 
 
 1868 82, 260, 200 81 , 182, 400 
 
 1869 2,625,200 1,444,600 
 
 1870 2,500,700 1,580,700 
 
 1871 2,333,200 1,816,900 
 
 1872 3,060,800 2,220,700 
 
 1873 2,912,300 2,940,800 
 
 1874 3,446,300 3,871,500 
 
 1875 3,159,500 3,604,500 
 
 1876 2,589,200 3,140,600 
 
 1877 2,452,000 3,127,400 
 
 1878 2,254,400 2,902,400 
 
 It. will be seen that since 1874 the ex- 
 penditure has largely exceeded the re- 
 venue, the excess being as follows : 
 
 1874 8425,200 
 
 1876 445,000 
 
 1876 651,400 
 
 1877 665,400 
 
 1878 648,000 
 
 Total 82,735,000 
 
 The aums spent on what is known m 
 capital account, i. e. on public vorka, 
 special fund outlay, etc. , and on purely 
 controllable expenditure, have been as 
 
 follows : 
 
 Capital ControlhhI.i' 
 
 Account. Expendiliiiv. 
 
 18((8 8 138,000 $1,043,600 
 
 1869 428,600 1,016,(M)0 
 
 1870 488,100 1,092.600 
 
 1871 593,800 1,223.109 
 
 1872 738,100 1.482,600 
 
 1873 1,176,400 1,765,40<> 
 
 1874 . ... 2,084,900 l.T8r,,6(M) 
 
 1875 1,777,100 1,827,400 
 
 1876 1,246,400 1,895.2(»<> 
 
 1877 1,114,400 2.0O3,(K)U 
 
 1878 844,000 2,068,400 
 
 This table makes it plain that, capital 
 account expenditure aside, the controll- 
 able^ expenditure has risen under Reform 
 rule from 81,223,100 to 82,058,400— an 
 increase of 8835,300, or nearly 70 per 
 cent ! 
 
 Certain Reformers — not the better 
 class, but the gentlemen who take their 
 cue from the rh>he—&re in the habit of 
 maintaining that notwithstanding the in- 
 creased expenditure and the large excess 
 of expenditure over revenue that has 
 occurred of late years, the surplus is 
 larger to-day than it was in Sandfield's 
 time. It is (luite clear, however, that a 
 man cannot spend more than his income 
 year after year, and at the same time add 
 to his surplus funds. The surplus on the 
 31 st December last was, according to the 
 Treasurer's financial statement, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 ASSETS. 
 
 Itivestments 82,732,560 
 
 Special Dominion Trust Funds 2,786,418 
 
 Share of Ottawa Library 105,541 
 
 Due oil Municipal Loan Fund 
 
 Account 144,136 
 
 Due from Mechanics' Institutes 19,000 
 Balance due on Sale of Mimico 
 
 Lots 6,30« 
 
 i 
 
H 
 
 Due from Credit Valley on 
 
 Land Sales «,013 
 
 Cash in Bank 30,784 
 
 ^,H42,748 
 LIABILITIES. 
 
 Railway Aid Fund $ 400.102 
 
 Railway Subsidy Fund 134,227 
 
 Railway Grants 208.548 
 
 Surplus Distribution 151,110 
 
 Quebec's Share of Common 
 
 School and other Laud Funds :{O2,054 
 
 Laud Ituprovement Fund.... 124,085 
 
 «l,4n,38G 
 Surplus )it4,431,302 
 
 On the 3l8t Docemboi', 1871, ton days 
 after Sand field's ruBii;natiou, the Hurplua 
 account {ride Glube 23rd Jiuiuary, 1872) 
 was as follows : 
 
 Dominion Bonds, 5 per cent. ..$1,193,233 
 
 Dominion Bonds, per cent... 500,000 
 
 Dominion Debentures, 5 pet* 
 
 cent 705,471 
 
 Dominion Stock, C per cent. ... 350,000 
 
 Bank of Montreal — Special Do- 
 posit 800,000 
 
 Royal Cadadiaii Bank — Special 
 
 Deposit 00,174 
 
 Bank of Montreal — On De- 
 mand 172,985 
 
 Total Surplus 83,811,803 
 
 It will be seen that in Sandfiold's time 
 the actual in^ustmoiits of the Province 
 only were regarded us aurplus. It was 
 not until the evo of the Local elect icus 
 in 1875 that Reformers bej^an to make 
 surplus out of anything else. Thoy had 
 spent enormous sums, reducing the sur- 
 plus largely ; and it occurred to them 
 that it would be a capital point if they 
 could show that though they spent more 
 and saved less, yet they had added to 
 Sandtield's nest-egg. Accordingly, they 
 laid hands on the Dominion Trust Funds 
 muountin;..' to 92,000,000, and to an osti- 
 matw of Ontario's shait; ot the Ottuwa 
 
 Library, viz., !?106,000, the two items 
 amounting in rountl numbers to $2,800,- 
 (KM). The Trust Funds are composed aw 
 follows : 
 
 U. C. Qranmiar School Fund, 
 
 5 per cent » 312,709 
 
 \j. C. Building Fund, per 
 
 cent 1,472,201 
 
 Ontario's share (five months) 
 
 of Common School Fund, 5 
 
 per cent • 014,247 
 
 ««2,000,407 
 This, from the first establinhment of 
 the Local Government, has been regarded 
 as an asset ; and the Dominion (lovern- 
 ment pays interest on it to this Province 
 annually. But never until the eve of the 
 ]87r> elections was it regarded as an asset 
 to bo incluLlod in i.ho surpluH. At page 
 10 of hia budget speech of tlie 20th 
 Fobruary, 1874, Mr. Crooks puts the 
 matter voiy clearly : 
 
 "That (the 82,000,407) is an amount 
 which we are in a position to demand 
 from the Dominion Government at any 
 time we think convenient, though it is 
 the desire of the Dominion Guveinment, 
 and the (io\ ornments of (.Jiiel)ec and On- 
 tario, before disturbing tliose ainds, to 
 settle all liuestions which remum ; be- 
 cause there are points to tie settled be- 
 tween the Dominion Governmont aim 
 this Pioviiice, as well as certain quostions 
 to bo settled with the Province of Quebec, 
 and tliis settlement, to ha at all conven 
 ieut, nnisi ho a triangular une, involving 
 the consideration on the part of ttie three 
 Governments of certain items, before the 
 actual money balance can be arri\ed at." 
 
 Mr. E. B. Wtiod, the tirst Treasurer, 
 took the same view both in his budget 
 speeches and in his argument before the 
 Ontario-Quebec ai-bitrators, viz. that 
 these funds should not be hold to be cash 
 until th'j differences between the two 
 Provinces were settled ; and the Ottawa 
 library fund is in precisely the same posi- 
 
 ti 
 
 dn 
 
 nt 
 
 ui 
 
 w< 
 
 Cr 
 
 an 
 
 as 
 
 adc 
 Di 
 
9 
 
 lurer, 
 
 luiget 
 
 |ti the 
 
 ihat 
 
 I cash 
 
 two 
 
 Itawa 
 
 3osi- 
 
 tion. The library belonged to Old Cana- 
 da, or Upper and Ixwor Canatla, a uait- 
 nership Confedi'ration diwtolvod ; but 
 until tlio aflairM o' that pKrtnorfihip are 
 wound up, thij money value, or as Mr. 
 Crooks puts it, the "actual money bal- 
 anoe" duu Ontario Hhould liot be claimed 
 as caMh. But if Mr. Mowat and his 
 friends innist on claiming this toUl of 
 82,8(K),()(K) as surplus, tlu'U they nniat 
 also include it in iSandtleld's surplus. 
 They must either deduct it from theirs or 
 add it to his -it is as broad <is it in loui^ 
 Doductiuy it, their Hiirplus on fhe 'M&\ 
 December last, was 84,752,000 !«'-',8(Mi,- 
 <KX)--8«l,U.V2,(tOO, or !!<l, 800,000 lesR than 
 .Sandlield'.i. Addinj^ it, Siiudtield's Hur- 
 plus was !!<0,012 OMO against Mr. Mowat s 
 ?4,752,0<K>, (.r ^1,HOO,(K)0 more m above. 
 There is another nuitter. From ^808 to 
 1873, th'.s ProviniH' was con polled to pay 
 tu the Dominion Government an annual 
 sum of #201, (HMJ for interest on the 
 excess of debt. Hy the U'-'th and 
 Il8lh sections of the British North 
 America Act a stipulated amount of debt, 
 VIZ., .':<ti2,rj00,000, was assumed l)y the 
 Dominion, and tin oxooss oi debt over 
 that amuuni, viz., !ii!lO,r>00,000 devolved 
 on Ontario and Quolwic tiie tonner be- 
 C'lming responsible for hve-niutha, or 
 §55,833.000, the interest of which at ,") i>e!- 
 cent,, vix. •i^201,0tK>. bocami' aii jiniiua' 
 charge on the revenius of Ontario, and 
 w;i8 paid until the Tillov Act of M.iy, 
 1873, placed rhe whole SlO.500,000 on 
 the Domi'.aou. Duiiug the recent Do- 
 iniuiun oain)i.iigu Mr. Mowat mor«' than 
 once pointed to the larger increase in the 
 Dominiuu debt in 1873, as an instam.'e of 
 Tory extravagance — conctalim; from the 
 electors the fact that, the larger portioi. 
 of that increase was due tu the Dominion 
 relieving the two old Provinces ct ihis 
 debt and the annual charge on it. From 
 1808 to 1871 inclusive, Sandticld paid .m 
 this account .i ti.ral of 81, KM, 000. Fvoin 
 
 1874 t) 1877 inclusive, Mr. Mowat liM 
 been saved that payment ; in uther words, 
 his surplus ought to show an increase 
 over HandHeld's of 9l,104,(KK) owin({ to 
 thn relief afforded by the Tilly Act. 
 
 .\nother and a more ingenious if not 
 less dishonest dodue in vogue among Re- 
 form stunipspeak.'i's is thus: They take 
 the oxponditure in I8(»8, viz., $l,l8'2,40t), 
 and the oxpoiiditun. .if 1871, viz., $\,- 
 810 O'H), deduct the former fnmi the lat- 
 tei and exhibit the remainder, viz., 
 :?634,500. Then they deduct the expen- 
 diture in 1872. viz., ?2,220,700 from the 
 expenditure in 1878, viz., 82,{M)2,400, and 
 exhibit the remainder, viz., 8681,700; 
 and proceed : " Fr im 1808 to 1871, the 
 expenditure increased !»<<i34,5tK), or at the 
 averi'ge rate of ;s<158,0tX) a year : while 
 from 1872 to 1878, under Reform rule, 
 the increase has boen 8<)81,700, or only 
 ?07.t)(K) a year. Pr.^sto ! the fulHlment 
 of oui pledge of economy !" This is a 
 cleve;' though somewhat clumsy trick. 
 To get at the average expenditure, divide 
 the expenditure "n 18(>H-71 by 4. the 
 number of years : and the expenditure in 
 1872-8 by 7 : 
 
 Under Siiwljithl. Uudrr Hcform. 
 
 1808 . . 81 , 182,400 1872 . . . $2,220,700 
 
 1800.... !,444,*RMJ 1873. 
 1870 . . . 1,.^80,700 1874. 
 1871. . . 1,810.1K)0 1875. 
 
 1870. 
 
 1877. 
 
 1878. 
 
 2,040,800 
 ;i,871,.'»00 
 3,004,.">0<J 
 3,140,000 
 3,117,400 
 2,002,4(.K) 
 
 4)4i0,(»24,»)00 
 *l,500,150 
 
 7)*21,797,000 
 83,113,985 
 
 Thus the average expenditure under 
 Reform has actually been more than 
 double the expenditure under Sandtield. 
 The same process applied to the strictly 
 cont:- 'liable expeinliturti : 
 
 /^ 
 
10 
 
 Under Sandfield. 
 
 .»1,043,500 
 . 1,016,000 
 . 1,092,600 
 . 1,223,100 
 
 1868. 
 1869. 
 1870. 
 1871. 
 
 Under Reform. 
 1872... .$1,482,600 
 
 1873... 
 1874... 
 1876.. 
 1876.. 
 1877.. 
 1878. . 
 
 1,766,400 
 1,786,600 
 1,827,400 
 1,895,200 
 2,003,000 
 2,068,400 
 
 4)$4,375,200 
 81,093,800 
 
 7)812,818,600 
 11,831.230 
 
 In other words, the average controU- 
 aVele expenditure under Reform has ex- 
 ceeded that under Sandfield by nearly 
 $750,000 a year ! If this be economy, 
 what is extravagance i If we go on in 
 this way, nothing can save us from direct 
 taxation. Our resources are nearing 
 exhaustion point. Of the once vast tim- 
 ber wealth of the Province, only about 
 10,000 square miles now remain. Five 
 
 thousand square miles of limits were 
 auctioned off in the fall of 1872 by Mr. 
 R. W. Scott, of whom the Olobe of the 
 19th August, 1869, in referring to a 
 rumoui- that he was about to enter Sand- 
 field's Cabinet, said : " In the Crown 
 Lands office, Mr. Scott would be in an 
 especial degree the lumberers' man, as he 
 has been the lumberers' champion on the 
 floor of the Legislature." The best 
 mineral lands in the Lake Superior region 
 passed five years ago into the hands of 
 remoraelttss spdculators. The school lands 
 are fast settling up. In ten years at the 
 outside — unless the people put the man- 
 agement of their affairs into the hands of 
 men who are Reformers in something 
 more than name — the surplus will have 
 been exhausted in meeting deficits, the 
 main sources of revenue will be dry, and 
 nothing will remain to meet the annual 
 outlay but taxes wrung directly from the 
 people. 
 
11 
 
 NOTES ON THE EXPENDITURE. 
 
 MINISTERS' SALARIES. 
 
