■k'VI
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
y
/.
f/.
^<5
1.0
l.i
.25
ill
IM
m
IM
III 2.2
[[|| 20
1.8
\A. il.6
Vi
/^
^^.
Photograpliic
Sciences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, NY. US80
(716) 877-4503
;V
^
^v
'^^
\;
CIHM/ICMH
Microfiche
Series.
CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.
Canadian Institute for Historical IVticroreproductions / Institut Canadian de microre:: odurticns histonques
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques
The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked below.
n
Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur
Covers damaged/
Couverture endommagee
Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurSe ot/ou pelliculde
Cover title missing/
Le titre de couverture manque
□ Coloured maps/
Cartes gdographiques en couleur
□ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)
□ Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur
□
□
D
Bound with other material/
Relie avec d'autres documents
right binding may cause shadows or distortion
along interior margin/
La reliure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distortion le long de la marge intdrieure
Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes
lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas 6t6 filmdes.
Additional comments:/
Commentaires suppl6mentaires;
L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a dt6 possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du
perr^J de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la mithode normale de filmage
sont indiquds ci-dessous.
Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur
Pages damaged/
Pages endommagdes
Pages restored and/or laminated/
Pages restaurdes et/ou pellicul^es
Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages d^colordes, tachet6es ou piquees
Pages detached/
Pages ddtachdes
Showthrojgh/
Transparence
Quality of print varies/
Quality in^gale de I'impression
Includes supplementary material/
Comprend du materiel supplementaire
Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponible
D
Pages wholly or partially obscurod by errata
slips, tisrues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totalement ou partiellement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure,
etc., ont 6i6 film^es d nouveau de tapon d
obtenir la meilleure image possible.
This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/
Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous.
10X 14X 18X 22X
r
26X
30X
y
■^■■H
12X
16X
20X
24X
28X
32X
'e
6tails
IS du
nodifier
tr une
ilmage
)S
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:
Library of the Public
Archives of Canada
The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.
Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.
The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol —^>( meaning "CON-
TINUED "), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever applies.
Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large co be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:
L'exemplaire ii\m6 fut reproduit grdce d la
g6n6rosit6 de:
La bibliothdque des Archives
publiques du Canada
Les images suivantes ont 6x6 reproduites avec ie
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettetd de l'exemplaire filmd, et en
conformity avec ies conditions du contrat de
filmage.
Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprim^e sont filmis en commenqant
par Ie premier plat et en terminant soit par la
dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par Ie second
plat, selon Ie cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
originaux sont film6s en commenpant par la
pramidre page qui comporte un:' empreinte
d'impression cu d'illustration et en terminant par
la dernidre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.
Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la
dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon Ie
cas: Ie symbole -♦► signifie "A SUIVRE", Ie
symboie V signifie "FIN".
Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre
film6s 6 des taux de reduction diffdrents.
Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour dtre
reproduit en un seul clichd, il est filmd 6 partir
de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche 6 droite,
et de haut en has, en prenant Ie nombre
d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
illustrent la mdthode.
errata
to
pelure,
>n ^
□
32X
1 2 3
1 2 3
4 5 6
IW
compai
llecortl
First
ELECTORS' GUIDE, 1875.
FOUR YEARS OF REFORM GOVERNMENT.
MM n, m.
-i^^^«-^
Four Years of Reform Gov-
ernment.
It is confidently claimed that, during the
four years of Reform adminivstratioua in
Ontario, the Government has been so carried
on, and legislation so guided, as best served
to develope the Provincial resources, and to
secure to all classes of the people in every
section of the country the blessings of order,
justice, education, and prosperity; and, that
in no corresponding period in the history of
the Province, whether as now constituted, cr
when it was the Province of Upper Canada,
or when it formed part of the Province of
Canada, has so, satisfactory a result been
shown by any Government in regard to jmb-
lic improv-ements, executive ettlciency, or
important and beneficial legislation.
The following plain statement of facts, in
illustration of these positions, has been com-
piled from the public journals of the Province,
the speeches and aoi t of the proceedings of the
fiovernment in relation to these grants in
aid.
Mn. i?i,akk'.s amendments.
In the debate u|iy provision in aid of railways
an'', otiic'' "^jublic improvements of Provincial
iittfrests in the thinly-settled and the nn-
pruvided districts, a large part of the ."vail-
able burplus .should be apportioned according
f
to population, ami expended in such a way
as each of the counties, cities, and separated
towns shall, as to its own allotment, designate,
in aid of railways or otlier permanent public
improvements allecting the localities, or
towards the redemption of M)inicij)al oblir'a-
tions already contracted for sucli purpose -i ;
due precaution being taken for vhc pro ler
applicatiem of the money ; and provision b< ing
made that the allotment to any Municipality
in lebted to the Municipal Loan FuJid sh add
be applied on eejuitable terms towards the
satisfaction of what may be found due by
the Municipality on an adjustment oi the
^lunicipal Loan Funill was one moveel by Mr. Blake on the
loth February, 1S71, whicji declared: —
'• That tlie decisi(.n of tlie (lovernment to
grant aid to any railway company shall be
suV\ject to the ratification of the Legislative
Assembly; so as not to h,■a^"e so large a sum
of niev.iey as one million live hundred thou-
sand dollars to be i x}iended at the will of
the Executive, Avithout a vote appropriating
the same to ])articular works. '
The above amendments were defeated by
large majorities iu the liolise, but were ap-
pi'oved by the country.
CONSEUVATIVK I'MI.KV AS li i m'.l.KJ lUILD-
l.vcs.
The Patent Conjbination sought further
to increase their [lowcr over t;onstituencies
and electors, by taking from time to time
grants of large sums for public buildings
without desigirating where they were to be
erected : .'^7').0()0 for a Deaf and Dunib In-
stitution ; STo.OOO for a Blind Asylum ; autl
$:150,000 for a Central I'risnn.
In the session of 18()S-{I, wlien the appro-
priation of .S7">,0()0 was asked by the (Gov-
ernment to establish a Deaf and Dumb Insti-
tution. Mr. McKellar moved in amendment
that, " this House has had no opportunity
ftlp^l^essing its oi)inion as to the place to ])e
detected for the new Deaf and Dumb Insti-
tution, and that before any expenditure of
Tunney be made in respect thereto, the (Jov-
•■rnaient ought to sulunit the selecti' n made
to the consiilf.ration of the Ligislature."' This
^vfts lost by 21 yeas to 40 nays. — Site Juar-
/,r«'.^ 189, on the approi>riatiem
q\ $70,000 for the Blind A-'sylum, iMr. Boyd, a
member of the Keform opposition, moveel in
ameudment that, "thid Henise ought to
havcaa opportunity of expressing its opinion
as to the [ilace to be selected for the Blind
A.sylum, before any expenditure of money be
made in respect thereof." This was lost by
a vote of 'I'lto i)?,.— Siii Jonnutls, lSG8-(;!.>,
prKj' 143.
J 11 the session of 1870-71, on the appropri-
ation of •■* 150, 000 fur a Central Prison, Mr.
Boyd moved that, "this Hemse regards as
f ne of its most important privileges, the
having c(mtrol of all tlie moneys (^f the Pro-
vince, and will consider itself as failing in its
duty Were it to tiivest itself of that privilege
with res]iect to the money to be expended in
the construction of the Central Prison, and
to leave the selection of a site therefor to the
arbitrary will of the io objection
waw, in the drst instance, raised to the mode
or time of this condemnatory resolution
Iteiiig introduced. Only after they found
that the probabilities of their defeat were
strong, did the threatened Ministers raise the
cry of injustice, on the ground thpt, by
election petitions and otlier causes, eight
seats Avere at the moment vacant. It is
obvious that if the House were C'-oipetent to
accept the Addax^ss, and thus in '-u'sct ex-
press contidence in tlie '.tovernment, it must
be equally competent to reject or amend the
Address, and thereby express censure or no
confidence.
The plea for time was obviously an after-
thought, aufl could not l>e entertained. A
motion in the sense of the objection was
made in the interest of the Government,
and was defeated by a majority of eight
\'otes, the numbers being. Yeas, 32 ; Navs,
40. But the fate of the Government had
been practically decided when, on the
previous evcn'.ig to that on which the division
was taken, a motion to adjourn had been
defeateil by a majority of two votes. Mr.
Blake's amendment to the address was tiually
carried by a vote of Yeas, 40, to Nays, '3'i.
The Ministers, however, still held on to
office. Another motion expressly declaring
''that t.ie House had no contidence in a
"Ministry which was attempting to carry
" oni/, in reference to the control of the said
" Fund of .| 1,500, 000, an usurpation fraught
" with danger to public liberty and constitu-
tional Governmtn;,"' was therefore moved by
Nfr. Mackenzie, and carried by Yeas, 07 ;
Nays, 3t5.
IJp to this time it will be observed, that,
although always sustained by a majority (>f
members present, the Opposition had not, in
any-3 of this House, adopted on ;
Friday last ; That this House Avas invited l>y
His Excellency's Ministers to consider the
gracious Speech of His Excellency, deliv<-rfcd |
at the opening of the Session, and to proceed
with the work of the Assembly, notwith-
standing that s(mie of tlie con>;tituencies
Avere unrepresented ; That this House wa^s
thus declared to be, as it in fact Avas, and is '
competent in it; present state to deal with
all questions Avhieli might be brought before
it ; That the disicurssion of the proposed
Address in reply to His Excellency's gracious
Speech involved the question of the approval
or condeinnation of the policy of Ministers,
and they themselves, in the course of the
debate, ehallfUged an expression of the feel-
ing of this House tiwards thtm ; That
Ministers have been defeat':*! in each of th''
four divisions which have taken place, anegau w'tli
the triuinpliiijit vindication of tlie principle
of the Kc'punaibiiity of the Governuient to
the govciued.
The Kd'orin (iov rr^iiiii'iit is
Foniu'd Usui Siistuined.
Mr. Blake's Miuhstry consisted of 6i.x
members, the Brcnuer himself becoming
President of the Council without a portfolio
or sala'y. and his as.'.ociatcs b'oing Messrs.
ilcKenzn', ( iov/, McKellar, Crooks, and
Scott.