 In 1871 the salaries ui Ministers were 
 as follows : 
 
 Premier $4,000 
 
 Treasurer 3,200 
 
 Crown Lands Commissioner.. 3,200 
 Public Works Commissioner. 3,200 
 
 Provincial Secretary 3, "00 
 
 Commissioner of Education. . 4,000 
 
 $20,800 
 
 The salary of Dr. Ryerson, Commissioner 
 of Education, is included in the above 
 for purposes of comparison, because that 
 Department is now in charge of a sixth 
 Minister. The Globe used to complain 
 that these salaries we^re exorbitant, yet 
 Mr. Mowat did not hesitate to increase 
 them at a time when the revenues could 
 ill afford it, and when economy would 
 have been the first object of a true Re- 
 former. The increase was as follows : 
 
 Premier $5,500 
 
 Treasurer 4,500 
 
 Crown Lands Commissioner.. 4,500 
 
 Public Works Commissioner. 4,500 
 
 Provincial Secretary 4,500 
 
 Minister of Education 4,500 
 
 $28,000 
 
 Or an increase of $7,200 a year. Last 
 session the Premier, anxious to make a 
 show of economy on his death-bed, re- 
 duced the salaries to the following 
 amounts : 
 
 Premier $5,000 
 
 Treasurer 4,000 
 
 Drown Lands Commissioner.. 4.000 
 Public Works Commissioner. 4.000 
 
 Provincial Secretary 4.000 
 
 Minister ot Education 4,000 
 
 $25,000 
 
 So that the total is still $4,200 more 
 than the total of the Cabinet salaries 
 under Sandfield. The Opposition made 
 determined effoits from time to time to 
 reduce these and other salaries. Last 
 seasion (Votes and Proceedings, 1879, p. 
 275-286) they moved a series of resolu- 
 tions to that effect. Mr. Meredith moved 
 as follows : 
 
 " That in the opinion of this House, 
 the salaries of Ministers should be fixed 
 at $3,600, with $1,000 additional for the 
 Premier ; tiiat the salaries of the deputy 
 heads of the Departments should not ex- 
 ceed $2,500, and that all other salaries 
 of the Departmental oflicers for which 
 appropriations have not already been 
 made, and which are in excess of $800 
 should be reduced by ten per centum of 
 the amount thereof, but not so as to re- 
 duce any such salary to an amount below 
 $800; and thatthe said resolution be forth- 
 with referred back to the Committee of 
 Supply, with instructions to reduce the 
 item mider the head of Executive Council 
 and Attorney-CieQeral's office accord- 
 ingly." 
 
 The majority who voted this down was 
 composed ot the following so-called Re- 
 formers ; 
 
 /■ r 
 
12 
 
 Ballantyne, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 Bethune, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Bonfield, 
 
 Chiaholm, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 Lyon (Halton), 
 
 McCrany, 
 
 McLawB, * 
 
 McLeod, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Maasie, 
 
 Master, 
 
 Clarke (Wellington), Mowat, 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Pax ton, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Ross, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Sneksinger, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Watterworth, 
 
 VViddifield, 
 
 Williams, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Wood, 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Currie, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Finlayson, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 Hurcourt, 
 
 Hardy^ 
 
 Hai-graft, 
 
 Hay, 
 
 Laue, 
 
 Lyon (Algoma.) 
 
 Similar resolutions were moved in amend - 
 ment to the several items of appropria- 
 tions for Departmental salaries, and voted 
 down by the Ministrfri^lists. It is (Uiite 
 clear that if. as Reformers contended, 
 Ministers' salaries ij. Sandfield's time were 
 excessive, the salaries of this Cabinet, 
 especially considering the changed condi- 
 tion of the revenue and expenditure, and 
 the pressing necessity for economy in 
 public as well as in private affairs, are 
 much too large. Those who condenuied 
 Sandheld for paying himself and his oul- 
 leagnes too much, cannot consistently 
 support Mowat in this particulai-, nor any 
 of his followers. 
 
 WELL-PAID OFFICIALS. 
 
 In 1871 the Speaker was paid #1,U0U 
 per session and $450 indemnity, or $1,450 
 for eight hours' work a day, for, on the 
 average, litty working days ; or three 
 dollars and a half an hour. Under Reform 
 
 his salary was increased to $1,500 and his 
 indemnity to ^00, so that he drew |2,300 
 in all, or about six dollars an hour. Last 
 session the indemnity was reduced to 
 1600, and the salary to $1,250. Mr. 
 Speaker, therefore, is now paid $1,850 
 for his session's work, or something over 
 four dollars and a half an hour for his 
 services in the chair. Last session the 
 Opposition sought to make a reduction 
 here, and (Votes and Proceedings, 1879, 
 p. 21)9) Mr. Scott moved, seconded by 
 Mr. Lauder, that Mr. Speaker's salary 
 be reduced by the sum of $500, so as to 
 bring it down to the original figure. This 
 resolution was voted down by the folliw- 
 ing Reformers :— 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 BallantyBe, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 Bethune. 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Boutield, 
 
 Chishohn, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 Clarke (Wellington,' 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Crooks. 
 
 Currie, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Fijjlayson, 
 
 Fraser 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 Harcourt, 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Hargraft, 
 
 Hay, 
 
 Hunter, 
 
 Lane. 
 
 Lyun (Ali^oma) 
 
 Lyon (Halton), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaw.s, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Masuie, 
 
 Master, 
 
 Miller, 
 
 Mownt 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Paxton, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Ross, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 Watterworth, 
 
 Widditield. 
 
 Wiliiains 
 
 Wilijon, 
 
 W' 11 id 
 
 In 1871 the ClorK of the Assembly was 
 paid $l,4tK) a year, with free ((Uarters 
 and atieudauce in the b«ildings. He 
 works during the sessioD, say two months, 
 and for two months, aftorwards, preparing 
 
1?, 
 
 Ay was 
 luarturs 
 
 Loiitha, 
 pptariug 
 
 the journala, and so forth ; in all for 
 about one-third of the year. It is not 
 exceedingly hard wuri, even wiiilo it 
 lasts. It re()uiros no prc'casional train- 
 ing. Any bod}' with a fair education could 
 do it. Fourteen hundred a year was 
 tnurefore rouiuuerution enough, but under 
 lleform il has been increased to SI, 800. 
 Mr. Meredith'? motion, as given .xbove, 
 aimed to reduce tni.s and other salaries 
 in excess of ^800 by ten per cent. This 
 would have left the Clerl. with $1,020 a 
 year, but Mr. Mowat and his followers 
 persistently rejected that and similar 
 resolutions. Another highly paid ofhcor 
 is the Clerk of the Executive Council. 
 In 1871 he received ^1,600 a year ; now 
 he drew8S2,800. Last session (Votes and 
 Proceedings, 1879, p. 275) Mr. Deacon 
 moved, seconded by Mr. Scott, in amend- 
 ment to the resolution p.^'oviding for the 
 salaries, &c., of the Executive Council 
 and Attornoy-Genorars Department • 
 
 • That the resolution be not now con- 
 curred in, but be forthwith roft-rred back 
 to the Committee of Supply, with in- 
 structions to reduce the item of $2,800 
 for the salary of thtj Clerk of the Execu- 
 tive Council and Deputy of the Attorney. 
 General to $2,500." 
 
 This motion, which certainly would 
 have done no injustice to the official re- 
 ferred to, was voted down by the Re 
 formers on the division which Mr. Mere- 
 lith's amendment respecting Ministers' 
 salaries, S:c., was voted down. 
 
 In 1871 the Inspector of Public Insti- 
 tutions was paid 82,000 a year : he now 
 draw *;J,000, Last session (Votes and 
 ProctA lings, 1870, p. 281 ) the Opposition 
 moved to reduce his salary to $2,500, but 
 theiv resolution was voted down by the 
 following Reiormers : — 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Ballautyne, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 Bethune, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Bonfield, 
 
 Lyon (Halton), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 McLeod, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Massie, 
 
 Chisholm , Master, 
 
 Clark CI (Norfolk), Mowat, 
 Clarke(\Vellingt(in">, O'Donoghue, 
 
 Cole, Pardee, 
 
 Crooks, Patteraon, 
 
 Curne, Paxtou, 
 
 Deroche, Robinson. 
 
 Ferris, Ross, 
 
 Finlayson, Sexton, 
 
 Fraser, Sinclair, 
 
 Gibson, Snetsintn'r, 
 
 (Jrahani, Springer, 
 
 (irant. Striker, 
 
 Harcourt, Watterworth, 
 
 Hardy, Widdilleld. 
 
 Hargraft, Williams, 
 
 Hay, Wilson, 
 
 Lane, Wood, 
 Ijyon (Algonia). 
 
 In 1871 the Assistant Commissioner of 
 Crown Lands was paid ^2,000 a year, he 
 now draws §2,800. L»st session (Votes 
 and Proceedings, 1879, p. 282) the Oppo- 
 sition moved to reduce it to $2,500, but 
 their amendment was voted down by the 
 following Reformers : — 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Ballantyne, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 Bethune, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Bonfieid, 
 
 Chisholm, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 C'llC) 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Currio, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 .'^'erris. 
 
 Finlayson, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 Harcourt, 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Hay, 
 
 Lane, 
 
 Lyon (Ualton). 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 McLeod, 
 
 McMahon 
 
 Massie. 
 
 Master, 
 
 Mowat, 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Paxton, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Ross, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Sin<jlair, 
 
 Snetsiuger, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 Watterworth, 
 
 W^iddifield, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Wood, 
 
 f 
 
u 
 
 SESSIONAL WRITERS, ETC 
 
 The sum paid fur seuional writers, &o., 
 ia 1868 was $4,451, but Sandfield Mac- 
 donald brought about a decrease, and in 
 1871 the amount had fallen to $4,212. 
 Under Eeform it speedily rose : 
 
 1872 9 6,197 
 
 1873 6,375 
 
 1874 7,061 
 
 1875 7,146 
 
 1876 10,083 
 
 1877 7,670 
 
 1878 8,043 
 
 Last session (Votes and Proceedings, 1879, 
 p. 302), Mr. Creighton moved that atten- 
 tion be called '' to the very rapid increase 
 of expenditure for sessional writers, 
 messengers, and pages, with a view to 
 steps being taken to bring about a de- 
 crease." This motion was voted down by 
 the following Reformers : 
 
 Appleby, Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 Ballantyne, Lyon (Halton) 
 
 Baxter, McCraney, 
 
 Bethune, McLa\?s, 
 
 Bishop, McMahon, 
 
 Bonfield, Massie, 
 
 Chisholm, Master, 
 Clarke (Norfolk) Miller, 
 Clarke (Wellington), Mcwat, 
 
 Cole, O'Donoghue, 
 
 Crooks, Pardee, 
 
 Deroche, Patterson, 
 
 Ferris, Paxton, 
 
 Finlayson, Robinson, 
 
 Eraser, Ross, 
 
 Gibson, Sexton, 
 Graham, ^ Sinclair, 
 
 Grant, . Springer, 
 
 Harcourt, Striker, 
 
 Hardy, "'atterworth, 
 
 Hargraf t, . « iddifield , 
 
 Hay, Williams, 
 
 Hunter, Wilson, 
 
 Lane, Wood. 
 
 The return brought down last BOMioa 
 shows that while in 1873 the number of 
 sessional writers was 17, and of messen- 
 gers 16, there were 29 writers and 23 
 messengers last session. 
 
 GROWN LANDS EXPENDI- 
 TURE. 
 
 The following statement, taken from 
 the Public Accounts, shows the revenue 
 and expenditure of the Crown Lands 
 Department since 1875 : 
 
 Revenue. Expenditw*. 
 
 1875 $538,890 $67,250 
 
 1876 534,446 70,770 
 
 1877 529,207 78,470 
 
 1878 445,191 70,609 
 
 The revenue will be found in the Re- 
 ceipts and Payments sheet of the Public 
 Accounts, and is composed of the items 
 under the head of Grammar School lands. 
 Crown Land sales. Woods and Forests, 
 and Casual Fees. The expenditure is 
 given on the payment side of the same 
 account. This table shows a steady de- 
 cline in revenue, and a large increase in 
 expenditure. The salaries of the officers 
 of the Department in Toronto have run 
 as follows : 
 
 1875 $39,130 
 
 1876 39,860 
 
 1877 40,060 
 
 1878 41,780 
 
 Last session, on the item of appropriation 
 for the salaries of this Department, the 
 Opposition moved three amendments 
 (Votes and Proceedings, 1879, p. 282- 
 284), first, to reduce the salary of the 
 Commissioner by $500 ; second, to re- 
 duce the salary of the Assistant Commis- 
 sioner from $2,800 to $2,600 ; and, third, 
 to enforce a reduction of ten per cent, on 
 all salaries other than those of the Com- 
 missioner and Assistant Commissioner, 
 above $800, but not so as to reduce any 
 such salary to an amount below $800. 
 
 V 
 
15 
 
 This third amendmeDt wm voted down 
 by the following Reformers : 
 
 ,130 
 
 ,860 
 
 1,060 
 
 ,780 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 ballantyne, 
 
 Lyon (Halton) 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 Bethune, 
 
 McLawa. 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 McLeod, 
 
 Bonfield, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Chisbolm, 
 
 Massie, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 Master, 
 
 Clarke (Welliugton), Mowat, 
 
 Cole, 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Currie, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Paxton, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Finlaysou, 
 
 Rubs, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Snetsinger, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Harcourt, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Watterwo»- 
 
 Hargraft, 
 
 Widditie. , 
 
 Hay, 
 
 Williams, 
 
 Lane, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Wood. 
 
 As early as the sassion of 1875-6 the 
 Opposition protested against the growing 
 cost of this Department (Journals of 
 1875-6, p. 117). Mr. Deacon moved that 
 '• this House regrets that in view of the 
 continual increase in the annual expr adi- 
 ture of the Province and the lar£,d de- 
 crease in the resources of the Crown 
 Lauds Department, it has been called on 
 to sanction so large an appropriation as 
 $50,590 fur the service of 1876, and ex- 
 presses its opinion that in view of the 
 conaideratiuns aforesaid, every effort 
 should be made to curtail as far as possi- 
 ble the expenditure of that Department." 
 This was voted down by the Ministerial- 
 ists. 
 