In a very few hours the total collapse
of the late Ministerial party was proved
beyoml question. An attempt was made
by LIr. Sandtield Macdonakl to destroy
the new Goveniment, in the absence of five
of its members, who had to seek re-election
consequent upon their acceptance of oflice.
He moved an amendment to the motion for
a new writ for West Middlesex, cen&uring
the course adopted by Mr. Blake in increas-
ing the number of I'^xecutive Councillon-, from
five to six. Mr. Blake was fortunately able to
defend himself on the floor of the H»use (all
though he subsequeutlj' resigned his seat in
order to give to his constituents the right en-
joyed by those of his colleagues). Mr. Mac-
donald sustained a crushing defeat, the vote
on his motion being: Kays, 50; Yeaa 12.
Most of his pretended friends wb.o now
use his name, refused to support him in
tl:e only important motion w hich he made
after he had ceased to be in a i)Osition to serve
them ; and he therefore abandoned them
in disgust, and left the city. From that
moment to the close of the last session of the
Assembly, although it had been elected undt r
Mr. 8andlield Macdonald's auspices, the con-
fidence of the House in tho Reform Adminis-
tration which succeeded hirn was undisputed,
Mr. Blake having, in a very able spcecli,
sketched the i^olicy of the new Administra-
tion, tho House, on tlie 22ud of December,
adjourned to the 18th of January, 1872, to
give time for the n'-electiou oi the new
Ministeis.
Mr. R. W. Scott's Joining tlio Govern-
ment.
The Opposition never cease t
o (i^i :,i.i:i:
about Mr. Scott having been received aa a
minister of the Ixeform Government. Mr.
Blake, from his place in the House. 22nd
December, 1871, thus exidained and justified
the appointment :
**lhe policy of the Administiation will be
to endeavour to create the best fcelinga
among the representatives fiom all sections ;
and with that object in view, b.e thought it
of the highest importance that we shoulil
procure the acctssiou to the Cabinet ot a
gentleman well kno-vn and highly esteemed
in the eastern section of Ontario, (Mr. Scott).
I observed, with regret, that yesterday cer-
tain personal attacks were made on my
friend and colIe;iguc from (Htawa City ; but
when he is present in this House he will bo
fully able to vindicate his own honour, It
was saiil, in reference to that gentleman,
that in joining me he has violated some
pledges - that he had made. lu 18f)'7 he
came out as a supporter of the
member for Cornwall. He pledged hia
support to that Government. But it
was not long after the House had met,
before it was very apparent that the polic;
of the member for Cornwall was not such as
met with the warm ajjproval of Mr. Scott.
But iu compliance with his pledge he did
give a support — tho' a very reluctant sup-
port — to that Adminisiiration. That Ad-
ministration went to the country v/ith a
majority of 57 agiiinat 25. Well, my friend,
havisg stated, not uiifre(|ueTiLly, during the
last four years, that he would rather suiiport
me than the member from Cornwall, de-
clined, at the li.st election, to pledge himself
to support the Administration of the mem-
ber for Cornwall. He condemned many of
its acts, and Ciinie to this House openly saj'-
ing that he did not agree with many of its
iiets. Mr. Scott, during the last four years,
had endeared himself to gentlemen on both
sides of the House. His high character, hia
cordiality, hia courtesy, his knowledge of
parliamentary law^ combined to make him a
tavoiite nominee for the speakership. And
when we heard that he was to be nominated
for the chair, there was an unanimous ex-
liression of fueling among our friends that lie
ought to receive our support. On the morn-
ing following the day on which I had been
entrusted to form au Administration, I felt
at perfect libercy to approach my friend, to
see if his views and mine were iu accord,
s found that we were iu accord. He desired
lime for consideration with reference to
tomo points. That time w^as given. Hia
.ultimate detGrmination was such that I
found tha,t his views and mine v/ere in pcr-
f<,'ct accord. I did luit a.s'.< him to saeriiiee
his princii)k3, or compromise his views, and
ho did not ask me to compromise mine. 1
did not feel I was in a position to ask or ex-
pect such a compromise. But having found
1
-,»
;:d lis a
. Mr.
■. 22nd
ustified
liiui a
And
iiinated
uus ex-
that lie
3 moru-
id been
I felt
cud, to
accord.
desired
dice to
. Hi3
that 1
ill per-
saoriiice
W3, ami
.line. 1
■< or ex-
tlie Dominion Senate, ho
lias justilitd tlie clioice matle of him, and
lias merited and enjoyed tho confidence of
licform administrations and their IJeform
supporters.
.■••^.
Work (1* the First Session
•
The woilc of tho session having to be
commenced after tao re-election of Min-
isters oa tho IStli January, IS72, it was
obvious that no very large measures could be
prepared and di/'A.nssed within the time
usually allotted to the business of legislation.
Mr. Hlakc was plclged to a settlement of the
Municipal Loan Fund imlebtedess, but the
period at which he took olfice may a message from His E.xcel-
lency recommending a reward of $r>,000 fcr
the apprehension of the murderers. Tho
motion was carried with only one dissentient,
Mr. iMatthcw C. Cameron, the leader of the
Opposition.
Anicmgst the other measures of the ses-
sion worthy ot particular notice and of which
the country has since [reaped the benefit,
were : — An Act providing for the institution
of suits against the Crown by Petition of
Bight; Acts providing for tho remission of
certain sums due by settlers in Free (irant
townships, and granting a long-delayed
measure of relief to settlers in arrear on
(.'ommon School lands ; an Act increasing the
Bailwxy Aid Fund by an addition of
.SdOO.OOO, and creating the Bailway Subsidy
Fund, wliioh was an a])propriation of §100,-
000 a year for twenty years, also in aid of
railv.'.ays; an Act enabling the Oovcrnment
to advance money uijon municip.al deben-
tures in aid fif drainage, at a charge, for
interest of five i)er cent per annum; and an
Act limitint; the incomes of Kegistrars, and
providing that fees in excess of their legal
emoluments should be paid over to the
County. At the same time the Act under
Mhich the i^ievious Oovernment had taken
arVutrary powers to divide counties for regis-
tration purposes was repealed.
It will bo seen how thoroughly Beform
principles pervaded the whole (*f this mass
of legislation. The authority of the peo])le
throiigh their representatives over the ex-
pi-nditure of the pcoide's money; the i)urity
of electicm, and the independence of tho
Legislature; the liberal as.^istance of public
enterpriser; the encouragement of 3truggling
settlers in the nev.ly settled counties or in
the more remote sections of the country,
were the first care of the new Ministry;
whilst other liberal and statesmanlike meas-
ures marked the advent of Beforra (Gov-
ernment to power, anil laid the foundation
for mueh of that progiess and prosperity the
I'rovince has since witnessed. In fact, not
a single pledge given in Opposition that couM
be redeemed was allowed to stand unfulfilled
even for one f-ession.
Railway Grants this Session.
Before tha close of the session the House
had, for the first time, to exercise its power
of ratifying the railway grants in aid. Mr.
Blake submitted for the consideration of the
House of Assembly the claims of ten railways,
which would give increased facilities of com-
munication to important sections oi the
Province from its Eastern to its Western
limits; and the House of Assembly ratified
all the proposed grants of aid ; without any
..livisiou, except in two caaes, where the vote
was 6'J to 7, aud Gl to 3, roapectively. — .SVr
Journals, 1871-2, pp. 234, 2:U). Mr. Cainerrn
liimself and most of the Opposition lea«l« rs
and their friends voting/or both reaolutio w.
Among the yeas on the resolutions werj —
Messrs. Cameron, Carling, Lauder, Kykert,
Boultl>ee, Ardagli, Boulter, Code, Corby,
JJeacon, Fitzsiminoiis, Hamilton, MoCuaig,
McRae, Monteith, I'ead, Scott (Orey),
Tooley, &c., pronounced opponents of the
(government whose resolutions they joined
its own friends in supporting.
Mr. Cameron and Mr. Eykert, after giving
these votes, factiously pretended that they
had not had time to consider the Orders in
Councd. Mr. Cameron moved a resolu-
tion to that effect, and laying down certain
proposed rules for the future; but so g'-ouud-
less did all parties confess the pretence to be,
that, in a House of 53 members, the mo-
tion had but 9 supporters, many pronounced
members of the Opposition declining to en-
dorse the idle pretence. Amongst these were
such well known Conservative members as
Messrs. Ardagh, Boulter, Code, Deacon,
Eead, &c.
Speak Now.
The history of the first session would not
be complete without some notice of the com-
mencement of that policy of slander, after-
wards systematically pursued by the Opposi-
tion. It was in their hands that the great
*'Sp'3aknow" and "Proton," affairs assumed
the dignity f "questions."
In th' tir 't case a charge was made by Mr.
JL C. Cameron against Mr. Blake and Mr.
E. B. Wood to the effect, that there had been
some colIusi\'e an-angement between them
for the retirement of the former from Mr.
Sandfield Macdonald's Government ; and a
torn fragment of a note containing the
words "Speak now, "sent acrossthe floor of the
House by Mr. Blake to Mr. Wood at a sitting
subsequent to the resignation of the latter,
was found, and with detestable meanness
used as evidence of the alleged conspiracy.
But both the gentlemen so charged gave to
the allegation a most positive and unequiv-
ocal denial, and the accuser, when Ccdled
npon to substantiate it before a Committee,
refused to appear.
Proton.
In the other case, it was charged that one
Lewis, aland valuator, had, at the instiga-
tion of Messrs. Blake and McKellar, used
improper means to influence certain settlers
in Pi'oton, in the County of Grey, who
claimed a reduction in the price of their
lands, to vote for the Government candidate
and against Mr. Lauder, then seeking re-
election. It was proved tliat Mr. Blake had
never seen or held any communication with
Lewis on the .«iubject, and that all that Mr.
McKellar had told Lewis was, tliat the Gov-
ernment would carry out the ])()licy towards
the settlers its meml)crs had advocated when
in Opposition. Thus fell to the ground these
lliiiisy and malevoknt lil)e]s,
Stcond Session, 1873.
Mr. Mowat's Premiership.
When for a second time the Legislature of
Ontario as3end)led under a Reform Adminis-
tration, it had lost its former leaders, ami
i nstead of Mr. Blake Mr. Oliver ^lowa'o
"guided the helm of State." The Dual Rei>-
resentation Act of the Ontario Legislature
would not have necessarily caused this change
nntilJIthe Dominion Parliament should assem-
ble, because Ontario legislators only lost their
seats in the Assembly under that Act when
they "sat or voted" at Ottavra. But the
Costigan Act of the Canadian Parliament,
although originated for another reason, was
supported bv Sir John A. MacdonaM and hi.s
I)arty for the all but avowed purpose of affect-
i.\g the arrangements in Ontario. They
were quite unprepared for the result.
The retirement from oilice of Messrs, Blake
and Mackenzie only bi'ought back an old and
experienced statesman into the political
arena. There were, of course, plenty of
chagrined opponents to carp at Mr. Mowat's
retunnng from the bench to take part once
more in political life, but the country at large
hailed his reappearance with satisfaction.
The Municipal Loan Debts, and Sur-
plus Distribution ScheniG.
When the house met in January, 1873,
Mr. Mowat had mastered the details and all
but elaborated the great scheme for readjust-
ing the Municipal Loan Fund indebtedness.
Thus no time was lost by the Reform
Government in giving effect to the policy
to which Mr. Blake had pleib^ed his party
in the last session of the first Legisl itive
Assembly. For years had this huge bi.rden
of debt been a fruitful source of demoraliza-
tion and corruption. The persistent disre-
gard of their financial obligations by certain
municipalities, and the teniptati(m of Minis-
ters to use the pressure of indebtedness as a
means of securing political support, ^he sense
of injustice rankling in the minds of unin-
debted communities, ami the injury to muni-
cipal credit involved in the existence of such
heavy incumbrances, all called loudly for the
intervention of a Government just enough to
effect a settlement, and powerful enough to
enforce one. Wifch scarcely an objection
or criticism w )rt'i Uk name, the great measure
passed tinmgii tiu !i.-gislature. The huge
burden was reduced to proportions com-
1
menatirate with the moans cxistint; for its
ii<|ui(latioii, aiul, as an tciuivalent, a little oyer
33,000,000 was appropriated for tlistribution
amongst the unin(UI)tL'ene-
fieial results of this measure of legislation
were at onoe sei-n in tiie rapid revival of the
municipalities which hail l)een oppressed hy
the weight of their municipal dtd»t, and in
the impetus given. to iniprovenunits in every
part of the Provim-e. The measure was
foundeti upon principles which fieeil it alto-
gether from the imputation of political or
local partialities.
New Municipal Code.
Rut this Avas not the only great work of
the Session of 187.'?. The Municij)al I^aw of
the Province was, as the result ot constaub
amendments, in a state of confusion. 15y a
measure introduced during this ses-
sion more than 1,000 sections were
condensed into half that nuinher ; vari-
ous amendments were etl'ecti'd ; and the
whole of the Acts affecting the municipal
institutions of Ontario Mere with these
amendments consrdidated in one carefully
arranged statute. Mr. Treasurer Crooks had
charge of the measure. Those who take part or
an interest in the operation of our niunicii)al
system — and who does not ? — may thank the
patience anil assiduity of that lleform Minister
far making the law on the suhject plain,
accessible, and intjUigible to every one.
Crown Lands Department.
it only into legislation that a ntw
K-en infused l»y the change of (iov-
Other Reform Measures in 1873.
In the same session the (ioverunient intro-
duced and carried a measure for the better
Admenistration of justice in the Courts of
Ontario, embodying extensive and valuable
reforms for that purpose.
Another measure gave a nrw and more
liberal system of Government to the Univer-
sity of Toronto.
The Licensing Acts were amended, and new
and more stringent regulations adopted for
the I'egulation of licensed houses.
A crowd of other me-'isurcs also were
carried. These included : An Act to
facilitate the adjustment of disputes be-
tween Masters and Workmen ; an Act to
establish Liens in favor of Mechanics and
others ; an Act to establish a school of prac-
tical science ; an Act amending the election
law, and the law relating to the trial of con-
troverteil elections ; and an Act to provide
for the incorporation of Immigrant Aid
Societies.
All these enactments were based upon
a just conception of the rights affected,
and the public interests to be secured.
Nnr was
S])irit had 1
erument effectel in lAcember, 1870. No De-
partment more needed the stimulating in-
tl'icin-'e of a lltfonn Administration than
that of the Crown Lands. No topic had,
previous to the advent of the ivcfonuers to
jiower, been h .ss poi)ular in the House than
the Crown Lands management ; no ottice
was nioie can fully shunned by all who
could possibly avoid it than tin! one
jiresided over first by Mr. Stephen Ilichards,
and next by Mr. .Matthew C. Cameron.
Mr. 1!.\V. Scott, on the other hand, entered
n|ioii the tluties ot (.'rown Lands (Commis-
sioner with sonitthing like enthimiasm. He
was perfectly acquainted with the business
of the Department, and had the most liberal
views as to the pohcy to be puisiied in re-
laticm to it.^ ailministration. The lit)use
was delighted with his enlightened and
comprehensive expositions of the fpiestion in
all its Ijcarings. The identity of interest ac-
tually existing between the lumberer and
the settler, and the important part played
by the former, not only as a contributor to
the national treasury, l)ut also as the pioneer
of settlement ami civilization, came to be
better understood. Proljably there has
never been in the seven years that have
elapsed since Confederation any debate in
the Assembly better sustained, or in wliich
a larger amount of information has been eli-
cited, than the one in which this Session
the House discussed, and the Commis-
sioner, Mr. Scott, defended, the sale
or the Huron timber limits. Whilst
a great deal of valuable matter was incident-
ally contributed to the general stock of know-
ledge on the sul.iject of VOrowu Lands' man-
agement, the course pursued by the Govern-
ment in respect of the Huron tract was
most triumphantly vindicated. A full dis-
cussion of the subject will be found in a sub-
sequent part of this paper ; but it may be
observed here that Mr. Scott was able
to prove that, for years successive Govern-
ments had vainly endeavoured to open
up that territory to settlement ; that the
timber was being gradually wasted by lire
and robbery ; which only a very enormous
annual expenditure could guard against ;
whilst by the sale, in addition to the receipt
of a round sum of nearly §()00,000 in the
shape of bonuses, available either for expen-
diture on public improvements or for puuio-
ses of investment at interest, the Province
would receive a large amount in license tees
and in duties on the timber when cut and
taken to market. In aaswer to the charge
that in jilacing so large an area under
license he was usurping extra-consti-
tutional authority, the Commissioner could
point to the fxprcBs letter of the stututu
under which ho acted. Aftir ;i (lel)ate liwt-
in;^ a whole week, the policy of the Govern-
ment wiVH fully sustained.
The report of the (Joinniissioner for 1 S72
ehowed how great a ehanj,'o had, in one
year, come over thin Department, W'h ist.
m 187J, the landsHohl amounted to 1>2.27'2
acres, in 1872 tliey amoiuited t<: l:{r),(!!>7
acres. From sahs in 1871 there accrued
$ir)8,r>(;r., and in 1872 $180,071. The total
collections in 1871 from this branch were
3341), y;{2 and in 1872 !5t07.8()r.. In the year
1872 eighteen townshi[ts were opened for
location, 87') personH were located on free
grants, besiiles a large number wlio became
purchiiaers of locations for settlement. Irres-
pective of the receijjts on account of the
Huron limits, the gross collections of th(3
Departm(!nt in 1872 exceeded those of 1871
by !if310,8«»4. It will be seen at once, there-
fore, what the Province must have naped in
the shape of permanent beiielit by the new
life infused into the Crown Lands Depart-
ment.
Looking beyond the subjects of admini '-
trative interference it is interesting to notice
the rapid grywtli of railway enterprise under
the intluenee of the liberal policy devised for
its encouragement. At the end of 1872 it
appeared tliat since Confederation there
had been eonstrueted or p!aceiA sure to obtain at the hands of
a Ileform Adiiunistration.
-♦••♦-^•^-V-4-
Third Session, 18M.
More Reform Measures.
The principal measures which were fore-
shadowed in the speech from the Throne
when the House opened for its third session,
and which became law, were —
Rills amending and consolidating the school
law ;
A Bill instituting the vote by ballot in
Provincial elections ;
General Bills providing for the incorpo-
ration of public companies and benevolent
associations without the necessity of their
having recourse to special legislation ;
Bills regulating the apportitmment of
Government grants to charitable institutions
And an Income Fracchise Bill. ;
The High Scho(d ami Public .School Bills
were the subject «f a th, trough and laborious
examinatitm by a Conmiittee presidetl over
by the Premier ; and on beinj^ ultimately
passed, they were incorporated in two Acts,
consolidating the whole body of the School
Laws. A radical change was made in the
constitution of the Council of Public Instruc-
tion, and the elective principle was introduced,
by which the several clasies interested in the
carrying out the great business of public
education, were able to secure repicssntation
in the g(»vi-rning Ixxly.
The L'ompanies' and ."Societies' Incorpora-
tivo Acts were s[)eeially suggested by the
private Hill Legislation of the previous ses-
sion. Bills had been introduced for the in-
corporation of the two Orange Associations ol
Eastern and Westerri Ontario, respectively.
This step aroused a good deal of
excitement both inside and outside
the Legislature. The Ministry made
the (|uedtion an open one, and were
divided on the vote. The Bills being carried
by small majorities, were reserved by the
Lieutcnant-Oovernor, under the advice of the
Cabinet, in accordance with wha. fhey be-
lieved to be their duty, having regard to cer-
tain existing precedents. Wh<;n the Addres.s
was moved at the (Opening of the session of
1874, Mr. lioultbee, who had voted against
the Bills on their second reading, moved an
amendment censuring the Government for
I'l^serving the Bills forthe Govcrnor-dSeneral's
assent. This hostil.; movement was defeated,
and the course of the Ministry sustained ; and
tlie necessity for a revival of these irritating
(juestions was finally set at rest by the pas-
sage of the General Acts before nn ntioned.