 IMMIGRATION. 
 
 The amounts spent on Immigration 
 since 1875 are as follows : 
 
 1876 $94,060 
 
 1876 45,201 
 
 . 1877 46,265 
 
 1878 31,975 
 
 1217,501 
 The Immigration reports show the 
 following arrivals of immigrants in this 
 Province : 
 
 1875 17,656 
 
 1876 11,432 
 
 1877 11,654 
 
 1878 13,056 
 
 The per capita cost of each immigrant 
 has therefore been as follows : 
 
 1875 $5 32 
 
 1876 3 96 
 
 1877 3 96 
 
 1878 2 44 
 
 This shows a considerable reduction ; 
 but it is difficult to make a comparison 
 in this respect, for no returns are kept 
 of the number of immigrants who leave 
 the country after a brief residence. 
 Since 1874 the labor market has been 
 in a depressed condition. Hundreds of 
 Canadians have been unable to find 
 employment, and the expenditure of 
 nearly a quarter of a million to induce 
 strangers to flock to an overcrowded 
 market, is a tair subject fur discussion. 
 The Opposition have taken the ground 
 that it was not advisable under such cir- 
 cumstances to make costly exertions to 
 secure immigrants : while the Ministeri- 
 alists, to whom the employment of Euro- 
 pean agents and of agents at the principal 
 points in the Province gives a large 
 amount of patronage, take ;the opposite 
 view. In 1875-6 (Journals of that year, 
 p. 120) Hon. William Macdougall moved 
 as follows : 
 
 "That in view of the depressed condi- 
 tion of the manufacturing industries of 
 this Province, aud of the surplus labor 
 now seeking emph)j^ment m all parts of 
 
 
k; 
 
 ]\ 
 
 the country, it is in the opinion of this 
 House inexpodient to offer any special 
 id or oncourageiuent to immigrants from 
 other countries for the year 1870." 
 
 Thi^ was voted down by Ministerial- 
 ists. In 1878 (Journals, p. 147) Mr. 
 Meredith moved as follows : 
 
 "That this House is of opinion thai 
 it is inexpedient, under existing circum- 
 stances, to incur any expense ior pro- 
 .uotiug immigration to this Province be- 
 yond that to which the Province is now 
 committed by the arrangement with the 
 Dominion, and that the said resolution 
 be not now concurred in, but be referred 
 back to the Committee of Supply, with 
 instructions to reduce the item by the 
 sum of $20,000." 
 
 This was also voted down. Last ses- 
 sion (Votes and Proceedings, p. 31'J) 
 Mr. Morris moved " that in view of the 
 condition of the labor market of the 
 Province, it is not desirable that any 
 greater expenditure than that which is 
 necessary under the existing agreement 
 with the Dominion Government should 
 be incurred in promoting immigration 
 during the present year," and that the 
 appropriation be reduced accordingly. 
 This was voted down by the following 
 Ministerialists : 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Watterworth, 
 
 Hrvy, 
 
 Williams, 
 
 Hunter, 
 
 Wood, 
 
 Lane, 
 
 
 Ballautyne, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Bonfield, 
 
 Chisholm, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 Clarke (Wellington), 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Currie, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 H'vrcourt, 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 Lyon (Halton), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Massie, 
 
 Master, 
 
 Miller, 
 
 Mowat, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Ross, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 THE INDEMNITY. 
 
 The indemnity paid to members ivju 
 originally interdeil to bi: a fair compen- 
 sation for the expenses Uiey incurred 
 while acting as such. It was not intent! ed, 
 it was not pretended, that the member 
 should receive a salary. In the olden 
 times, members received a small allow- 
 ance }»''' diem, and were satisfied. The 
 electors of York, Oxford, Ontario, and 
 elsewhere will recollect that their repre- 
 sentatives were paid but just such sums 
 as would recompense them tor their bare 
 expenses of living and the e.vpenses of 
 travelling to and fro. Tn the Unittd 
 States they also treated atid do tr6;it their 
 •aembers in this way. 
 
 The indemnity in Sandtield's time wa . 
 $450. It was considered enougti ; at all 
 events nobody, certainly not any member 
 of the Government, sought to increase it. 
 But Mr. Mowat, having increased the 
 salaries of Ministers, was willing, if not 
 anxious, that the indemnity should be 
 increased. True, he made no public 
 effort to that end, but lie at least coun- 
 tenanced the raise by members them- 
 selves. Correspondence has been pub- 
 lished, private and confidential, to shew 
 that both sides of the House favored this 
 increase ; but it takes no argument to 
 shew that unless the Cabinet had been 
 inclined in that direction, no increase 
 could have been made. They kept the 
 purse strings. No minority, such as the 
 Tory minority they derided, ^ould have 
 such access to the Treasury. The nani'^s 
 of the Reform members who signed the 
 round-robin have been published, but 
 whatever the responsibility of Reform or 
 Conservative members may have been, it 
 is quite cle2.r that the Cabinet, controUin' 
 the purse, and being the stewards of the 
 
 \ 
 
ompei!- 
 nciuipd 
 teiuled, 
 iiiomber 
 a oldon 
 1 allcw- 
 i. The 
 rio, aiui 
 r repi';- 
 ch suiiis 
 leir bare 
 enaes of 
 Unitc<l 
 6at their 
 
 time wa 
 h ; at all 
 ' member 
 proaso it. 
 ised the 
 g, if not 
 
 17 
 
 jeen, it 
 ItroUiii ' 
 
 of th'. 
 
 people, are directly responsible to them 
 for that inoroase. The Ministerial jour- 
 nals say the Opposition were as favorable 
 to the increase aa the Ministerialists. 
 That granted, who had the power to grant 
 the increase ] Not the Opposition, nor a 
 combination of Ministerialists and mem- 
 bers of the Opposition, but Mr. Mowat. 
 T.le private or semi-private correspond- 
 ence of the Ministeriali«t party and the 
 Opposition touching this matter, has no 
 bearing directly upon the case. Mr. 
 Mowat, as FVemier, could have barred 
 the increase had he been inclined ; that 
 he did not, is proof that he was a first 
 party to the increase of the indemnity 
 which, as he well knew, would in a mea- 
 sure be a set-ofT to the increase in the 
 salaries of Ministers. 
 
 THE COST OF LEGISLATION. 
 
 The enormous increase in the Cost of 
 Legislation has been elsewhere pointed 
 out. On the other hand Ministerial 
 journals have in this and other branches 
 of expenditure quoted the expenditure in 
 Quebec, their argument being that the 
 Quebec outlay, far exceeding that in On- 
 tario, is a proof of the superior economy 
 of the Ontario Reformers. This is not 
 only a non sequitur, it is a disingenuous 
 plea, for in Quebec the double Chamber 
 an<\ the dual language systems necessarily 
 involve a larger expenditure, and those 
 being quasi constitutional provisions it is 
 not fair to hold either party responsible 
 for them. If by the B. N. A. Act On- 
 tario had to support two Chambers and 
 two languages, i. c, if every public docu- 
 ment had to be printed, first, in English, 
 and then, secondly, after having been 
 translated, in French, it would be scarcely 
 fair to blame the Government of the day 
 for the large expenditure in that regard. 
 
 Here is the increase ih the Cost of 
 Legislation : 
 
 > 1875 $219,462 
 
 ' 1876 286,591 
 
 B 
 f 
 
 1877 277,302 
 
 1878 295,369 
 
 It is not pretended by Mr. Mowat, who 
 haa boasted of his Law Reforms, that any 
 measure he has put through the Legisla- 
 ture has materially decreased the cost of 
 law. On the contrary, unhappy litigants, 
 who have had experience in such matters, 
 aver that the costs to them have been 
 materially increased by his alleged " re- 
 forms." He is above all things a lawyer, 
 and it is not at all likely that he would 
 seek to decrease the bread and butter of 
 his own profession. The Opposition have 
 repeatedly striven to cut down the ex- 
 penditure ur>der this head. Lflst 8essi«m 
 (Votes and Pivneedings of 1879, p. 302-3) 
 Mr. Deacon moved, on the resolution to 
 vote the appropriation fur the Court of 
 Chancery : 
 
 " That the resolution be not now con- 
 curred in, but be forthwith referred back 
 to the committee of supply, with instruc- 
 tions to reduce all salaries under this head 
 which are in excess of §800 by ten per 
 cent, of the amount thereof, but not so as 
 to reduce any such salaries to an amoun 
 below $800." 
 
 And the following 
 against the motion : 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Ballantyne, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Bonfield, 
 
 Chisholm, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk) 
 
 Clarke (Wellington) 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Currie, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Finlayson, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Reformers voted 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 Lyon (Halton), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Massie, 
 
 Master, 
 
 Miller. 
 
 Mowat, 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Ross, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Snetsinger, 
 
 if 
 
 
 N 
 
18 
 
 Or ant, 
 
 Haroourt, 
 
 Uaidy, 
 
 Bar^raft, 
 
 H»y, 
 
 Hunter, 
 
 Laiie, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 Walter worth, 
 
 Widdifield, 
 
 Williams, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Wood. 
 
 On the item for the appropriation for 
 the expenses of the Court of Queen's 
 Bench, Mr. Lauder moved : 
 
 " That thn resolution be not now con- 
 curred in, but be forthwith referred back 
 to the committee of supply, with instruc- 
 tions to strike out the item of $700, fur 
 the salary uf the AssistaDt to the Clerk 
 of Process, and to reduce all salaries 
 under this head which are in excess of 
 $800 by ten per cent, of tho amount 
 theieuf, but not so as to reduce any of 
 such salaries to an amount below $800.' 
 
 And it was voted down by the following 
 named Reformers : 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Ballttutyne, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 boniield, 
 
 Chisholm, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk) 
 
 Clarke (Wellington), 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Currie, 
 
 Deioche, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 T^'inlayson, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 Haroouit, 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Hargraft, 
 
 Hay, 
 
 Huuter, 
 
 Laue,| 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 Lyou(Halton), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Maasie, 
 
 Master, 
 
 Miller, 
 
 Mowat, 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Ross, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Snetsinger, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Stniker, 
 
 Watterworth, 
 
 Widditield, 
 
 Williams, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Wood. 
 
 The Opposition then moved that the 
 •alary of the Government detective, Mr. 
 Murray, be reduced ; whereupon the fol- 
 lowing Reformers voted against the 
 motion : — 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Ballantyne, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Boniield, 
 
 Chiuholm, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 Clarke (Wellington), 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Currie, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 Harcourt, 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Hargraft, 
 
 Hay, 
 
 Hunter, 
 
 Lane, 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 Lyon (Halton), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLawH, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Massie, 
 
 Master, 
 
 Miller, 
 
 Mowat, 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Paxton, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Ross, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Snetsinger, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 Watterworth, 
 
 Widditield, 
 
 Williams, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Wood. 
 
 The Opposition then moved that the 
 salary of the stipendiary magistrate at 
 Parrv Sound be reduced from $1,800 to 
 $1,400, and the following Reformers 
 (Votes and Proceedings, 1879, p. 307,) 
 voted against the resolution : 
 
 Ballantyne, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Boniield, 
 
 Chisholm, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 Clarke (Wellington), 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Massie, » 
 
 Master, 
 
 Miller, 
 
 Mowat, 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Paxton, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Ro<iB, 
 
II 
 
 
 Oibsun, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Oraliam, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Oraut, 
 
 Snutainguv, 
 
 Hai'oourt, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 Har^raft, 
 
 Watterwoith, 
 
 Hay. 
 
 Widditield, 
 
 Huuttir, 
 
 Wilhanui, 
 
 Laiiu, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Lynn (Alguma), 
 
 Wood, 
 
 Lyoi. (Hal ton). 
 
 
 THE COST OF EDUCATION. 
 
 The Opposition have always approved 
 of a liberal expenditure f(»r education, 
 bat the enormous increase thao has oc- 
 curred in this branch leaves little room 
 for doubt that the present system as dd- 
 miniatered by Mr. Orooks is extravagant 
 out of all proportion. Here are the 
 figures : 
 
 1875 8503,312 
 
 187G 524,4t»3 
 
 1877 550,984 
 
 1878 556,057 
 
 Last session (YottM nad Proceedings, 
 1879, p. 314-10) the Opposition on the 
 appropriation jfor the inspection ot Col- 
 legiate Institutes, moved that only two 
 instead of three inspectors of High 
 Schools should be appointed ; and the 
 following Reformers voted against the 
 motion : 
 
 Bishop, McCraney, 
 
 Boiitield, McLaws, 
 
 ChiBholm, McMahon, 
 Clarke (Norfolk), Massie, 
 Clarke (Wellington), Master, 
 
 Crooks, Miller, 
 
 Cuirie, . Mowat, 
 
 Deroche, O'Donoghue, 
 
 Ferris, Patterson, 
 
 Fraser, Robinson, 
 
 Gibson, Ross, 
 
 Graham, Sexicn, 
 
 Grant, Sinclair, 
 
 Hardy, Springer, 
 
 Hay, Striker, 
 
 Hunter, Wattorworth, 
 
 Lane, Williams, 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), Wood. 
 Lyon (Haltou), 
 
 In amendment to the appropriation for 
 the Education Ddposi^ory, M*-. Hroder 
 moved that all the salaries ovi r f800 be 
 reduced by ten per cent., am the fol- 
 lowini; Reformers voted agains the reso- 
 lution : 
 
 Appleby, Lyon ( Hal on) 
 
 Bishop, McCraney, 
 
 Bontield, McLaws, 
 
 Chisholm, McMahon, 
 Clarke (Norfolk), Maasie, 
 Clarke (Wellington), Master, 
 
 Cole, Miller, 
 
 Crooks, Mowat, 
 
 Curne, O'Donoghue, 
 
 Doroche, Pardee, 
 
 Ferris, Pattersoy, 
 
 Fraser, Robinson, 
 
 Gibson, Ross, 
 
 Graham, Sexion, 
 
 Grant, Sine air, 
 
 Hardy, Springer, 
 
 Hay, Striker, 
 
 Hunter, Watterwor ih. 
 