Tlie advantage taken by numerous liodics to
become incorporated under the General Acts
has already demonstrated the wise policy
on which they were founded. An inspetus
unknown in former years has benn given to the
development and progress of tlie various
industries of tlie Provinco by the ready in-
corporation of persons for the promotion of
sueii objects.
The grants to those Public Charities which
had theretofore been annually receiving jjub-
lic aid were placed upon a new footing, and
are now regulated by the extent of the ser-
vices performed by the estaVjlishmeuts
assisted.
Another important measure for the
better Administration of Justice, was passed,
making further reforms in the procedure
of the Courts, removing to a large extent
the anomaly of law and equity being
administered in different C( arts, and
providing for the institution i a new-
Court of Error and Appeal, the judges of
which Court would assist their colleagues on
the Bench in the despatch of business in the
Assize and other Courts when not engaged
I
J
T
^jWpWWlBWWWPWBpff'
'''^ '■yp'iy"ygBrwig|»iyw''TPPiff^^
w7Wf^^^^iq"pwf^ yi!^ii-
9
being
in the exercrino of th»'ir .ippcUate jiuiwdic-
tif»n. The (JovcrmmTit of the Dominion, ou
which (Icvolvo thn npiioiatinent anusincH« with the Courts
of vuxatiouH md eT.penHivo delays and costs.
Inthesaiiii session, too, Mr. Mo wat introduc-
ed and carried a new Act vesting the i^^siungof
Marriage Licenses in the Lieutenar.t-(iover-
nor, simplifying the proceedings necessary to
obtaining a marriage license, and reilucing
the cfMt from sir: to two dollars (the fee
of the issuer). The same Act removed
grave questions which had for years
been occasi(Uiing distressing doubts^ as to the
legality of marriages solemnized under eir-
eumstancea of informality or other legal
irregularity unknown to the parties at the
time, "X'ld rendering insecure tiie legal rela-
tion of [the ]>a-ties, and the legal ptatus of
their cliildreu. The cystem whieh the Act
j)rovide(l for solcinuizing future marriages
has hiv.1 the ]tractical result of, for the llr.st
time in the history of Upuer Canada, placing
all maniages l.>y the clergy of all deiiomiua-
tions on the same footing.
It was in this session, likewise, that the
(Government piovided by enactment for a new
and greatly improved method of preparing
the Voters' Lists. The most stringent regu-
lations were made for securing au honest and
correct register of persons entitled to vote ;
and a direct appeal to the County Judge,
whoso certfiicate is needful to the final
adoption of tlio lists, affords an easy and
satisfactory mole in-
spectors, and placed within the control of
the I'olice Commissioners and .Municipal
Councils ; and these are now the licensing
' bodies with whom the entire responsibility
rests ; while the Government has taken {tower
to require the provisions of the law to be
observed.
The Half-holiday.
I An amusing instance ot the littleness of
the Opposition occurred during the session
now under review. On the day of the West
Toronto nomination of a member for the
JHouse of Commons, consequent upon l^Ir.
Crawford's appointment to the Lieutenant-
Governorship, Mr. Mclvellar, then Commis-
jsioner of Public Works, had considerately
f ranted the men employed on the Central
'risen, quite irrespective of their political
bias or convictions, a half-holiday, without
iriaki'ig a deduction from their week'9 wages.
This little act of indulgence entailed a charge
of about §204 on the country. It would he
hanl to say to what expense the Province
was put by the exhaustive utlbrts of Messrs.
Cameron, Jtykert, aul in Municipal Elections.
The Election Law was further improved
by imposing additi«mal checks iigainst bri-
bery and corruption, and to facilitate the
procedure in trials.
The title to lands was made more secure
and less diilicuit of proof, by an Act which
lessens by one-half the time formerly allowed
for bringing actions against the persons
claiming to t inani-
mously appni ved of a new arrangement which
had been entered into between the Dominion
and Provincial Governments for the promo-
tion of Immigration. [Sec Journals Asscia-
hly, 1S74, p. 7.)
Railways.
Tl -J House also unanimously ratified
twelve Orders in Council relative to grants
to as many railway companies. — Sec Jour-
nals Asscrnhbj, 1874, 2iid Scbsion.
It may be observed here that the admin-
istration of the Railway funds ^s shown to
have been judicious as well as impartial,
by the fact that, of 20 railways aided by
Orders in Co incil ratified by the Legis-
lature, two only have not yet made consider-
able progress ; while seven have been com-
10
ii
pleted ; anil <'lcvon have portions yec to
fiaiali. 8.)2 miles of railway were aided from
the " ivailway Fauil;' ami more than one-
hair of that mileage has been completed;
while 590 miles have been aided from the
" Railway Subsidy Fund."
Financial Review. I
In his Budget speech this session Mr.
Treasurer Crooks gave a full and exhaustive
review of the financial position of the Pro-
vince ; and thei j can be no better proof of
the wise and "tatesmaulike policy under
■which such results have accrued than the
ligures afford.
When Mr. Crocks in the previous session,
made his estimate of the probable revenue
for the year, he put it down exclusive
of cash balance in hand, at $2,394,857. In
the nine months endinf;' September 30th,
1874, it had alreaily reached §2,413,228, and
in the ten montlis ending Nov. 30 it had
amounted to §2,725,822 ; of this sum §220,-
000, however, having been realized from ex-
ceptional sources. Allowing for all deduc-
tions, it is probable that the normal annual
income of the Province may be confidently
estimated at $2,500,000, whilst the normal
annual expenditure, exclusive of works on
capital account, need not exceed some
$1,800,000. An(i '". this sum, all that, ac-
cording to the last estimates, goes to carry on
the Government, and to provide for the busi-
ness of legislation, and for the administra-
tion of justice is, $450,449. With a large
surplus ana an income so ample for all ordi-
nary purposes, the position of Ontario is one
that any country in the world might envy.
The Provincial Assets
On the 30th September, 1874. include the
following particulars :
Municipal Loan Fund Debts,
fis now rf-ail.justeil, esti-
mated wurtli 5*1,53} SOS ')()
Funds iu ban Is of Dominion
at r* per cent, interest—
U. Canada Gram-
mar School
Fund $ 312,r45,C44 4-J
L. C. School Fund
f'.ccordin;,' to
division here-
tofore acted
upon 914,240 OH
2,099,407 08
Ontario's sliarc of value of
Library of ProA'ince of Ca-
nada, retained by Dominion 10j,,'jH 00
-!it4, 333,310 04
.Si'itpi.us llKVE.NL'i; invested
us follow.s : —
Dominion 'i and i)er cent.
Stock a, id Boiub* imrcliased
cost $2,747,805 01
Siiecial Deposits in various
Hanks at 5 per cent 1,593,348 0!)
Municipal 5 per cent. Drain-
aj^e Debentures S',i,44S 47
Dniinajic Kent Charge, i>av-
able by Muiiicipalities 190,284 07
Cash in Bank, at carreiit
account, 3ijth Sept., 1S74n.. .185,070 '^5
4,806,556 29
Preniiuin over cost, at present marKtt
value, 56 20
It.
2m7,113 09
.89,4r.2,4S0 01
)ower, Mr.
iish on de-
ively in the
the admira-
s of- Ontario
cash .surplu.s
Mr. Mac-
system, and
the present
id a half of
e mentioned
been in all
nee.
i above, no
al im])rove-
the value
s and ■« hich
rs, and colo-
ul of 1S74,
)ou $3,000,-
nost absurd
wn by Op-
1 order to
ly had no
their efforts
the correct-
'rust Funds
1 "which iu-
'id it was
ted by these
)ks'balance-
eate a false
ussion Boon,
iptions, the
uUy justiti-
m five mil-
iiswer to all
e alarmists.
' quotations
the former
'eckoned as
he present
5 the heavy
)ropriation8
bhe Lcgisla<
^re, and all fructifying to the iurinite good
if the cfiuiitry, there was actually' on the
jOth September, 1S74, a larger surplus in
fash or cash securities at the command of
file (iovernnient by fome §750,000, than
.^hen Mr. Siin-
... sidy l-'uiiil" Act, beiu;,' 2^
years' aiiia'oiinations, to
3th Jiiiu, 1S74, at §100,-
000 per annum 2.30,000 00
tes3, p;iid to 30th .Sept., liTi 30,5'59 OU
': 219,430 10
Crants ui:d..T ' 'Municipal Di.s-
tributiou ■' Act 3,llo,733 0''.
les.'i, p.iid to30tU.Sep., Io74, 724,073 30
: 2 391,000 36
f ^ Total itpi>ropiiation.s §3,711 ,062 40
^he above described aaaets a-
V^ iiioiuit to 5!i»,462.4S6 02
, I.i.'.iV!i)g a surplus of $,'i,751,423 [).'>
,1
fcut tU' Pidviiice iia.s also
to iuMvidt' IVir tlie anioiiiit
due the PnivincfofQnebee
: for herpmiiortinn of "Com-
i moil rtclin)! Fund' iuoi>i'y.s
collocted by Ontario slnri^
; (Jonft'deration, and wliioii
may be estimated as follows:
_'otal f olliijti'd to 1st Jan.,
t 1S74 «i597,3S0 74
do. toiiOtli 8opt., 1S74 Sii,27;.52
§''iS3,r)57 2('>
Of w'licti Qufbec's sliare —
, say fournintlis == 303,847 63
Tile Province has also pro-
mised Aid to (Jountie.- in
i)iitario under tlie, G to! Iii-
spccUou Act— estimated., 60,000 00
-^3"3,847 6S
\et SuRi'LLM $5,337,575 8S
AnnVial Surplus.
The following table further illustrates the
i sound condition of our finances. It shews
ia& annual surplus which has never fallen
[■hort of half a million of dollars : —
1
. _ -^ 31 TlK O CC
fOCC
cs
1
CI ifS
1-
«
^ a. O -:< nx — n
o M
M
1 ^
,— 1 » fC r- C- O
fj c«
.«4
3
CO >-- O « l^ -'
CC X "il — -- C-
c; .^
a
r/>0 — Ol 1.-? *< O
«.3
o
f— * -4 *-^
ifi
?5
»
05 TO tC — ■X. t - M
CO — ■
;o
Ordinary
Expenditure
including
capital acct.