 Lane, Williams, 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), Wood. 
 
 Mr. Meredith then moved to reduce the 
 salary of the Minister of Education by 
 the sum of §500 ; to reduce the salary 
 of the Deputy-Minister by the same 
 amount, and to reduce all other salaries 
 over 88U0 throughout the Department by 
 ten per cent. ; and the following Reform- 
 ers voted against the motion : 
 
 " I 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Bontield, 
 
 Chish<jlm, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 Clarke (Wellington), Master, 
 
 Cole, Miller, 
 
 Lyon (Hahon), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 McMaliou, 
 
 Massie, 
 
 •P 
 
20 
 
 Crooks, Mowat, 
 
 Ciirno, O'Donoghue, 
 
 Deroche, Pardee, 
 
 Ferris, Patterson, 
 
 Fraser, R^biuson, 
 
 Gibson, Ross, 
 
 Graham, Sexton, 
 
 Grant, Sinclair, 
 
 Harcourt, Springer, 
 
 Bardy, Striker, 
 
 Hay, Watterworth, 
 
 Hunter, Williams, 
 
 Lane, Wood. 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 These Reformers, while vaguely admitting 
 the necessity for economy, persistently 
 opposed efforts for the reduction of Edu- 
 cation salaries on the ground that it 
 would injure the service. Hut there ia 
 no reason why the salaries of clerks in 
 this service should not, equally with that 
 of the clerk in the merchant's office or 
 grocery store, ^e cut down in a time of 
 public emergency. As a rule, Government 
 officials draw more money for less work, 
 and if economy in the one case be advisa- 
 ble, it could not involve injustice in the 
 other. 
 
 HIS HONOR'S SECRETARY. 
 
 The salaries of the Lieutenant-Gover- 
 nor's office have increased of lale 
 years, as will be seen by the tables given 
 below : 
 
 1871 81,405 
 
 1872 1,(KX) 
 
 1873 1,400 
 
 1874 1,400 
 
 1875 1,400 
 
 1876 2,544 
 
 1877 2,400 
 
 1878 2,400 
 
 The estimates for salaries for 1879 is 
 also $2,400. His Honor's " private 
 secretary " was never overburdened with 
 work, but under Reform an "official 
 
 secretary " has made his appearance, 
 whose duties it is difficult to define. 
 This "official secretary " is his Honor's 
 nephew and a law student, bound by his 
 articles to " give hia whule time " to the 
 firm to which he is apprenticed ; and if 
 he observes these coinlitions he cannot in 
 the nature of things do much for the 
 salary he draws, viz., 8800, from the 
 Ontario Treasury. Last session on dis- 
 covering how matters stood, the Opposi- 
 tion uioVed that the appropriation for 
 his salary be struck out, and the fol- 
 lowing Reformers voted against the 
 motion : 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Ballantyue, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 Hothiine, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 Bon Held, 
 
 (Jhisholm, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 Clarke (Wellington), 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Currie, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Finlayson, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 Harcourt, 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Hargraft, 
 
 Hay, 
 
 Hunter, 
 
 Lane, 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 Lyon (Halton), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 McLeod, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Massie, 
 
 Master, 
 
 Miller, 
 
 Mowat, 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Paxion, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Ross, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Sinalair, 
 
 Suetsinger, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 Watterworth, 
 
 Widdifield, 
 
 Williams, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Wood, 
 
 In fact these Reformers voted to main- 
 tain a sinecure of their own creating. 
 His Honor draws 810,000 a year from 
 the Dominion Treasury ; and should not 
 ask the Reforui party to provide for his 
 relatives. 
 
 a 
 t 
 t 
 g 
 
 b 
 
1 
 
 21 
 
 MR. MOWAT'S EOONOMY. 
 
 It is hold that Mr. Mowiit madu lar^o 
 reductions last flossion ; but this, as will 
 be aeon by a oimparison of the esti- 
 mates of 1870 with the utatoment of the 
 receipts and expenditure for 187H, ia not 
 wholly true. It may be said, indeed, 
 that Ministers have done no more iti this 
 direction than to cut down thiir own 
 salaries by i^OO each, and the nieiiibers' 
 indemnity by 8200— making in all a re- 
 duction of about ?20,000 a year. But it 
 was under Mr. Mowat that his Halai y was 
 increased from .*t,000 to ?5,500, so that 
 he is giving back only a third of what 
 he took. It was under the Reform 
 regime, too, that the salaries of the 
 other Ministers were increased from 
 ^,200 to *4,500, so that Messrs. Crooks, 
 Fraser, Pardee, Wood and Hardy will 
 still enjoy $800 a year more than the 
 corrupt and extravagant colleafi^ues of 
 Sandtield Macdonald ventured to draw 
 in more prosperoup. times than these. 
 The reduction of the indemnity to J^OOO 
 still leaves it $150 a session, or about 
 $3 a day more than members were 
 paid under the "Patent Combination." 
 The expenditure under the heads of 
 Civil Goverument and Legislation is the 
 field where the true economist would 
 begin his work ; and it is here where 
 Mr. Mowat has made his smill re- 
 duction. But look at what he has left 
 undone : 
 
 18; 1. 1879. 
 
 Civil Government. . . $114,613 $156,847 
 Legislation . . ; 74,672 111,260 
 
 $189,285 $267,097 
 
 The snm charged to Legislation in 1871 
 was $94,177, but of this sum $19,605 was 
 a special charge for the general elections 
 that year. While in these branches, 
 then, the Premier has, on the eve of a 
 general election, screwed up courage 
 enough to make a reduction of $20,000, 
 
 his expenditure in still $80,000 more tluin 
 that of Sandheld, whom Reformers jeered 
 at for his extravagance. Outside these 
 putty reductions the estimates for 1879 
 vary but little from those of 1878. Where 
 public works have been completed, i»o 
 further expenditure is contemplate^l, but 
 that is not anythiutt to the credit of th? 
 economy account of the Government. In 
 Education thure i.s an apparent vecUicti<<n 
 of $28,000, half nf it in the item fo- uups 
 and apparatus ; in the Administration of 
 Justice there is also an apparent reduc- 
 tion of $14,000 ; in the Maintenance of 
 Public Institutions of $10,000, uiid in 
 Im migration of $10,000. In Miscellane- 
 ous, Hospitals and Charities, Arts aud 
 Scientific lustitutioiiH, and other iniiior 
 heads, slight increases are proposed. The 
 principal reduction is in Public Buildings, 
 where there is a reduction of ^[(110,000, 
 $70,000 of it on the Hamilton Asylum, 
 which is nearly finished. 
 
 It is not too much to oay, moreover, 
 that but for the determined action of the 
 Opposition at the beginning of the session 
 Mr. Mowat would not have made the 
 small reductions in Ministers' salaries 
 and members' indemnity which he did. 
 On the 13th January Mr. Lauder moved 
 in amendment to the third paragraph of 
 the address in wply to the speech from 
 the throne : — " That while we rejoice with 
 your Honour in the development of any 
 enterprise teniing to the advancement of 
 the agricultural interests of the country, 
 we are of opinion that it is of essential 
 importance that the annual expenditure 
 should be kept within the annual revenue 
 of the Province." Mr. Parkhill moved 
 in amendment to the amendment : " That 
 nhile rejoicing with your Honour in the 
 development of all enterprises tending to 
 the advancement of the agricultural in- 
 terests of Ontario, we are of the opinion 
 that the administration of the affairs of 
 the Province should be oonductea with 
 the utmost economy consistent with 
 
22 
 
 M! 
 
 eflSoienoy, and tha'' in view of the general 
 depreiRion exuting in the Province, the 
 expenses of the Legiilature and Civil 
 Oovemment nhould be reduoed, eipeoially 
 as rei^ards the salaries of Ministers and 
 the indemaity to members of this House." 
 
 K debate ensued upon Mr. Parkhill's 
 motion ivhioh oontinund for eight days, 
 viz., until thd 2lBt January, when the 
 resolntion was Toted down by the follow- 
 ing Reformers : 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Ballantyne, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 BonSeld, 
 
 Chisholtn 
 
 Clark.' (Norfolk), 
 
 Clarke ( V^ elliugton), 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Finlayson, 
 
 Fraser, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Grabam, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 Haruourt, 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Hay. 
 
 Hunter, 
 
 Lane, 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 Lyon (Halton), 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 McLood, 
 
 MoMahon, 
 
 Massie, 
 
 Master, 
 
 Miller, 
 
 Mowal, 
 
 O'Donoghue, 
 
 Patterson, 
 
 Paxton, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Robs, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Snetsinger, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 Watter worth, 
 
 Williams, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Wood. 
 
 Dr. Widdifield then moved in amend- 
 ment to t \r. Lauder's amendment : "And 
 vrc. beg tc aasiire your Honour that having 
 regard t<i the effioiency and proper ad- 
 ministration of the public service, we will 
 use our test endeavours towards keeping 
 the actual expenditure on account of 
 Provincial affairs within the revenue." 
 This motion was carried ; and the third 
 paragraph of the address in reply then 
 consisted of the following sentences : 
 
 " That we share his Honour's latisfae- 
 
 tion in noticing that, while our agricul- 
 turists are suffering from the low prioes 
 of grain and othor produce, an alr»ady 
 extensive and growing trade bt>twi-en 
 Ontario and Europe in live cattle, hordes, 
 sheep, meats, and dairy produ ftn, in 
 which many of our enterprisinv sitizens 
 are now engaged, with, we trust, piotit- 
 able results to themselves, and oertHinly 
 to the benefit of the country at la'go. 
 And we be|, to assure your Honour that 
 having regard to the ethiMency and proper 
 administration of the public servioeH, we 
 will," &c. 
 
 This is a queer medley. But the point* 
 to be noted R.re, first, that after a debate, 
 extending over eight days, Ministeriadacs 
 were forced to adopt, in effect, thw motion 
 of the Opposition in favour of tjconomy ; 
 and, sec(mdly, that throughout this dis- 
 cussion not a word was said of the inten- 
 tion of Mmisters to reduce their salaries 
 and the indemnity. The reduction was 
 bey(nd doubt an afterthought, and the 
 result of the debate on Mr. Parkhill's 
 resolntion. A singular maHer in the 
 Estimates of 1879 confirms this belief. 
 At page 7 of the Estimates the first item 
 for Legislation reads : " To be voted per 
 Statement A— $111,250," whereas the 
 next item, which is A, reads : " To be 
 voted for the present session and for 
 salaries, &c., in 1879,8131,360." Here 
 is an alteration of $20,100, which must 
 have been made during the printing of 
 the estimates — and,strangeto say,92(>,100 
 is mthin $500 of the exact amount of the 
 reduction in Ministers' salaries and mem- 
 bers' indemnity. 
 
 f ' m ' 
 
BUI. MEREDITH'S MOTION. 
 
 Mr. Meredith brouKht the whole (|iiei- 
 tinn of the expenditure to » direct iaiue 
 when he moved in amendment to a motion 
 to go into Committee of Supply (Votei 
 and Prooeedinga, 1879, p. 135) m fol- 
 lows : — 
 
 " That the ordinary expenditure of the 
 Province increaned from $1,056,541 in 
 the year 1868, to l|l, 173,600 in the year 
 1871, under the adminiitrntion of the 
 larte Mr. Sand field Macdonald, being an 
 increase at the rate of less than twelve 
 per cent, for the four years ; while the 
 like oxpenditure has increased from 
 $1,173,600 in the year 1871, to«2,10(»,025 
 in the year 1878, under the admin- 
 istration of Mr. Blake and the present 
 administration, being an increase at the 
 rate of more than seventy per cent, for 
 the seven years ; that th*? opdinarj' rev- 
 enue of the Province was $2,067,304 in 
 the year 1868, and $2,217,588 in th« year 
 1878 ; and that this House regards the 
 continuous and rapid increase in the 
 ordinary expenses of Government as ex- 
 cessive and unwise, especially in view of 
 the almost stationarv character of the 
 revenue, and is of opinion that, unless 
 more strict economy be observed in the 
 general outlay of the Province, grave 
 evils will speedily arise, a resort to direct 
 taxation in order to avoid the accumula- 
 tion of a Provincial debt be rendered in- 
 evitable, and the existence of our present 
 system of Federal Government imperilled, 
 a result which would be most disastrous 
 to the best interests of the whole coun- 
 
 Bfr. Meredith arrived at his figures by 
 deducting what is known as the extraor- 
 dinary from the ordinary expenditure in 
 •aeh year, th^ia :— 
 
 18M. 
 
 Totol Expenditure |l.lM,.'Wa 08 
 
 [ttm.] 
 I'uhllc nuliainifii, caplUl actount- 
 
 Goveriimeiit HiiiUtliiKt I 47,869 81 
 
 Lieut. Oov. Koaiduuce 2,836 00 
 
 aovurniiient Houw J7,708 64 
 
 ProvlncUl Aaylum, Toronto. 47,640 H4 
 
 126,H46 » 
 
 Ordinary expenditure 1868. .. . #1,066,641 74 
 
 1871. 
 
 Total ExiKjndlture 1,816,867 00 
 
 [Lchh! 
 I'liynienU) if Siwclal Fundi - 
 
 (l)MunicipiilltleHFund • (W,884 00 
 
 (2) UnU Improvemunt Fund 94,2i^8 00 
 
 1163,142 00 
 Relief Ottawa and Sagnonay 
 
 Fire Sufferers 30,000 00 
 
 General Elections 10,606 00 
 
 Public DuildlnKS ami Works. 480,620 00 
 
 643,267 00 
 
 Totel ordinary expenditure 
 
 1871 1,178.600 00 
 
 Total cxpendltiiro 1878— gee 
 pnge 29 of abstract of Re- 
 ceipts and ExiHjndiluro*.. 2,408,.534 08 
 
 [LemI 
 
 Public Buildings 272,204 83 
 
 Public Works 26,313 20 
 
 208,008 00 
 12,100,026 03 
 
 In this method of dealing with the ex- 
 penditure Mr. Meredith excluded, 
 
 (1.) Expenditure for public works and 
 buildings which is so-called capital ex- 
 penditure, and does not, as Is claimed, 
 fairly enter into a comparison of the 
 ordinary or normal expeuditure. 
 