-'v> X j: -o --z. 'ix
v-i O » '.C IC r-l
c* •,:5 -S CC w5
-J
o
CO
Pi
'A
CI ■* c -.i I- o
'A -t- ct, -^ •^ *.C
ft^'-* -^ xn vj (.!:) -^
f-i ^ — -. r- CI
(M'oo"
CCl-
O
CI
W
'0 OS O: O ■>» t— :d
f 5 '5S
CJ
-g ^ C^ l^ ^ Oi o
■-C CI >?t av r- '•■".
^H ^^ ^ nH r "• ■ •
-.iOO
o
1
Ci CI
CI C)
?1
cTic o':r^C^c^
«' c-i 5 ^: •:£ '-^
^ Cl ".O ^.i V
• o
4)
H
CO
o o '■-> «J w «
• +3
3
5*
1
a< o ii 4) o o
Ci ;:; ;i; S ;=5 a
CO 7} CD M 7J CO
c /i
'
^^ , 1 «■_ _M ^1^ ^-«
,^
1
rc f^ rc fc « CO
o
cc
f/j
to
'
o
-*-t
i
^
en
^
p k-i (-^ — O M
-u
^
5
3
^
o
>^
C5
H
Extenditures on Capital Account.
Included in the above figures of " Ex-
penditure " are the undermentioned items,
which are really — investments on "Capital
account," viz : —
1. For tha improvement and erection of
Public Buildings for various Provincial pur-
poses.
2. Forthe Agricultural College and Experi-
mental Farm.
3. For the construction of Public Works
for ^Navigation and other purposes.
4. The cost of certain " Drainage Works,"
executed by the (Tovernment, repayable by
an annual rental ci>iiriv-. ^
Of those items, Nos. 1 , 2 and
3 amount for the 6 years to. ...^•2,280,u75 11
The items No 4 amount to
;K),284 07
Deducting the.se 2,479.851 18
from the total figures of ex-
penditure given above in the
table 12,110,809 76
there remains the sum of 9,630,950 68
as the a..tual expenditure of the Province for
all i'a ordina^i/ 2>">'posrs for the entire period
12
named, as again.it a revenue of $18,155,523,
received during the same period. The large
balance has enabled the Province to piovide
for distribution of so large a sum as §3,1 15,-
732 amonyat the municipalities f< r -their
local improvements, and for sucli lil)eral
^lUma as have been set apart in aid of llail-
waya, &.c.
Expenditures in 1873.
Oppositionists refer to the large ex:pen()
Municipalities Fund 45,881 34
Asylum Maintenance 5l,(J88 (19
These items alone amounting to .?()01,20G 5'2
of the excels of the expenditure of 1873 over
1871.
The True Economy.
To make out the slightest .appearance
of extravagance, the o])position have to
make tlie absurd assmnjition that ex-
pemliture means extravagance ; they say
that the present Government expended
more money than their predecessors ; and
they argue that therefore they arc more
extravagant. F-ut, obviously, it by no
means follows that an increased expenditure
does not involve a true economy ; or that
because the Government of Ontario spent
more nnmey this year than was spent four
years ago, the country is poorer and much
worse oil" on that account. The contrary is
the case.
The prosperous inerchant may remcnd>er
the time when a shop boy was his sole assis-
tant, and when 50 or 100 vloiiars a year may
have sufficed to satisfy claims under that
head of expenditure. But now that his
business is enlarged, his expenditure under
the head of '" salaries" niay require tlionsands
a year to cover it. And no sensible man
would remark : " that man is going to ruin ;
see, the amount of salaries paid Ity him 10
years agp vas only §50 a year, and
now :hey reach §3,000. He is very
extravagant." The incveased expenditure
may be evidence of business energy and of
largo trans.ictions ; and may be a correct
test of true economy. Saving or hoarding
money ia not always economy, and may be
the reverse. The farmer does not practise
economy when he allows his crops to shell
upon the harvest tieM because he v,'ishe« to
Ba\e the wages of the hands necessary to
harv^est them before they get over ripe. It
is no credit to a businrss man that he saves
8500 a year l)y dispensing with a boo', keeper,
if by doing without his assistance his book.A
get beh'nd, and he is unable to render anl
collect accounts. Bad debts to the amount
of thousands of dollars in a year may be tli?
inevitable consequence. Saving in this case
would be extravagance of the worst kind.
The mere C(nnpari-!on of figures is therefore
not ia itself a test of the praise or condemna-
tion due to the management cither of an
individual or of tlie Government of the-
country. Increased expenditure may give a
just claim to increased credit and higher
statemanship.
03:a,jioni of Iii3r3a,i3i EcpBuAlturd-
For instance, tlie support of our e lucatioi' -
al system in ISO'S called for §331, 582. In
1875 the Government propose to spend a
much larger amount. §510,875, in providing
for the education! of the children of the
people. The Government receive the
revenue : and in the form of school grants
return it to the ])eople, to be spent i ,i their
respective school sections in stimulating
intellect and diffusing sound ami useful
knowledge. Is the Government to be con-
demned becpuse of their desire to improve
our educational system by an increased grant
of public money ? Is this larger appropria-
tion to be taken as proof of extravagance,
Lvi\ evidence of want of care or ability in
their management of the finances ?
In 1808 we had few charitable public
institutions to support. We had neither the
Lunatic nor the Idiot Asylum at London ;
nor the Asyluni for the Blind, at Brancford :
nor the Institution for the Deaf Mutes, at
Belleville ; nor an Inebriate Asylum, at
Hamilton ; nor a Central Prison at Toronto.
We have all these Institutions now, and it
requires money for their maintenance. Tlie
estimate for 1875 is .?3(')9,485, more than
double the amount spent for the same pur-
pose seven years ago. To keep expendi-
ture within the original figure would require
us to close up those Institutions and send
their inmates adrift. No member of the Op-
position Avould undertake to move in Parlia-
ment, that any of these institutions are un-
callouragemenfc of immigration. In lb?.') the
jform (jrovernraent proposed to spend 8121 ,-
no on a vigorous system of immigration
which would tend to increase our population
and to promote a healthy settlement of our
t^aste lands, lieformers have been always
urging upon successive governments tiie
ioiportanee of such a measure ; and not a
mend)cr of the Opposition dared risk his
popularity by offering opposition to the vote
in the Houae when the grant was submitted
t^ consideration.
.As we grow in numbers and in wealth, the
eiicpcnses attending the Adiuini.itratiou of
Justice, tlie construction and maintenance
of Public Works, the sujtport of Mechanics'
.Institutes, Agiicultural Societies, Hospitals
mid Charities ; of Schools, Colleges and
tJuiversities must increase. Whatever
government may be in power, they must
square their polic}'' with this, as with the in-
evitable.
f Increased Expense of Living.
riie necessity for increased expenditure was
illustrated hy the Hon. Mr. Fraser in liia
speech at. I'icton Sept. Hjih, 187-1, as fol-
lows : "In addition to the increase of our
Mea and population, there were two other
%ry important elements lo acf patient.-, in these
f&atitutions remained the same. Tiie uuin-
Ifcr was, however, iucreasiiig every year, and
^e iucic iso itt the iiniubc of patients ne-
.^ssif ;'>tjd ;in iiii.reaso in that of nursts a d
j^hcia's. The aatiu; consideration ajtplicd to
tiler brancli's of the public service. As
iui an;i I i' the couutiy extended, and the
:>pal;U; il-l be oaiil foi-
nm."
a lid
-o !!
.-fl,
4',,.
irowu L.tiiii.,
■ ail. I i.'"'! i
l)e])*rt>ii<.r.t t.ue t-m ^•e<[)„lld-
iuellt!y the i.'\p.:-;i!ii'.;;> ;. (» u^t
increa.^e v.ith the number of settleis. The
cost of labour had also increased largely
during the last few years. The (rovernment
had a large staff of officials in not only the
departments, but also in the numerous in-
stitutions throughout the I'rovince. They
knew that merchants paid more for clerks,
and farmers and maiiufacturei-s more for
workmen than they did live or six years ago.
Sandtield Macdonald had, as Mr. Lauder
said, screwed everything down to the 'low-
est minimum,' and the Government which
succeeded him found it necessary to increase
the salaries of the officials in order to keep
them in the public service. He need not
say anything more in justification of that
course except this, that every member of
SandfieM Maedonald's (iovernment remain-
ing in the House when the proposal waa
made — Mr. M. C. Cameron, Mr. Stephen
llichards, and Mr. K. 15. Wood — voted lor all
the increase.^ except that in ihe salary of the
Inspector of Prisons, which was opposed by
Mr. M. C. Cameron. He pointed out that
$l)i,-300 of the §26,0(X) increase in legislation
between 1871 and 187.3 consisted of the $150
extra paid by way of indemnity to each of
the 82 members ot the House, including each
of those members of the ()p2)ositiou who
cried out so loudly about the increase, and
not only t ok the extr,i amount, but asked
the ^iovernmeut to prop(>.^e it."
Crown Lands Expenditure.
The principal increase of expenses haa
been in connection with the Crown lands,
and the Hon. Mr. Pardee, Commissioner of
Crown Lands, has repeatedly shown in his
speeches on various occasions how this in-
crease is accounted for. The foliowiui^ is
the substance of his explanation iu a speech
delivered by him in the fall of 187-i iu Mus-
koka District. Speaking of the increased
work which had been p( rfv)rmed by the
Department of Crown Lands, he illustrated
the increase by stating that iu 1870 the
number of [latents issued was loll ; jn
KS7L 1,1)23; while in 1872, the first year
of the pieseut (Joveiuinent, the number had
swollen to 2,()7.'> ; ami in 1S7:{. to o,402—
more than double the number issued in
1870 ; and he stated his expectation that in
1871 the numbi^r i.soued would CAced the
number in 187."J.