 (2.) Payments on account of trust 
 funds, such as municipalities and laad 
 Improvement funds, which is really not 
 expenditure of an ordinary character, but 
 should be deductions from Crown Lands 
 revenues. 
 
 (3.) The $30,000 paid in 1871 for the 
 relief of the Ottawa and Saguenay fir^ 
 
24 
 
 sufferers — exceptional expenditure of an 
 oxtraordinary character. 
 
 (4.) The expenses of the general elec- 
 tion of 1871. 
 
 Mr. Meiidith's method was a very 
 favorable one for the Government, be- 
 cause he included in the expenditure of 
 1871 $29,712.66 expended for Immigra- 
 tion, which was an item that did not 
 appear at all in the accounts of 1868- -in 
 fact an entirely new service — and which 
 might properly, for the purpose of com- 
 paring 1868 with 1871, be deducted from 
 the expenditure of the latter year. Then 
 again the refunds in 1868 were only 
 $13,229.39, while in 1871 they amounted 
 to $23,098.82. This expenditure is not 
 of an ordinary character, and is in fact a 
 deduction from the Crown Lands reven- 
 ues. It represents sums paid as deposit 
 on lands which are not sold eventually, 
 sums allowed for deficiencies in quanti- 
 ties, and such like items. Strictly the 
 expenditure should have been deducted 
 on both years. The refunds in 1878 
 amounted to only $11,588.75, though in 
 the abstract they are placed at $56,148.- 
 29. This, however, is, by including as 
 Refunds the payments on Municipalities 
 and Land Improvement Funds. 
 
 REVENUE IN 1868. 
 
 As to the Revenue in 1868, 
 it was $2,260,176 49 
 
 Deduct. 
 
 Account Muni- 
 cipal Loan 
 Fund $134,963 65 
 
 Account Muni- 
 cipal Loan 
 Fund 68,178 56 
 
 $202,872 21 
 
 $2,057,304 28 
 
 REVENUE IN 1878. 
 
 Dominion Subsidy $1,333,569 42 
 
 Territorial Revenue 445,191 62 
 
 Public Interest 67,999 76 
 
 Interest 156,251 46 
 
 Education 51,880 91 
 
 License 75,529 85 
 
 Law Stamps 66,291 82 
 
 Casual 20,292 85 
 
 Algoma Taxes 581 04 
 
 $2,217,588 73 
 
 The deductions from 1868 were made 
 because the gums in questions were of 
 an exceptional character as compared with 
 1878. Mr. Meredith's motion was voted 
 down by the following Reformers : 
 
 Appleby, Lyon (Algoma). 
 
 Ballantyne, Lyon (Halton), 
 
 Baxter, McCraney, 
 
 Bishop, McLaws, 
 
 Chisholm, McMahon, 
 Clarke (Norfolk), Massio, 
 Clarke (Wellington), Master, 
 
 Cole, Mowat, 
 
 Crooks, O'Donoghue, 
 
 Currie, Paxtou, 
 
 Doroche, Robinson, 
 
 Ferris, Rosa, 
 
 Finlayson, Sexton, 
 
 Eraser, Sinclair, 
 
 Gibson, Snetsinger, 
 
 Grahain, Springer, 
 
 Grant, Striker, 
 
 Harcourt, Watterworth, 
 
 Hardy, Widdifield, 
 
 Hargraft, Williams, 
 
 Hay, Wilson, 
 
 Hunter, Wood, 
 Lane. 
 
 O 
 
25 
 
 li 
 
 THE PUBLIC AOOOUNTS. 
 
 On the 12th February Mr. Oreighton 
 moved, "That in the opinion ot this 
 Houae it would be in the public interest 
 to have the Public Accounts and De- 
 partmental reports printed as soon as 
 possible after the expiration of the year 
 to which they relate, and to have the 
 same circulated immediately upon being 
 printed, whether the House shall be in 
 session at such time or not ; and that it 
 be an instruction to the Committee on 
 Printing to consider and report on the 
 best method of accomplishing this end. " 
 
 After an amendment by Mr. Sinclair, 
 Mr. Meredith moved that the Public 
 Accounts for 1878 in detail be placed in 
 the hands of the people "before the 
 ensuing general elections." This was 
 voted down by the following Reformers : 
 
 Appleby, 
 
 Lyon (Halton), 
 
 Ballantyne, 
 
 McCraney, 
 
 Baxter, 
 
 McLaws, 
 
 Bishop, 
 
 McLeod, 
 
 Chisholm, 
 
 McMahon, 
 
 Clarke (Norfolk), 
 
 Maasie 
 
 Clarke (Wellington), Master, 
 
 Cole, 
 
 Mowat, 
 
 Crooks, 
 
 Pardee, 
 
 Deroche, 
 
 Paxton, 
 
 Ferris, 
 
 Robinson, 
 
 Finlayson, 
 
 Ross, 
 
 Fraeer, 
 
 Sexton, 
 
 Gibson, 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
 Graham, 
 
 Snetsinger, 
 
 Grant, 
 
 Springer, 
 
 Harcourt, 
 
 Striker, 
 
 Hardy, 
 
 Watterworth, 
 
 Hargraft, 
 
 Widdifield, 
 
 Hay, 
 
 Williauia, 
 
 Hunter, 
 
 Wilson, 
 
 Lane, 
 
 Wood. 
 
 Lyon (Algoma), 
 
 
 I li 
 
 M 
 
w. 
 
 At a 
 the inte 
 testing 
 Masonic 
 April 25 
 M.P.P. 
 tHe folio 
 
 Mr. M 
 
 meeting, 
 longed cl 
 
 After 
 
 afforded ] 
 
 of the Co 
 
 ted that 
 
 tiemen wl 
 
 one of t' 
 
 prndent, i 
 
 to appear 
 
 on the po 
 
 Badgerow 
 
 conductor! 
 
 intelligent 
 
 the world 
 
 policy of tl 
 
 at all 'ime 
 
 play. (Ch 
 
 ordinary tl 
 
 refused to 
 
 that evenii 
 
 discuas a 
 
 perfonaanc 
 
S IP EE C H 
 
 DELIVERED BY 
 
 W. R. MEREDITH, M.P.P. 
 
 • ■ »»m 
 
 At a Conservative Mass Meeting, in 
 the interest of the three candidates con- 
 testing the County of York, held in the 
 Masonic Hall, Richmond Hill, on Friday, 
 April 25th, 1879, W. R. Meredith, Esq., 
 M.P.P. (Opposition Leader), delivered 
 tbe following Speech. 
 
 Mr. Meredith, on rising; to address the 
 meeting, was greeted >vith loud and pro- 
 longed cheering. 
 
 After expressing the gratification it 
 aflForded him to appear before fhe electors 
 of the County of York, he said he regret- 
 ted that Mr. Badgerow, one of the gen- 
 tlemen who was seeking their suffrages ic 
 one of the Ridings, had not thonght it 
 prndent, or had not felt it to be his duty, 
 to appear before them and give his views 
 on the political issues of the day. Mr. 
 Badgerow would have received from the 
 conductors of the meeting, and from that 
 intelligent audience, the fairest play in 
 the world, for it had always been the 
 policy of the Liberal Conservative party 
 at all 'imes to give their oppf)nent8 fair 
 play. (Cheers.) It was certainly extra- 
 ordinary that Mr. Badgerow should have 
 refused to take a seat on the platform 
 that evening, when they were about to 
 discuBB a most important matter — the 
 perfomaance of one of the highest duties 
 
 which pertained to a free people, viz., 
 the selection of persons who for the noxt 
 four years were to take charge of the 
 government of the aflfairs of this largn and 
 wealthy Province. It was, thertfore, 
 desirable that or. occasions like this there 
 should be the freest discussion, so that 
 the public might heai what would be said 
 on both aides, and so be placed in a posi- 
 tion to judge of the relative merits of the 
 different issues submitted to them. 
 
 Tbe Administration of Mr. Mowat 
 
 were upon their trial before the people, and 
 upon the 5th of June next the electors 
 would decide whether that Government 
 were entitled to confidence or not, aud 
 upon their record it would be for the people 
 to pass judgment. In order to .'ascertain 
 how far the administration of Mr. Mmvat 
 and his immediatepredecessor, Mr. Blvke, 
 had been true to the principles profosaed 
 by them, it wotild be necessary to om- 
 pare their conduct during their terra of 
 office with the conduct of the Grtvernnient 
 they had ousted from office. No fair- 
 minded person in the community would 
 object if he thought his administration 
 had been honest and capable, to have its 
 record compared in this way. What was 
 the condition in which Mr. Sandfi«Id 
 
28 
 
 Macdonald left the affairs of this Pro- 
 vince ? At the inception of Confederation, 
 Mr. Sandtield Macdonald was in the 
 position of having been a life-long Re- 
 former, and of having battled for the 
 rights of the people and for responsible 
 Government in the days when it was 
 something tn do that, and when it was a 
 more risky and difficult thing for a man 
 to svaud up for popular rights than it is 
 now. Mr. Sandfield Macdonald was none 
 ot these latter-day Reformers who have 
 never scented the smoke of battle, but 
 who claim the name of Reformers without 
 understanding the principles of reform. 
 Mr. Sandfield Macdonald felt that under 
 the new era of things established by Con- 
 federation, the time had co.^ie when the 
 bitter fe<'lings of the old parties should 
 pass away, and that it would be in the 
 interests of the country if he called to his 
 councils, in forming a Government, men 
 who would be actuated by a desire to 
 serve the country faithfully, no matter 
 whether Reformers or Conservatives. He 
 formed an administration of this kind, 
 and remained in power for four years. 
 He would pass to the 
 
 Record of Mr. Sandfield 
 Macdonald 
 
 as the best proof of the wisdom of 
 his policy. With the eye of a far- 
 seeing statiisman, he perceived in the 
 moment of the initiation of Confede- 
 ration that it was necessary to the very 
 existence of Confederation that there 
 should be the strictest economy in the 
 administration of public affairs, and un- 
 less this was observed the very institution 
 might be destroyed. Anyone whj was 
 acquainted with the history of past years, 
 and who would read the public records 
 of the Province, would see that he kept 
 this in view throughout the whole of his 
 career, and administered the affairs of 
 the Province with economy. It was said 
 hiB policy was a cheese-paring one, and 
 
 not in the public interests. He (Mr. 
 Meredith) utterly denied the charge, 
 While Mr. Sandfield Macdonald was care- 
 ful of the money of the people, and would 
 not have it squandered in extravagant 
 official salaries or in any other way, he 
 was fully alive to tho interests of this 
 great and growing Province, and it wa« 
 his iiiind, and tlie minds of those asso- 
 ciated with him, that fashioned and put 
 into force all those great schemes which 
 have gone on, and for which those who 
 traduced him and drove him into his 
 yrave now take credit. Who was it but 
 Sandfield Macdonald that initiated the 
 railway aid system, for which the present 
 Administration claim credit ? He foresaw 
 that by placing a million and a half in 
 railways there would be given a great 
 impetus to Provincial trade and progress, 
 and the result has shown that in this he 
 was a far-seeing statesman. The Reform- 
 ers pointed with pride to the public insti- 
 tutions scattered throughout the land, 
 such as the lunatic asylums, agricultural 
 college, central prison ; but what brought 
 these into existence ? It was the scheme 
 of Mr. Sandfield Macdonald, and to 
 him and fiis Governm^it the credit 
 was due. (Cheers. ) After four years of 
 office, after he had faithfully and econo- 
 mically administered the affairs of the 
 Province, and had accumulated a cash 
 surplus, represented by investments in 
 bonds, &o. , of nearly four millions, after 
 he had established most of the public in- 
 stitutions, and had announced his pohcy 
 in regard to the railway distribution, an 
 appeal was made to the people, and owing 
 to false issues being presented, he was 
 not supported by the same majority in 
 Parliament he had previous to the elec- 
 tions. He was, however, supported by a 
 majority of the people's representatives. 
 What did Mr. Blake and the Opposition 
 then do ? At a time when certain 8eat« 
 were uniepresented, these men who 
 clamoured recently for a longer duration 
 
 of Parlia 
 absent, tl 
 Dient and 
 one of wl 
 
 (.Mr. Men 
 tield Mace 
 a raajoritj 
 and the i 
 out of pc 
 credit of 
 One ol th 
 Reform 
 between t 
 ernments. 
 proper tha 
 ance, and 
 Mr. Sandfi 
 1,'ether app 
 the electio 
 to announc 
 should not 
 also objectt 
 the ground 
 ernment b 
 Cameron a 
 bera of it, 
 find fault w: 
 Sandfield I 
 iiti'iiirs of j 
 leverthek'ss 
 it was a coi 
 )osition th; 
 uterference 
 lentatives oj 
 U.S underta 
 )iiildiug8 foi 
 aoiiey. Th 
 [rounds on 
 leople. Th 
 las how fai 
 
 Had th( 
 
 fith the pr 
 which tl 
 laoe them 
 
29 
 
 of Parliament because one member was 
 absent, the?ie men defeated the Govern, 
 ment and put them out by a majority of 
 one of what remained of the House. He 
 (Mr. Meredith) contended that Mr. Sand- 
 tield Macdonald had not been defeated by 
 a majority ot the people's representatives, 
 and the means by which ha was driven 
 , ^^^ ». — Dut of power did not redound to the 
 t those asso- I credit of the Reform party. (Cheers.) 
 One ot the principal cries raised by the 
 Reform party was against an alliance 
 between tha Dominion and Ontario Gov- 
 ernments. They said that it was im- 
 proper that there should be such an alli- 
 ance, and that Sir John Macdonal4 and 
 Mr. Sandfield Macdonald should go to- 
 jjether appealing to the country before 
 the elections. Mr. Blake went so far as 
 to announce that such a states of things 
 should not exist again. The Reformers 
 »lso objected to the then Government on 
 the ground that it was a coalition Gov- 
 ernment by reason of Messrs. M. C. 
 Cameron and John Carling being mem- 
 bers of it, and iilthough they could not 
 tind fault with the manner in which Mr. 
 SanJtield Macdonald administered the 
 ffaira of the country, they said that 
 aeveithelt'ss h must be corrupt because 
 it was a coalition. They also took the 
 and econo- jositioa that his railway polijy was an 
 "airs of the uterference with the rights of the repre- 
 lentatives of the people, and objected to 
 us undertakinji the location of public 
 jiiildiugs for which the Legislature voted 
 aoney. These were the four principal 
 irounda on which they appealed to the 
 leopie. The (juestion for consideration 
 as how far 
 
 I. He (Mr. 
 the chargti, 
 aid wascare- 
 e, and would 
 extravagant 
 her way, he 
 rests of this 
 and it wag 
 
 ned and put 
 nemes which 
 h those who 
 lim into his 
 o was it but 
 initiated the 
 li the preeent 
 ? He foresaw 
 ud a half in 
 [iven a great 
 »nd progress, 
 lat in this he 
 The Reform- 
 ( public insti- 
 it the land, 
 , agricultural 
 what brought 
 s the scheme 
 ,ld, and to 
 the credit 
 [four years of 
 
 iated a cash 
 
 vestments in 
 
 pillions, after 
 
 le public in> 
 
 his pohcy 
 
 bribution, an 
 
 le, and owing 
 
 [ted, he was 
 
 majority in 
 
 to the elec- 
 
 )ported by a 
 
 ^«sentatives. 
 
 Opposition 
 
 artain 8eat« 
 
 men who 
 
 \eT duration 
 
 Had the Reform Party been 
 Consistent 
 
 fith the professions upon the strength 
 >f which they induced the people to 
 ilaoe them in power. Why, the very 
 
 act which created the Government of Mr. 
 Blake was one by which he abandoned 
 the principles upon which he had objected 
 to the Government of Sandfield Macdon- 
 ald, for by taking Mr, Scott, a strong 
 Conservative, into the Cabinet, he formed 
 a coalitioii. He (Mr, Meredith) cared 
 not how high Mr, Blake's reputation 
 was ; by that act he was guilty of a politi- 
 cal wrong for which his party should ba 
 held responsible, (Cheers.) What posi- 
 tion had the Reform Government taken 
 in regard to their principle about the 
 alliance between the two Gjvernments ? 
 From first to last, there nad been the 
 closest alliance between the Governments 
 of Mr, Mackenzie and Mr, Mowat, At 
 the last generil elections for the Com- 
 mons, in every constituency in the coun- 
 try almost every member of the Ontario 
 Administration was going about advo- 
 cating the cause of the Dominion Govern- 
 ment Was not this an abnegation of a 
 principle they had professed ? Mr, Mowat, 
 who claimed to be a conscientious man, 
 felt it to be so, for in addressing a public 
 meeting in the interests of Mr. Macken- 
 zie's Government, he felt constrained to 
 say he came there not as the Hon. Mr. 
 Mowat but as a prii^ate citizsn. But it 
 was impossible tor any member of the 
 Cabinet to divest himself of the influence 
 of his local position, and this was not the 
 intention, an^ in this matter also they 
 were false to the pledges made to the 
 people. (Cheers.) Then in regard to the 
 million and a half voted for railways, the 
 position taken by Sandfield Macdonald 
 was that the money hu,viug been appro- 
 priated by Parliament for the purpose of 
 building railways, the Government, while 
 responsible to the House, should say to 
 what railways that aid should be given. 
 The Opposition objected, and said that 
 each appropriation should be submitteiel 
 to the vote of the House. There might 
 be something in that contention, but he 
 asked, what did they do when they got 
 
 ^ 
 
30 
 
 into power t They repeiil< d Mr. Simdfield 
 Maodonald's Act, and mudt) provmioti 
 that the Governaient niiijht, by order-in- 
 Council, make appropriati riu for these 
 railways, which ahould be aubmitted for 
 the aHBsnt of Parlianibiit ; but they 
 brought these appropriatii'iis down to the 
 House at the closes (>i the session, and re- 
 fused to give the representatives of the 
 pecple tivo days to discuss theiu, but 
 puHiiid them through en bloc, and voted 
 away hundreds of thousands nt dolhua of 
 tliT people's money. Wus this a substan- 
 tial compliance with their jdedges ! Time 
 should have been given for due consider- 
 ation of the claims of the railway compa- 
 nies, and without this the proceeding was 
 a farce, and the arrangement of Mr. 
 Sandtield Macdonald a far better one, 
 (Hear, hear. ) With regard to the loca- 
 tion ot putjlic buildings, it was thought 
 that if thwyhad a certain sum with which 
 to build, it siiould be slated at what place 
 the buildings should be located. They 
 did not do this, however, but availed 
 themselves of a provision in the constitu- 
 tion, by which it was impoHsible for an 
 appropriation to be made without a re- 
 commendation from the Lieut .-Governor, 
 and when money was recommended, they 
 brought down also a recommendation of 
 his Honour that the expenditure should 
 be i.,t a particular place, and the House 
 had no alternative but to pass the propo- 
 sition, or vote it down altogether, as no 
 amendment could be made to ^ucli a re- 
 commendation. This wfis giving the 
 people a atone when they asked fur bread, 
 bec.iuse the House had either to do with- 
 out the public building altogether, or 
 take in the place recommended by the 
 Lieut. -Governor. Upon every ground 
 upon which they had sought the con- 
 il. ;.i,u '"oM i" Mr. Sandtield Macdonald, 
 I' .ty hcl hjen false to the pledges made 
 t( the p*i>jple, and nad in substance aban- 
 d med uvcy one of them. (Cheers.) 
 t^ei ti»]. i. th^- most important function 
 
 which a Govornuient had to perform in 
 the administration of 
 
 The Finances of the Country. 
 
 It was a somewhat dry subjec, but he 
 bad to ask their careful consideration to 
 a O'lnparison he was about to make of the 
 condition of affairs under the administra- 
 tions of Mr. 'handheld Macdonald and 
 Mr. Mowat respectively, by which they 
 would be able to jud;>e whether the 
 MowHt Government had conducted the 
 finances in the interests of economy and 
 of the people. The Treasurer, Mr. Wood, 
 in his budget speech, made last session, 
 claimed that the surplus which his Gov- 
 ernnient had now amounted to $4,430,933. 
 Mr. Wood made up tuat statement by 
 claiming that there were $2,170,010 of 
 investments in Dominion bonds; $553,640 
 in drainage debentures ; $2,786,418 of 
 special or trust funds in the hands of the 
 Dominion Government ; $105,,541, share 
 of library of the old Parliament of Canada 
 assigned to Ontario ; $144,135 balance 
 due on account of the Municipal Loan 
 Fund ; $ 1 9,000 balance due on Mechanics' 
 Institute ; $9,012 due by Credit Valley 
 Railway for land, and balance from 
 Mimico Farm, $G,205, making a total of 
 $5,842,748. Mr. Wood made his liabili- 
 ties, including the share of the land fund, 
 which belongs to the Province of Quebec, 
 $1,411,736, which being deducted irom 
 the gross surplus, left a balance of 
 $4,430,993. They would observe that in 
 this statement Mr. Wood included not 
 merely the moneys invested and actuaiiy 
 in iiarid, but also the large sum of 
 $2,78(;,418 of the trust funds in the hands 
 of the Do;iiirrion Government, $141,135 
 balance due on Municipal Lean Fund, and 
 several oiuaii sums due lor rands. Now, 
 when Mr. Sandlield Macdonald deals with 
 the surplus, what he meant to convey 
 was that lie was dealing with the actual 
 money saved out the aunu revenue of 
 
81 
 
 perform Ib 
 
 ountry. 
 
 ;% but he 
 eiatiou iv 
 lake of the 
 diuiiiistra- 
 onald and 
 vhich they 
 lether the 
 lucted the 
 )noray and 
 Mr. Wood, 
 ksc session, 
 !h his (Jov- 
 ^,430,933. 
 .tement by 
 179,010 of 
 i- $553,540 
 786,418 of 
 md» (if the 
 ,541, share 
 : of Canada 
 35 b'< hince 
 uiyiai Loan 
 Mechanics' 
 dit Yaiiey 
 net. from 
 a total of 
 his liabili- 
 land fund, 
 if Quebec, 
 Icted irom 
 alance of 
 ve that in 
 lluded not 
 Id actualiy 
 sum of 
 the hands 
 ^141,135 
 und, and 
 is. Now, 
 nail with 
 lo convey 
 Ihe actual 
 venue of 
 
 the country. On the Slat December, 
 1871, Mr. Sandfield Macdonald had in 
 actual money paid out for debenture* of 
 the Government and for money on jpeeial 
 deposit, $3,637,979 [page 10, Public Ac- 
 counts, 1871J. These moneys were com- 
 posed of $860,000 worth of 5 per cent, 
 debentures, $705,471 of 6 per cents., and 
 $1,192,333 Dominion bonds, and special 
 deposits in the bank of $890,174. Now 
 £250,000 stg. ot the Dominion bonds 
 had been purchased at 98 and had in- 
 creased in value, and the adaitional two 
 per cent, would represent $24,820, the 
 market value of these debentures in- 
 creased by $111,857 over par. The actual 
 balance in the bank un ordinary current 
 account was $172,985, so that Mr. Sand- 
 field Macdonald had in actual cash and 
 actuiki cash investments $3,947,642 saved 
 out of the ordinary revenue of the Pro- 
 vince during the four years he was in 
 power. Now, it was a most suspicious 
 circumstance when they found the Trea- 
 surer of the Government of the day in- 
 trod ucing into what had been called 
 
 A Statement of the Surplus, 
 
 a number of items which had never 
 beftjro been entered in this account. 
 He asked his hearers as men of busi- 
 ness and common sense if, when they 
 went to look ab the Treasurer's state- 
 ment of assets and liabilities they found 
 he was not dealing with the same 
 itews Mr. Sandfield Macdonald dealt 
 with in his surplus, they would think he 
 was attempting to deceive the people. 
 It seemed to him a fair inference, in 
 view of the rapid way in which the Re- 
 form Goveriiiuont were dissipating the 
 surplus left by Sandfield Macdonald, ihat 
 they found it necessary to drag in these 
 items m order to deceive the people. 
 Assuming, however, that they had a 
 right to take these exceptional items to 
 account, it would be ihir to consider 
 what Mr. Sandfield Macdonald's surplus 
 
 vould have been, had they been included 
 in his statement. The trust funds of the 
 Dominion were 1^,891,950, including the 
 share of library, or less the Quebec share 
 school lands, $427,337, $2,464,681. They 
 would observe that Mr. Wood in his 
 statement claimed credit for the balance 
 due on the Munioipal Loan Fund, f hey 
 all knew that years ago large sums were 
 borrowed by the municipalities, aad that 
 at Confederation a large proportion was 
 due. Mr. Mowat by the legislation he 
 passed reduced this debt to $2,520,270, 
 and he thought that in all fairness he 
 was entitled to charge as part of the 
 surplus of Mr. Sandfield Macdonald that 
 reduced Municipal Loan Fund, because 
 they must remember the Government 
 had sold these debentures with the ex- 
 ception of a small amount. Then Mr. 
 Handheld Macdonald had invested $29,000 
 in the Mechanics' Institute which he had 
 purchased for a School of Technology. 
 This the Government had sold and con- 
 verted into money. Mr. Wor)d claimed 
 credit for the proceeds of the Mechanics' 
 Institute, and the preceding Government 
 were entitled to credit for the same item. 
 He (Mr. Meredith) therefore included 
 this item. The next item was 
 
 The Mimico Farm. 
 
 This was purchased by Mr. Sandfield 
 Macdonald for the purpose of estab- 
 lishing an agricultural college and 
 farm. A large proportion of the people 
 would say chat the location had been 
 well chosen. The present Government 
 changed the site for the purpose of ob- 
 taining political favor and took it to 
 Guelpb. He fancied they had some 
 political friends there they wished to 
 oblige, and that it was on this account, 
 and not on account of the quality of the 
 land, that ttie location was changed. He 
 did not desire to say one word against 
 Mr. Patterson that evening, but he must 
 refer to the vote which the representa- 
 
 ^ I 
 
 I 
 
 li 
 
32 
 
 tivea of York gave on that ocoasion. 
 Messrs. Crosby and Patterson were then 
 the members for East and West Yotk. 
 Both of these gentlemen voted against 
 the change, but had they been serious in 
 their objection they might have prevented 
 it taking place. If they had gone to Mr. 
 Mowat and had stated that it was in the 
 interests of the county of York and the 
 Province to locate this college at Mimico 
 and had threatened to withdraw their 
 support, he ventured to say that the 
 locfttion would not have been changed. 
 They wore, however, not content to take 
 that stand they should have taken in 
 defence of the rights of their constituents. 
 (Applause. ) However, the Mimico farm 
 had since been sold, and Mr. Wood had 
 taken credit for the balance due on it, 
 $6,305, and for $15,308 before received. 
 Both of these items he took into acconnt 
 for Mr. Sanfleld Macdonald's surplus. 
 Then there were $26,000 received from 
 the Law Society and §9,012 from the 
 Credit Valley, $175,704 drainage invest- 
 ments, and 8101,463 receipts from Crown 
 Timber received in December, 1871, but 
 which were not entered until January, 
 1872. These items all together would 
 amount to $296,684 58 which if added to 
 the actual cash surplus would give 
 
 $9,244,327.46 as the Surpl«s of 
 Mr. Sandfield Macdonald upon 
 the basis taken by Mr. Wood. 
 