AnotluT iiidii iitici! of th;- iniTojise of work
to wliii.'h t'ao ( o i;iiii .>! iiier culled attention
was the nunilur of Ictti'i.-i leci ivfd an, I
answert-d by tin- l»t]>,u'!n)._nt. In jSTOtho
imii:l-,T oi !rttfr> r(..-4!,-;t(-'-cd \v„..s !,">, 1/8 ; in
1871, 17,. 1^0 ; in I^i7-i, 'JLiil-i; and m IS7;}
21, <«].).
!a ii !V;T:i..'o to the ^.ii^:^i,],. work of the
I>.;,':r: tniL'ui, the I lor;. ( u.'uuii.ssioner eom-
} .::■ .1 'h : ivnh.ng^^o ! coloni/a{.:,.ii road., u,ade
14
and repaired under tlio two yovernnients ;
and his tignu's show that in 1808 the extent
ot" colonization roads made was (14 miles, and
of roads repaired 50 ; in lS(i9 there were S-S
miles made, and 47 ^ repaired ; ii 1870, 79
miles made, and 205 repaired; i i 1871, 77
miles made, and l'J2 repaireil. iJit in 187-,
the first year of the present gover.iment, '-104
miles were made, and l.")l repaired ; and in
1S73, 2 Mi miles were made, ;'.nd ( ">7 miles re-
paired ; or, in other words, tliese figures
show that thn;)' tlim-s the number of miles of
road liad het.-n made in each of the years
1872 ami 187."'» tliat were made in the higliest
year under the preeeding government ; and
tliat tlie number of miles repaired in 187-
and 1873 was largely in exce.ss of previous
years.
Where there is a va:>t inerease in the
amount of work done, there must be an iu-
ereiise in the cost of and incidental to the
doing of it.
Drawing acomparisfui between ttie cost of
the Departmental management f-f the Crown
lands of Ontario, and that of tlie Crown
lauds of Quebec (Mhvch has always ))een
under Conservative management), 5lr. Par-
dee gave the following tigurei. From the
year '18G8 to 187:>, both inclusive, the num-
ber of patents issued in Quebec was 4,104,
while during the same period in < hitario the
number was 14,(514. The number of h-tters
registered in tlie Department in (^Kiebec
•luring the same tim ; Mas 3"), 840 ; while in
Ontario the number ras 10(),8o7 ; showing
that in both eases the amount of work done
in the < Mitario department was'j more tlian
three times beyoud wliat was done in the
(Quebec otHee ; and notwithstanding which
great dili'erence ni the work accomplished
the difference in the expenditure was only
one-tifth ; the <'.>iitari > department salai"ies
costing only .1:38, 4 13, and the Quebec .«3-',28o.
Conservative and Reform Financing
contrasted.
The expenditure of the tirst four years of
Ontario Government is no test for a compar-
ison between the merits (jf the two great
political parties, (1) because the s.xpenditure
liad to be limited not merely by a consider-
ation of what amount might be expended
with advantage to the public interests ; but
also (as Mr. M. C. ("ameron has more
than once publicly acknowledged) by con-
sidering tlie uncertainty whicli existod
as to v\hat the normal revenue and una-
voidable expenditure vvould respectively
be; and {'2\ because Mr. Sandfield Mi' Donald
was not a Conservative and had never been
one. He had. on the Contrary held, during all
his political life, views oppo&ite to those of
Conservative leaders and representatives
on the subject of public expenditure ;
and there was no sympathy whatever l,
tween him and his followers on this subji
while he held office in Ontario. During ;'
Avhole of his adminstration of Public Af};.:,
in Ontario, Conservatives used to compk.
of what they openly ta'ked of as his exi,"
sive economy, amounting, they asserted, :
meanness. ^Ir. M. (A Cameron is the "iT.
]\Iembev of that Combination Avho has a Si
in the Local House; and he is a Conserv.
tive v/ho believes that Conservatives Wc:
right in all the oM struggles with Itefornu'-
With rtgiird to public expenditure, w!i
was the practice of Conservative C!ove;:
ment under the actual or acknowled^'
Icader.'ihip of .Sir John A Macdonald, sv
ported by Mr. M. C. Cameron the lea
of th(! Opposition to the present ('ovt :
ment? That prai'ico is in ])oint for ',
purpose of the financial contrast in questi' i
The administration of justice cost .'*f35(!,."i:
in 18")3, the last year of the old Pcform (.Ur.
ernment. Conservatives obtained power
the following year, and the cost ran up :
.*;(!i)4,<)88 by i8()2, which was their last y. ;i:
Legislation had cost .§204,940 in 1853, o:
nin u:> to.'>;432,048 by \bf\'2.
The Piovincial Penitentiary liad cost :'
T'rovince ■'^28,000 in 1853, and ran up ;
.•<155,()12 by 1S(;2.
The ( Jovcrnmental Departments cost ■'?14 !
415 in 1853, and ran up to .^48;!, 0:^0 by lb'
— an increase of 237 per cent.
The collection of lievenue from Custom
Kxcise, I'uldic Works, and other funds, cd
• in 185;i, .'5l;U>(),345, (not hicluding Territori
Kevenue^, and ran up to s832,39l 1»\' 1S')2
more than 100 per cent.
In 185'3 the expenditure for ordinary pu
poses Avas .*j4, 143,029, (including capital e
penditures), but ran up in 1862 to .Sl0,2!v
8()3 — an increase of 250 per cent in 8 year.s
or a continuoiu average of 30 per cent.
When Sir Francis Hincks led the Kefor
party in the olden time, he had his fault
as he has had them since, but his faults .
that time in regard to financial matters wc
slight as compared with those of his rsucce
sors in 1854. When he went out of oliice :
that year he left ^5, 188, 13(;, a surpli
which had accrued from the ordinary reveni
of the Province, after paying all the ordinal
expenses. When Sir John A. came in*
jiower, this state of things was changed, an
instead of an annual surplus, there soon w:
an annual deficit, which in 1802 was, accon
ing to Mr. Calt, five inillicms of dollars.
To meet the increasing expenditur
the Customs duties were, from time to tim-
greatly increased, but the expenditure, no'
withstanding, exceeded even the increas*
revenue by the enormous amount of *9,311
020, which had to be met by borrowed mo
ncy. The Provincial debt, under conserva
tive management, rose, in years, frou
vliatcvtr Ij
m tills snliji
o. l>uriii<; t'
PuMio Atiai,
'I to compl;.
>f as hia ex'
>y asserted, :
I'Dii is tlie ");.
Avho lias a ^i
is a t 'oiisei V ,
ervatives wn
ith Kefunni'
eiidituiv, \v!i
rative (.'-over
aeknfiwIt'dL-'.
laiulonalil, sv
on the leU'
eseiit (.'ovi .
jioint for '
ist ill qnesti' i
e cost .^^^(v"-:
(1 IJuform (.;o.
aiucd power'
cost ran \ip t
their last y. ;i:
49 in 1853, k
^ liacl cost t:
uul ran up :
enlscost ^'14'
S'.l,iyM liy lb'
from Cnstoiib
!ier funds, co^
ling Teiriton
1^0 1 by IS'J-i-
ordinary \vm
in<4 capital e>
tJ2 to slU,2h-.
nt in 8 years
per cent,
ed the ilefoi
liad his fault
ut his faults ;
d matters v.-ei
of his sucee
out of oilice i
}(i, a surpli
liuRry revenr
11 the ordinal;
A. came iu:
1 changed, arr
:here soon v,:.
2 was, accop'
)f dollars.
expend] tur.
I time CO time;4
lenditurc, not
the increasd
iintof*<),311.
borrowcvl nn
idcr conservii
i years, froL
15
$•20,022,748 to over .'?70,()00,000. The annual
interest on this debt swallovved up nearly (iO
jK'r cent, of the whole gross revenue ot the
province from every source, or 7'> per cent.
of tlie whole less cost of collection.
4
0-,
RedistribiiUoii Act.
NO ( ; LK R VM A N OEK I N( ! .
\'>y the Confederation Act the Local Legis-
lature was to be composed in the tirst instance
, of 8"J members rcnresenting the same con-
stituencies as f.n- the House of Connnons.
The Dominion Parliament, previously to the
general election of 1872, added six seats for
representation in the Hcmse of Commons,
and the (Ontario Legislature, prcN'iously to
the general electicjn of 187"), added an e<]xuil
number for tlu^ purposes of the Local House.
Jt has been saiy
tliis Act were a ii':rri/iii(iii(/ir!inj of tlie Con-
stituencies, that is, were arbitrary changes,
founded 3, had a member for itself, the
average population entitling a territory to a
member being 18,418. This anomaly had
been the siibject of animadversion for 20
years. The new Act added the District for
Electoral purposes to the County of Lincoln
to which it already belonged for all other
purposes. Was this gerrymandering ? The
annexation of Kiagara to Lincoln increased
the Opposition strength in liincoin, and en-
iibled a second nieml>er to be given to the
< 'ounty of Essex ; and that, County at the
general election returned two oppositionists,
PARRY SOUXB AXD WrSKOKA.
The extensive district of Parry Sound
and Muskoka had no representative in the
l.,ocal House, and having peculiar interests,
was supposed to need the attention of a
mend)er more perhaps than any of the settled
districts. This district is represented by a
member of its own in the House of Com-
mons, and the Bill gave to it similar repre-
sentation in the Local House. Was this
gerrymandering ?
DCFKEKIS.
When the Bill for increasing the represen-
tation in the Dominion House was under dis-
cussion, all parties declareil it desirable that,
wherever practicalile, a municipal county
sliould have a member of its own. Neither
the Dominion Act nor the ( Jntario Act at-
tempted to carry out this principle by chang-
ing for this jmrpose the whole of the existing
system ; as the evils of such an extensive
change would exceed its advantages. Dut
a Pjili for establishing one new c:)ined,
and to which it belonged for municipal and
other purposes, had a population of *20,717.
The Act withdrew the adjfdning river town-
ships from South Leeds an chambers were to hav
in either of the umal'. Provinces of Nova
Scotia and New Brun& ck, which preferred
two Chambers.