 Against this should perhaps be charged 
 $5^6,292 16 of the municipal loan 
 debt wiped off on account of the 
 Canada Central R. R Putting these 
 statements side by side they must come 
 to the conclusion that the man who was 
 able to collect a surplus of that kind was 
 the proper person to administer the affairs 
 of the country, while the men who were 
 dissipating it should not be trusted with 
 the Government. A good deal had been 
 said by gentlemen of the Reform party 
 as to there being good reasons why the 
 
 surplus had been reduced. Mr. Mowat 
 had taken the ground that he had 
 spent among the people five millions 
 in railway aid and municipal loan 
 fund distribution. Now he [Mr. Mere- 
 dith] thought he could show that Mr. 
 Mowat received more- — almost the whole 
 sum — by exceptional receipts and by bur- 
 dens removed, which Mr. Sandfield Mac- 
 donald had to bear. On the Municipal 
 Loan fund account, Mr. Mowat collected 
 $1,564,657. Under the Confederaticm 
 scheme, this Province had to pay out up 
 to 1873 $146,833 half-yearly as interest 
 on the excess of the old Canada debt 
 over what the Dominion had assumed. 
 In 1873, a bill was introduced by the 
 Government of Sir John Macdonald by 
 which that debt was assumed by the 
 Dominion, and from that time the pay- 
 ments ceased. So that from 1874 to 1878 
 Mr. Mowat's Government had been 
 saving these payments, which would 
 amount to a total of $1,604,166 63. The 
 present Administration had also had the 
 benefit of the interest on the money 
 Avhich Sandfiel d M acdonald invested. He 
 did not suppose they claimed credit for 
 that, for it became due whether they 
 were asleep or whether they were awake. 
 They got upwards of $1,200,000 by 
 reason of this account. For timber sales 
 in October, 1873, sales made in violation 
 of the people's rights, $533,229, and the 
 $101,463 before mentioned. Altogether, 
 therefore, Mr. Mowat had made from 
 sources not open to Mr. Sandfield Macdon- 
 ald, $5,005,316, nearly the whole of the 
 amount of the capital distribution for 
 which they took credit. Looking at these 
 facts, he asked had the Government been 
 economical in the administration of the 
 affairs of the Province. [Cheers and 
 cries of no. J Referring now to the ex- 
 penditure, his friend, Mr. Tyrrell, had 
 correctly stated what were the figures for 
 the annual receipts and expenditure. 
 There was no doubt there was an actual 
 
33 
 
 deficit, taking the gross amounts received 
 and expended, but in that statement 
 there were included sums paid under the 
 surplus distribution scheme, and it was 
 objected that this was unfair. For the 
 purpose of ascertaining what had been 
 the normal expenditure in the yeai-s 1868, 
 1871 and 1878, he had taken and com- 
 pared a few figures from the Public Ac- 
 counts. He proposed to show them what 
 had been the increases in the expendi- 
 ture in the 
 
 Four Years of Mr. Sandfield 
 Macdonald's Regime, 
 
 Macdouald's regime, and the seven years 
 of the Reform administration, and they 
 would be able to draw a fair conclusion 
 as to which had been the extravagant 
 Government. The total expenditure in 
 18G8 was $1,182,388. This included ex- 
 penditure which ought not to be classed 
 as ordinary current expenditure, viz., 
 that on public buildings which varied 
 from year to year. He, therefore, de- 
 ducted the expenditure on public 
 buildings, $125,846, in that year, which 
 would leave $1,056,541 as the actual 
 expenditure for ordinary purposes by 
 Sandfield Macdonald in his first year. 
 In 1871, the last year of his administra- 
 tion the expenditure was $1,816,866, and 
 making certain deductions for the same 
 reason as before, viz. : $68,884, pay- 
 ments to lihe municipalities on account 
 of sales of Crown Lands, which were not 
 ordinary expenditure ; land improve- 
 ment fund, $94,258, also exceptional ex- 
 penditure ; relief to the Ottawa and 
 Saguenay sufferers, $30,000 ; general 
 elections, $19,505, this being the year of 
 the elections which did not occur in 1868 
 and 1878 ; public works and buildings, 
 $430,620.45. These sums deducted gave 
 a total expenditure ot $1,173,697, so that 
 the expenditure increased by $117,056, 
 or less than twelve per cent, of the ex- 
 penditure of 1868. In 1878 the expendi- 
 c 
 
 ture per Supply bill was $1,408,530 ; de- 
 ducting $298,618 for public work* and 
 buildings, $2,109,925. The excess of ex- 
 penditure for 1878 over 1871 on ordinary 
 current account, exclusive of^fpablio 
 buildings, was therefore.$9e6,327, nearly 
 eighty per cent, upon the expenditure of 
 1871. (Cheers.) He asked any candid 
 man in that hall, no matter what his 
 politics might be, was not this an alarm- 
 ing state of things, a fit subject for the 
 grave consideration of every elector in 
 the Province. In the four years of 
 Sandfield] Macdonald's Gk>\emment, who 
 were adding to the public institutions, 
 and had established the London Asylum 
 and the Deaf fand j[Dumb Institute at 
 Belleville, the whole increase was $117,- 
 000, or 12 per cent., while under the 
 Reform Government, who boasted of be- 
 ing economical, it was $936,000, or nearly 
 80 per cent. (Cheers.) Was not this an 
 alarming condition of affairs? From 
 Confederation up to this day, about ten 
 yews, the 
 
 Expenditure had Nearly Doubled. 
 
 If the electors disliked the idea 
 of Provincial taxation new was the 
 time to give these matters serious consid- 
 eration. If they let this system continue 
 for ten years more, where would they be 
 landed ? Assuming the same proportion 
 of increase, the expenditure would 
 amount to upwards of $4,000,000 in 1888. 
 Were the Government who had brought 
 about this state of things deserving of the 
 further confidence of the people ? (Cries 
 of no.) Every man of intelligence knew 
 that the revenue had not increased in 
 proportion. They had a fixed subsidy 
 from the Dominion, a decreasing sum 
 from the Crown Lands, and some minor 
 sources of revenue, but this would de- 
 crease, because the lands which had been 
 purchased were being r^idly paid for, 
 and the revenue from this source would 
 be less and less. In 1868 the revenue 
 
 .'} 
 
 r 
 
S4 
 
 WM #2,200,176, and after dedaoiing cer- 
 I tain payment! on capital aooount, viz., 
 -.the Municipal Loan Fund, 9202,872, the 
 yn«t revenue was $2,057,304. In 1878 
 the revenue was 82,217,588, so that 
 while the revenue had increased by 
 ;,f 1()0,000 between these years, the expen- 
 (.ditvure had increased by the enormous 
 rsum of 91,043,384. (Cheers.) It was 
 . said that this increase in the pnblio ex- 
 f^penditure was satisfactorily accounted 
 ,jfor, that there had been a large increase 
 ttin ihe institutions, which had to be 
 maintained, and an increase in the work 
 of the departments. He did not pre- 
 , tend to say that an increase of some kind 
 ,^,'_-a reasonable increase — was not io be 
 expected, but what he objected to was 
 .,the enormous and unnecessary increase 
 . under the present Administration. The 
 ,• Reformers could in no way account for 
 rthe enormous disproportion in the 
 I increases under their Government and 
 r that of Mr. Sandtield Macdonald. Leav- 
 ing these generalities, he would now in- 
 vite their attention to objections to the 
 specific expenditures on the part of the 
 Government. He would not refti to the 
 'expenditure in the administration of 
 criminal justice, or to other expenditures 
 of that class. He admitted that there 
 Sfould be fairly some increase in that ex- 
 penditure, aind he would deal therefore 
 ' with the expenditure ander the imme- 
 dialje ccfntrol of the Government, and 
 for which they were responsible. The 
 firs); item lie would notice was that of the 
 Lieuteiiant-Govemor's office. In 1871 
 the expenditure for salaries for this office 
 was |i,^. There was little, if any, in- 
 ' crease iii the work which was of a formal 
 ^xsharacter, and yet the Government who 
 profess economy had increased the expen- 
 diture on salaries by $1,200 more, 
 thereby doubling it since 1871. There 
 was tio juBtificationfor this increase. The 
 contingencies of the same office in 1871 
 'amounted to $305,80 but in 1878 they 
 
 had been trebled, being 9960. In the 
 Attorney-General's office the salaries 
 were $7,639 ; in 1878, $11,660 ; contin- 
 gencies, $2,602 in 1871, and $3,271 in 
 1878. Mr. Scott, who was the principle 
 officer in that office, received $2,000 in 
 1871, but was now getting 92,800. The 
 work of the department was done in 1871 
 by one clerk in addition to Mr. Scott, at 
 a salary of $700, and now there were 
 three clerks receiving $2, 700. He found by 
 the Public Accounts that the postage in 
 1871 for the Attorney- General's office 
 was $282, while in 1878 it was only $182. 
 A great deal had been said by Mr. 
 Mowat about the large increase in the 
 number of letters sent out from the de- 
 partment. It was somewhat lingular 
 that the postage account in Mr. Sand- 
 Macdonald's time was double what it 
 now is. The only explanation that could 
 be offered was that many of the letters 
 sent out were printed circulars, which 
 would go at the reduced rate of postage. 
 In the Treasury Department the salaries 
 were $8,765 in 1871, and $12,299 in 
 1878 ; contingencies, $1,319 in 1871, and 
 $2,423 in 1878. In the Secretary and 
 Registrar's office the silaries were $9,496 
 in 1871, and $16,200 in 1878 ; contin- 
 gencies, $1,093 in 1871, and $2,231 in 
 1878. In the Public Works Department 
 the salaries were $10,366 in 1871, and 
 $18,654 in 1878. It was only fair to say 
 that in 1871 there were charged to the 
 Public Works $2,678 for salaries which 
 were not charged to this account in snb- 
 seqaent years, but the increase would 
 even then be $6,000. In the Orown 
 Lands oflS^, the salaries were $29,884 in 
 1871, and $41,780 in 1878 ; contingencies 
 $8,454 in 1871, and $10,120 in 1878. In 
 the Inspector of Prisons' office, the salar- 
 ies were $2,484 in 1871, and $5,941 in 
 1878 ; contingencies, $715 in 1871, and 
 $3,126 in 1878. He would call special 
 attention to the expenses for legislation, 
 because the session was no longer in 1878 
 
 iiSIMWn 
 
36 
 
 60. In the 
 
 he Mlaries 
 60; oontiu- 
 i 93,271 in 
 16 principle 
 1 12,000 in 
 2,800. The 
 lone in 1871 
 Ir. Scott, at 
 there were 
 He found by 
 poitftge in 
 anX'tt office 
 a only 1182. 
 lid by Mr. 
 jase in the 
 Tom the de- 
 lat lingular 
 Mr. Sand- 
 tie what it 
 a that could 
 ' the letters 
 tiara, which 
 ) of postage, 
 the salaries 
 $12,299 in 
 n 1871, and 
 sretary and 
 trere $9,495 
 8 ; contin- 
 $2,231 in 
 •epartment 
 1871, and 
 fair to say 
 [ged to the 
 ies which 
 int in sub- 
 le would 
 le Grown 
 $29,884 in 
 itingencies 
 1878. In 
 the salar- 
 $5,941 in 
 |1871, and 
 Al special 
 igislation, 
 ir in 1878 
 
 than in 1871. In 1871, thn salariei were 
 $8,726, and in 1878 $11,300 ; seasional 
 writers, $4, 212 in 1871, and $8,043 in 1878; 
 atationery,$ll,412in 1871, and $18,728 in 
 1878. This was an enormous increase in 
 the expenditure on a branch of the 
 public service as to which none of the 
 arguments in regard to increased work 
 would apply. The expenses for Crown 
 counsel were $7,989 in 1871, and $13,161 
 in 1878, and this, too, when five out of 
 the six members of the Oabinet were 
 lawyers. These gentlemen would have 
 been much better employed in some 
 business of this kind, instead of going 
 about the country attending meetings 
 for the Dominion elections. So strongly 
 did this appeal to the sense of the 
 House, that a supporter of the Govern- 
 ment felt constrained to introduce a 
 motion asking the members of the Gov- 
 ernment to pay more attention to this 
 business in future, in view of the fact 
 that five lawyers were in the Oabinent. 
 Taking the expenditure immediately 
 under the control of the Government, 
 he thought he had shown them that 
 there had been large and unjustifiable 
 increases. A great deal had been said 
 throughout the conntry in regard to 
 
 The Question of Indemnity. 
 
 He had endeavored ever since he 
 had entered public life to conduct 
 the affairs of the Province, as if 
 those engaged in them were honor- 
 able men, and he thought it was a must 
 degrading thing for public men to be 
 attacked and belittled in the way they 
 were at present. If men in the highest 
 offices of the Government were branded 
 as fit for the penetentiary, what would 
 be thought of us by other countries, 
 who would naturally ask what kind of 
 people were they who put such men in 
 charge of public affairs. Was it right, 
 proper, or decent to teach the young of 
 this country that the men selected for 
 
 the highest positions were unworthy of 
 the confidence of the public, and would 
 sell themselves for filthy lucre ? It was 
 the dut]) of every politician to frown , 
 down attacks of this kmd and to resent 
 them, no matter from what side they 
 came. Many attempts had been made 
 from time to time to assail the character 
 of the gentleman who now led the 
 Dominion Government, a gentleman 
 whose name would live in the written 
 pages of the history of his country long 
 after his slanderen had passed into 
 oblivion. (Cheers.) The same persons, 
 not content with this, had attempted to 
 slander Dr. Tupper and Mr. Tilley. He 
 asked the electors to resent by their ver- 
 dict at the polls attacks made upon our 
 public men who otherwise might be 
 driven from public life. (Applause.) 
 He had never on any occasion shirked 
 the responsibility for any act he had 
 taken. He assumed in the fullest sense, 
 as a member of the Opposition, his share 
 of the responsibility for the course taken 
 in regard to the indemnity. The increase 
 took plnoe immediately after the general 
 elections of 1875. At that time many of 
 the members had been subjected to elec- 
 tion trials, and were largely out <^f pocket, 
 and when the House met there was an 
 agitation in favor of thejlncreased indem* 
 nity, and whether right or wrong, it was 
 concurred in by a large majority of the 
 House, and the Government acceded to, 
 it on their representations. No man on 
 either side of the House was entitled to 
 niakn political capital of this matter, and 
 he defied anybody to aay he had ever at- 
 tempted to do so. But did the supporters 
 of the Government think that because tbat 
 increase ^ook place, the representatives of 
 the people were committed to sit for the 
 whole of their lives ? If the people de- 
 clared against it, were they to be bound 
 by that arrangement not to move for a 
 reductio^^ after giving the Government a 
 notification I He thought it was right for 
 
 I . 
 