The 41 st resolubion passed by both
branches of the Canadian Legislature in 1865,
and on which the B. N. A. Act in 1867
was foundetl, provided that " the " Local
" Government and Legislature of each Pro-
" vince shall be constructed in suoh manner
" as the existing Legislature of ea<.h such
"Province shall provide" ; the 42nd reso-
lution provided that, "the Local Legisla-
ture shall have power to alter or amend
their Constitution from time to time ; " and
the 43rd resolution enumerated the other
powers which the Local Legislatures were
to have.
In the foUowing'year both branches of the
Legislature of the Province of Canada passed
resolutions reciting the forty -^ra^ resolution
of the previous year, and providing according
to its terms for the manrer in which the
Local Government and Legislature of Ontario
and Quebec respectively should be con-
structed ; but not pretending to abrogate,
nor did anybody then indicate a desire to
abrogate, the for^-^ second resolution of the
previous session, which had reserved to the
l?r*;ario Legislature, in common with the
ct'r'^r Local Legislatures, the power of alter-
t.Lion from time to time subsequently, aa
the wishes and interests of the people should
require.
The British North America Act; after-
wards passed to carry into effect the inten-
tions of the Provinces, incorporated and
included in its 92nd section already queted,
both the 42nd and 43rd resolutions of I865j;
the first clause of the section embodying in
legal language the 42nd resolution, and the
subsequent clauses containing an enumera-
tion of most of the subjects of legislation
which the 43rd resolution had set forth.
The power of amending the local Consti-
tution bv altering the tt;rritorial representa-
tion in the Local Legislature, is in fact, as
plain and certain aa any other power secured
18
to the I'ntviripea under tlie Cofif<'<1«ration
Act, ami is no more liUely to l»c al)iiscil in
the public detriiutiit than are the otIuM* ii i-
portaiit anford (an
address which has l)een freely used elsewhere
iu preparing this paper) :
The contractor, Mr. Elliott, was to have fin-
ished his cuutract by the IstJuly, 1873, and on
the faith of his doing so, the (loveinnient had
entered into a eonliact with the Canada Our
Company for hiring to them the labour of llie
prisoners, whi'-h contra(!t was Miuhoiized by
the Legislature on the SGih Feb., 187;^. and
previiled for partial possession by the Com-
yany on Ist -luly. ]87-5, and fcir completion of
the princi] al woiks by Lst October, ] i57''3, with
a view to the su!i])ly of ]irisoners for labour
conmiencing on 1st January, 1874. But
Elliott did not finish the works he had con-
tracted for by 1st Januaiy, 1873 ; and, the
Government architect having reported that
he was n^t ]iroeeeding with the diligence
necest-ary, the Government had no alternative
but, in ttie intere.-'ts of the I'rovince, to take
the woik out of Elliott's hands. This was
done uider a »duuse contained in the coidract
entujcd iido with him by the previous Govern-
ment, which is to the etlict, *' that if by the
repitrt ^/ the architect ii should appear that
the rate of prof/rcss was not surh as to ensure
the, cor.iplction, of the varl s vAlhin the thn.i
prrscribal, the CwDivuHsionir reus oiilhoriznl to
take lice u'orL oiit of the ham/a of the contrac-
tor, atid to rcUt the suvte to avy other contrac-
tor WITHOUT ITS I'.EING JM!i;V10Ui?I.Y ADVKK-
TiSKi), or to 'proceed with the, completion if thu
works at the expense of Elliott."
Now it is to be ob-served, tlmt the statute
does not reipiiiM! advertising for tenders in all
cases, and e.\j»ressly dispenses with advertis-
ing "in eases of i»ressing emergency, whei(!
delay would be injurious to the p\d)lic inter-
ests ; or where lioni the nature (d'tln; work, it
can bt.more expeditiously and economieally
e.\ecut«'d by the oilicers ami servants of tho
Department."— 32 Vict., cap. 12, sec. 19. The
omission to advertise! for ilu; conijiletion of
the Central Prison works was be( ause, in tht;
jmlgment of the Coiiunissioner, the case wa-i
"of pressing eniergem.'y, whtre delay woidd
be injurious to the public interests,'' and
" wlu're, from the nature of the work, 't could
be moie e,\[itditiously and economically exe-
cuted by tlie olHcers and servants of tlm
department." It would have been inipossibli:,
to complete the ntices-aiy W(uks eonm;cte.|
with tlie Prison without much addition i
delay, hail advei'tising, teiuleis, and a in- /
contract been resorted to in lieu of I'Uliott .-. -
The course pursued enabhul tlie wurks to b,;
completed in the shortest time, and at th,;
cheapest rates, piactic.able. Tlie Proviii.i:
gaimid by that course both in time ami money ;
and every allegation to the contxaiy is facti'/.i-i
ar.d untrui!.
Part of the woik was done by Messis.
Dickey, Neill & Co., ironfounders, at tli'
same rates as they were doiiitj like work for
others. In view of the attu(;ks upon tin:
ju-esent Government for employing that
well-known firm, it is a cutious fact, tl;;u
the firm did work under Mr. Samllicld Mi .-
4loiiaKrs Government, as well as the pre.se):i
(Jovernnifint, without advertising for tender-
The work done in that w.iy under the forni' !
Government, amounted to|28,037 ; and tl;i
sum included an itiiin of wrought-iron ba--,
ti8,r>40 lbs., which by agreement with thi
then Gonmiissioner they furnished at eigli:
cents per lb., or $8 per iflO lbs., while it co^
these g ntlemen only SI. 96 per 100 lb-
Their only dtity was to lay down these bar
on the premises ; they were '" fixed " by oth-;
contractors.
leffo(
|prc(
lent
, deta
ansv
whic
«' ras to
ands
1»nly, o
m it; :i
t\nneec
lirnrk o|
flbntrao
i'gaiij
arsj^e f
-The
* vote
fhe cosi
an insti
Whyl
"»-♦-«•»-»-♦-
The
: Slliott'P
mideri
eontracl
Mr. Sal
Sept. n
The
aa folloj
*%rch\{
••empk
Shali
5nt[
>rka
the Uovernment in the cost of the Centnii^QQ
Prison. The truth is that, on the contran •fln-esc^
their method of dealing with and giviui4(>^t-t
Central Prison.
19
ns to cvsuri'.
'khh the tm.:
oiilhorizid to
/'the contrat:-
)thcr contrac-
Ut
If, and at tiie
Tlu! rroviu't:
nu! and nionnv ;
Lrary is facti'-'Vi.i
IK! by Messrs.
indcrs, at th''
il like work for
a(;k.s upon the
iiploying that
ioUB fact, th-.ii
Sandtield Ma';-
as tlie present
iug for tenders
nder the fornni
;,0:^7 ; and thi^
ught-iron bai.-,
inent with the
iiished at eigl):
g., while it cos!
i per 100 Ibv
down these bari
tixed"byothd
vidence of niis
on the part (
t of the Centra
Dn the contrarv
vith and giviui
j( effoct to that legacy left to them by their
predecessors is a matter for \vliiin is at
$45,000. ft was fortunate for the Hnauces
of the country that the llcform ojiyxisition
yfiSk s successful in compelling the aba!uLon;nent
'|if the first sehenie.
It is jiretended thnt the present scheme
{ 'as to have cost, and would h.ave cost in thn of the same within the time herein " charge of the (.!entral t ligon works has re-
escribed, or if the parties of the first "ported tome that the establishment and
rt shall perai.st in any course violating "rate of progress at and in the Central
" the rirovisions of this contract, Her said
" Majiaty, shall have tlu; power, fit her dis-
"crction, by the .said (Jommissioner afore-
''said or his sutctsEors in ofhee, with )ut
" previous notice or protest, ami without
" process or suit at law, either to take the
" vrork or any part tiitreof, out of tlie hands
" of the i):utica of the first part and to relet
"the same to any contraetnr or contractors
" wi/Jioui lis bciiKj prcvioushj Kdocrlisct/., or to
" employ additional woikmen, ami provide
" material.s, tools and other necessary things
"at the e.vpense art ; and tln-r parties of the, tirst part in
" either c.ise shall be liabh; for all djimages
"and extra costs and e.\peniliture wliich
" tn;i,y bu ineu-red by reason thereof ; and
"shall, in either of such cases, likewise for-
" feit all moneys thf.u due under the condi-
" tions and stipulations or any or either of
" them herein contained.'' Also^nlly " That
" in ease of failure in the contraet, the parties
" of the tirsC i)art shall thereby lorleit all
" right and claun to the said 15 per cent, or
" any par thereof, remaining un[iaid, as well
"as to any moneys wlmtever due on this
"* contract."
'J'hafc eor.tract provided for the completion
of the work on the Lst July, 187'!. The
work was not coiiijiletetl at that time.
Kltiutt lia I done some work on the piemises
which had not been piovided for by the stipu-
lations, and other work in regard to which
tlu re was a ((uestion as to its beii g witliin
the contra'-.t, and it was fountl that some ad-
ditional worKs wt-re nece sary for which the
contract had notprovi leii. A snpplemei.tary
agreement Avas tlierefore enteie(i into with
him on the ;h\l July, 1S73, to settle all these
matters ; and Elliott thereby agreed to com-
plete the work by the 1st O :tober, including
all the alterations and additions, ae^ ording
to the terms, conditions and stipulations of
the contract of the K'lth September, 187]. •
The slowni S3 with wl;i h Mr. Elliott
thereafter procee'^'ed with the wok was a
frequent 8ui»ject of complaint and expostu-
lation on the part of the CommiKsioner and
the officers of the (iovernment. At lenjith
on the 13th September, 1873, Mr. Tully re-
ported to the Commissioner that " thoestal-
" lishment and rate of progress at and in tie
"Central Prison works are not such as to
"ensure the completion of the same on or
"before the 15th d)iy of December next."
On the ISth September the Commissioner
20
/
/
" Prison works, which you have cnntnictoii
" to conatrucfc any cla-s of iniusrries for
working in iron, brass, metals and
wood on a large scale (see M r. Lang-
muir's lei-ter of 14th May, 187o,
p. 91.)