 Il 
 
36 
 
 •very m0inb«r to ohange his oonvlotioiis, 
 if the people desired a reduction. In 
 1870, certain memberB came to the oon- 
 olnsion that public opinion did not justify 
 that increase, and holding that view the 
 Opposition did a manly and straightfor- 
 ward thing. Mr. M. 0. Cameron inti- 
 mated to the leader of the Government 
 that it was the intention of an Opposition 
 member to move for a reduction, unless 
 the Government moved in that direction. 
 Mr. Crooks accordingly mado a motion 
 to that effect, and in all fairnoss the Op- 
 position were by it absclved from any 
 compact, if such had ex isted . Mr. Crooks' 
 motion was voted down that year, and 
 subsequently the Opposition took the 
 position that the Government should be 
 bound by the will of the people in this 
 matter. The Govomment did not P3e 
 this, although they had the control of 
 this matter, because whatever sum they 
 introduced into the estimates could not 
 be increased, on the ground that unless 
 an appropriation is recommended by the 
 Lieut. -Governor it was not competent for 
 the House to vote upon it. During the 
 session just closed, Ihe Opposition came 
 to the conclusion that it was their duty, 
 in the interests of the country, to make a 
 motion for reduction, and they introduced 
 tiie resolntion just read by Mr. Tyrrell, 
 which declared that in view of the state 
 of the Province, there should be a de- 
 crease in the indemnity to members, and 
 in the salaries of the Ministers. What 
 position did the Government take for the 
 purpose of making political capital and 
 evading the true issue, and taking time 
 to determine what course they would pur- 
 ■ne in regard to their salaries t They set 
 np the plea that this was a motion of 
 want of confidence, and called upon their 
 supporters to vote it down. This was 
 not a justifiable course, and they ought 
 to have cheerfully accepted the motion if 
 they bad intended to make the induction. 
 If tiiey had iotimated this, the Opposition 
 
 would have withdrawn their motion. 
 (Applause.) Of late it had liecome a par- 
 liamentary rule that a Government was 
 not to be displaced by an adverse vote, 
 except on a motion of want of oonfidonoo, 
 or one directly attacking their policy. It 
 seemed to him that no Government had 
 any right to say arbitrarily that a par- 
 ticular motion was one of want of confi- 
 dence. The course of the Opposition had 
 been fair and honourable, and in the in- 
 terests of the public, and, at all events, 
 obtained the result of a reduction of the 
 indemnity, and |!500 being taken from 
 the 
 
 Salaries of the Ministers. 
 
 The position he had taken in roKi^i^<i 
 to the salaries of Ministers, was that 
 under no circumstances, in a cuuutry 
 like this, should the salaries be so 
 great as to make it an object for 
 any man to acquire oftioe simply for 
 the salary. He thought the position of a 
 Minister so prominent that it should be 
 sufficient compensation, provided that a 
 reasonable salary be paid to indcinnify 
 him from actual loss. Now it must be 
 remembered that five of the present Caoi- 
 net were lawyers, and had not to give up 
 the whole of their businogs, and what 
 was paid them was not for the whole of 
 their time, but as much of it as they 
 chose to devote to the public business, 
 and he thought the money paid was ade- 
 quate for the duties performed. No kind 
 of comparison could fairly be made with 
 the salaries of Ministers at Ottawa. Tho«ie 
 who go there have to leave their homes 
 and give up their private business. Of 
 necessity the expenses of the members of 
 the national Government must be greater 
 than those of the Ontario Government. 
 
 The Opposition Proposals. 
 
 It had been asked, what had the Oppo- 
 sition proposed in regard to these matters 1 
 During last session the Opposition placed 
 
r motion, 
 ume a par- 
 imenl was 
 rone vote, 
 )on6Jtino(<, 
 policy. It 
 iment had 
 liat a par< 
 t of conli- 
 ositioD had 
 in the in- 
 all events, 
 tion of the 
 alcQn from 
 
 isters. 
 
 in roK^rd 
 >, was that 
 a countfy 
 ries be so 
 objeot for 
 simply for 
 osition of a 
 t should be 
 ded that a 
 indemnify 
 it must be 
 •esentOa'oi- 
 to give up 
 and what 
 16 whole of 
 it M they 
 busiueas, 
 id was ado- 
 No kind 
 made with 
 ,wa. Tho!ie 
 leir homes 
 linesB. Of 
 embers of 
 be greater 
 irnment. 
 
 )sals. 
 
 the Oppo- 
 se matters? 
 lion placed 
 
 37 
 
 upon record their views with regard to tk 
 large number of these subjects. They 
 pointed nut speoifioally their objection to 
 particular items in the estimates which 
 I hey thought should be reduced. The 
 Speaker's salary, which was raised by 
 Mr. Blake to $1,500, the Opposition pro- 
 posed should be reduced to #1,000, as the 
 Speaker had merely to preeide over the 
 Assembly, and received his indemnity as 
 a member in addition to his salary. The 
 motion was voted down, although it was 
 one in the public interest!. Then the 
 Opposition proposed that the salaries of 
 Ministers should be reduced each by 
 9500, which would have made a oonsider- 
 ble saving. They also proposed that all 
 salaries over $800 should be reduced ten 
 per cent. It was not unreasonable that 
 some reduction should be made in view 
 of the fact that the purchasing power of 
 money had increased. They also proposed 
 to strike off $15,000 on account of immi- 
 gration. Thia expenditure was entirely 
 unnecessary, and it was most unjust and 
 unfair in these hard times, when many a 
 poor man was struggling to get the bare 
 necessaries of life, for any Government 
 to expend public money in bringing emi- 
 grants into this country when the labour 
 market was overstocked to crowd out our 
 own people. (Oheers.) If' there was 
 anything for which the Opposition were 
 entitled to credit it was for the persistent 
 manner in which they had attacked this 
 expenditure on immigration. They also 
 proposed to do away with the Inspector 
 of Dominion Oourts, who received a 
 salary, including travelling expenses, of 
 $1,800. That officer was unnecessary, as 
 his duties ought to be performed by the 
 Judges of the County Oourts. They also 
 proposed to dispense with the Olerk of 
 the Orown in Chancery, and this was the 
 only motion in favour of which the Gov* 
 emment went with the Opposition. Mr. 
 Vankoughnet, who occupied that posi- 
 tion, was a Conservative, and these gen« 
 
 tlemen who would not reduoe the salary 
 of any other single official except one, 
 voted fo« the abolition of this officer sim- 
 ply because he was a Conservative, thvis 
 indicating they were actuated by partisan 
 motives. They also proposed to dinpense 
 with the servioes of detective Murray, 
 whose salary was fixed at $1,500, and 
 opposed the increase of the salary of the 
 stipendiary magistrate at Parry Sound 
 from $1,400 to $1,800. The G>vemment 
 having increased the number of High 
 School Inspectors to three, the Opposition 
 proposed to relieve the people of the 
 burden of one of them, whose salary was 
 upwards of $2,000. Then the Warden of 
 the Central Prison received $2,000, with 
 board and lodging for himself and family. 
 This was an excessive salary, and tlie Op- 
 position proposed to reduce it to $1,600. 
 All these motions were voted down. The 
 Opposition voted against the proposition 
 to appoint an assistant physician to the 
 London Asylum, for the reduction from 
 $2,000 to $1,600 of the salaries of the 
 President of the Agricultural College and 
 the Professor of Agriculture at that Col- 
 lege, and to dispense with the assistant 
 English and resident master, an officer 
 then proposed for lihe first time. Tne 
 grant for the School of Practical Science 
 was $5,190, notwithstanding that it had 
 only seven pupils. The Opposition pro- 
 posed to strike out that expenditure, and 
 leave the University of Toronto to sus- 
 tain the in^ttitution, the Province having 
 expended upwards of $30,000 for the 
 erection and furnishing of the School. 
 They also objected to the item $1,400 for 
 the Immigration Secretary, an officer 
 entirely unnecessary, and to the item of 
 $11,315, forinsurance on public buildings. 
 The Opposition thought that the Govern- 
 ment could afford to take its own risks of 
 insurance, and that thero was no neces- 
 sity for the Province spending these 
 lairge sums of money annually upon the 
 inraranoe of the public buildings. The 
 
88 
 
 item of 160,000 for unforeMen and un- 
 proTided expenditure they proposed to 
 reduce to 920,000, and they suggeeted the 
 abolition of the salary of the Polioe 
 Magistrate at OUfton [91,000] which the 
 people there ought to pay.T H'inally^.they 
 proposed to do airay with the assistant 
 clerk of Process, whose salary was |700. 
 Eveiy one of these motions was voted 
 down} by the Government, all of thero 
 being justifiable on grounds of public 
 policy. He ventured to say that many 
 true Reformers were in sympathy with 
 the Opposition in the course they had 
 taken, trtC oondemned| the Government 
 for the course they had taken. He had 
 one word to say in reference to the policy 
 the Government had adopted in grasping 
 power in all quarters, although the Re- 
 form principle was to leave, as far as 
 possible, all power in the hands of the 
 people. Take for instance the license 
 system. The rural municipalities were 
 properly and cheaply conducting this 
 matter, but for the purpose of gaining 
 political power and of having the appoint- 
 ment of three commissioners in the 
 different ridings, and of the inspectors, 
 and of drawing to themselves the sup- 
 port of the tavern-keepers, the Govern- 
 ment took out of the hands of the 
 municipalities the right to grant these 
 licenses and of appointing the inspectors. 
 Was this act in the public interest, or 
 was it consistent with Reform profes- 
 sions 1 The result was that geea,t abuse 
 had ensued, and the public burdens had 
 been increased. In another matter, also, 
 the Government had attempted to gain 
 power. They brought in a measure 
 assuming the apnointment o^* the issuers 
 of marriage lioenses, which was formerly 
 in the hand of the Dominion Government. 
 They removed many respectable men 
 who occupied these offices, in violation of 
 their promises to Parliament on the faith 
 of which the measure was passed. He 
 had intended to refer to the legislation 
 
 for which the Government had taken 
 credit, but time would not permit, but 
 would upon another occasion do so. The 
 Olobe newspaper had challenged the 
 Oonaervative party to accept as the issue 
 at the coming elections the endorsation of 
 
 The National Policy. 
 
 He [Mr. Meredith] asked the people of 
 the Province to condemn the Govern- 
 ment upon [Ontario issues, but he was 
 not afraid to face the issue invited, 
 although it should not be properly im- 
 ported into this discussion. He was not 
 afraid that the people who on the 17th 
 September last pronounced by an over- 
 whelming majority for the national policy 
 would condemn the men who, by the 
 confessions of their opponents even, were 
 honestly endeavoring to carry out the 
 constitutionally expressed will of the 
 people. A great deal had been said 
 about disloyalty, and all kinds of slander 
 had been circulated about the Conserva- 
 tive party in reference to«the National 
 Policy, but the first duty of a Cana- 
 dian was to his country, and a man 
 who did not look to his own coun- 
 try first could not be loyal to any 
 land. [Cheers.] Owing partly to de- 
 pression of trade and partly to want of 
 judgment on the part of the Dominion 
 Reform Government, the country had got 
 into an alarming condition. Something 
 had to be done, and the people endorsed 
 the proposition to protect our industries. 
 Those persons who took the opposite 
 ground, were not true to their country. 
 The policy which would make us vassals 
 of the United States was not consistent 
 with the honor and position of a country 
 such as this. (Cheers.) No counbry 
 which had not manufactures ever became 
 great or prosperous. We had within our 
 borders everything which tended to make 
 a great people. We had a healthy cli- 
 mate, a variety of soih, and a hearty and 
 industrious people. If we endeavored to 
 
 i^ 
 
 ^«9«l* Nli.lPlI 
 
39 
 
 horsed 
 iitriei. 
 ^osite 
 kntry. 
 
 latent 
 intiy 
 inbry 
 
 bcame 
 our 
 
 cU- 
 
 and 
 
 bed to 
 
 build up our own country by jndioiouB 
 regulation, we may have a land of whioh 
 we might be proud. Even the opponents 
 of the Coniervatives could not deny that 
 the party had carried out the pledges 
 they gave to the people. (Cheers.) He 
 did not think the people were going to 
 condemn a Qovemment for giving them 
 that whioh they had themselves demand- 
 ed, or were likely to reverse their verdict 
 of the 17th September. One reason why 
 the Ontario Government should be con- 
 demned was because they had taken a de- 
 termined stand against the National 
 Policy and had endeavored to hamper it 
 
 as much as possible. The minority ought 
 to submit to the wishes of the majority 
 in this case, and every person should en- 
 deavor to make the policy a sncoeas in its 
 operation. He believed that when the 
 6th of June came, the people would 
 record the same verdict they gave on the 
 17th September, and would condemn the 
 Mowat Government — first, on its own 
 demerits, and secondly because it endea- 
 vored to frustrate the will of the electors, 
 and to destroy the effect of the honest 
 effort made by our rulers at Ottawa to 
 promote the interests of the country. 
 (Loud and prolonged cheering.)