The Wiirehoises mentioned in
Elliott's contract had to be con-
vertediutoafoundTy(.'eeMr. Lang-
muir's ktter of 25th >Sept., 1872,
p. 80,) at an expense of about 11,000 00
I
r
22
Tvrn ^hopi hniU, l»y Elliott ha-l
to be altiirctl ftiul strengthtjiieil lor
the mivMufaoture of iron ware ami
lioavy wood-ware, at •* necoasory
cost of 1-\000 00
i'lxtra railway tracks had to l;c
laid at a ii'^cutsary co-it of 0,000 00
Two fraifn! nheiU hid to \m:
erected and lixliifis ^iLvcd in
them at a uecissary cost of 8, GOO 00
A frame fenoo had to bo huilt
to encloi-o a Limbor yard at a
necoasary coat of '2,500 00
Fans, h()i>.f h\w\\ hHtitu-
"lions in the IJmteil ScatcH, the errors and
" defects in their conjitruotivo arrangomont,
" have bo )n avoided, lin 1 llie wiude syatom
" of construction biiaod n^ton tiu m'Mt ap-
"proved models. "-//<«/'f'<*/or,i A*. 7>'>';M''- ' •''■^•)
The Warden of a prominent Prison in
liie
United ijtates, on a late visit to the Ontaiio
( fotral Prison, Haid. that on tlie American
side of the line tho cout of the work and ma-
cliinory would have boon i' million of iloUars.
Tho true value i.'^ oi-rtaiidy quite cpial to tha
actual cost. Mot a building is useless— not
an expense has been unnecessarily incurred
— not a ])iece of machinery could l)e without
injury dispensed with. For thou; who know
the tacts, tr 3ay that all might have been done
for $15i»,000, is a deliberate attempt to de-
ceive tho people.
Canada Car Co.
It is sometimes pr('ti'nd«'tained by Sir
John A. M icdouuld nt the Kingston Peniten-
tiary though the labour ther' is more valuable,
from the jtrisoners biing in j)rison on longer
sentences. Tlio rate is higher tlian at
many of the United .Slates industrial ])risons,
and e(jual to the average id' the most ellieient
there (taking into ace'uunt the dillerenco of
currency), without making any allowance in
our favour lor the gr.ater nioney-valne of
labour in the United States, and the hirger
market which exists there for tlie niiicle.s
manulaetured. The Ontario eoiitraet ]'rovidcd
a aull;eient rate to make the prison more '•han
self-sustaining; and all that is uinied at in the
best ]>risons is to make them self sustaining.
llei'erence has been made to an industrial
prison — that at Detroit— as yielding one year
a surplus of $15,000. P>ut tl'iat was an excep-
tional year ; and the D'-truit prison i . an excep-
tional institution. For tlie last t«(> years the
furplus has not exceeded half that ..um. Dut
the receipts of tlie Institution compriso an
allowance made by the outlying counties of
the State for the board of the pris(jners which
come from those counties. If a similar charge
were made against our outer counties, the
Ontario Central Pri-on also would have a sur-
plus ; and without this item the Detroit insti-
tution would have no huiplus any more than
ours.
Tlie Fence.
Anola^r vi'!-':. to whieh the Opposition
take exception, is the fence around tho Parli-
amentary and Departmental buildings. The
'
:shopR and
Lviiig boon
h IiHbifcu-
iVvovH and
iiigoincjiit,
)lo Hystom
lH'tfit up.
A(IM32.)
.-^oii ill tlio
10 Outiirio
Aiuorioan
k iiml iiia-
A dollars.
[Ual to thii
uloss — nob
' incurrod
10 Mithout
svlio know
been done
i;)t to de-
10 viite of
ininy cou-
Mitrary, it
U'd liy Sir
I IViii tea-
valuable,
on longer
than at
I prisoud,
t ellicient
erenco of
iwance in
-value of
he liirger
3 ai'iiclca
: ]irovi(lod
iiore !"han
. at in the
istaiiiing.
ndustrial
one year
an excep-
an e.vcep-
years the
ini. But
iprise an
muties of
;rs which
ar chari^o
ities, the
vc a sur-
oit insti-
lore than
23
iposition
lie Parli-
's. The
co'it was SI. 43 jHir foot. The builiUr, Mr.
McDonald, was a jjood \\ rkuiaii, and wi'il
known lor iii.s skill and iiiU'',Miiy. Iluiial
hvi'U treipiciilly tiiii'loyiNl hy tlio di'[tai tun iil.i
tuulcr tSir John A. Macdonald to pcrt'inu
Oovtirniiu-nt work. Tlio (Jomndssioni'r, Air.
McKtdlar, ib'siiiiii^ n ;^ot)d fi-nce, and its
]»ronipt coiuphMiini, pr<»)(Os d to cun.^tlUlt it
tlmJU^h till) Dt'piutiiiiiiit (if l*ultli(! Works,
cinployin^f MoOoaald to supuiinlend ics coii-
tttrucLioii. Tile architect, Mr. Tally, wlu
had bi'i-n appointed by tho I'oiincr
(iovcrnn.ent, and bad bad niiuh t\-
pericnco, thun explains ilii' niatUr in \in
ovidenco before the I'ublic Accounts Com-
niitt'Mi (AV Appniilix. JoiwaaLi, 1874, p. 00);
— "In coii.sultinL^ with the. Ooiuinissioncr, we
thou^irht it better to get ftlr. xMacdoual I to
fcuperintend it, and pnichase the nialerial our-
selves, Hiid havo it(b)iie by day's work. When
Mr. Macdonald caun^ I made thin proposition
to h'ni. lie rcfu.sed to do in thai way, and
made an olfcr to do it by contract. . . .
We could have got lower tentlers than Mr.
Macdonald's, $1.4o per foot, but I do not
think it woulu nave been done as • clI ; I know
Mr. Macdoiial 1 to be a good workman." Mr.
Tully swore abo that it was on his
advice tliat Mr. McDonald's tender was ac-
cepted, that ho made this recommendation
considering that the price was a fair one,
that if lower tenders were obtained, the work
would not bo well done.
The Commissioner acted on the recom-
mendation of the architect and accepted
McDonald's tender. The evidence showed
that Mr. McDonald was an uncoinuioidy
good and reliable man for such a work,
and that he had had thirty years ex-
perience in fence building and contracting.
Mr. Tully swore, that, looking into all the
items after the work had been done, h'^ con-
tinued of the opinion that the price paid
was a fair price for it.
Mr. Joseph Sheard, the well-known archi-
tect and contractor, wag another witness wlio
testified to the fairness of the price paid to
McDonald. Mr. Sheard had had forty years
experience as an architect and contractor,
and no man in Toronto "is more competent to
give an opinion on such a matter, or has a
higher reputation for the honesty of the
opinions which he expresses. lie swore that
he did not consider $1 4;i at all too much for
the fence, that it was a fair price for it, that
the work had been well done, and that
the Government had got as good, or better,
value for the work thau in the case of any
other work.
There were other witueascs. Those who
named a lower price said that competent
persons would be sure to differ in their opin-
ions, and that the witnesses who maintained
the price paid to have been fair and reason-
nblo wore competent judges und reliablo
men.
The weight of testimony was that Ihn price
paid was reasonable, and all tlio .vitiiesius
agne(l that tin', work had been well done.
A «inglo gateway, which a Conservative
rjoverunieiit erected in the fenco round tbo
Paldic Uuildiiig* at Ottawa, cost twice as
iiukIi as the whole fence in (pn'stion.
4<>ru*iiUiinil School and
MiH\v\ Farm.
The Reform (iovenmient has been b.araed
by its uu.scrupulons o|'ponent.s for the removal
oi' this Instil ution to Uuelph. The truth is,
that the (ioverniueut is entitled to special
citdit lor reliii(|uis!iiiig tlie land r.L Mimico,
it being wholly luisuited for the site of the
Si^huol of Agriculture and Mo.lel and Kxpcri-
niirila! Farming, and for obtaining for that
iiiijiortaiit ItHtitutiou the premises .ittJuidph,
purchased for the purpose from V. Stone, Es([.,
will), it may be noticed, was and is a strong
Con-.ervativo niid opponent of the Uovern-
ment. A .Hiniple narrative of the facts is suf-
ficient to demonstrate the purity of motive
which governed thi' whole transaction, and
thed(!t,crmination of the ( Jovernment to prefer
in this matter, as in all other matters, the
public good over all \>arty and personal con-
siderations, M'jiere these hap[ien to seem in
conllict.
The present Oovernment has not ll»e
credit ol originating the idea of establish-
ing this Institution ; Mr. Sandtieid McDon-
ald's (iovcriiuient being entitled to that credit:
but his successois have willingly carried
out th'j policy of his Governiiient in the
matter, with such variations only as were
necessary to render tb.at policy a buccess.
There are several institutions with like objects
in Great Britain and Ireland, as well as ontlie
continent ol Euroi>e, and in the United States
of America ; and some of these have already
done, and are.doing, a most u.selul work. la
13t)-2 the Congress af the United States, in
order to encourage such institutions, made a
munilicent land grant to every State for the
pur|)0se ; and some of the institutions created
or formed by this grant have been very suc-
cessful.
The Mimico Purchase.
Accordingly, in 1871, the Ontario L»gi3la-
ture appropriated §100,000 for an Agricultural
College and Farm. Mr. Sandfield McDonald's
Government determined to locate the College
within ten miles of Toronto, and, having call-
cil for tenders accordingly, 600 acres were
obtained near Mimico, in the Township
of Etobicoke, and abouf. six uides from
i
24
'I;
f i
Toronto, at a cost of Sl^.OOO. Plans of the
necessary buildings were then conuileted, and
texulers being advertised for. were received on
15th November, 1871 ; a tender of $17,900
for the erection of t-he proposed buildings was
accepted, a contract founded thereon was
entered into, and the contractors commenced
delivering their materials ; but, owing to the
severity of the weather, no woi-k was done on
tlie ground before the House met in Decem-
ber, 1871. The Government architect re-
ported these facts, and reported that in addi-
tioi: CO a re-vote of .$52,650 (the unexitended
balance of the $100,000). tlie further sum of
$44,774 woull "be n ired for drainage,
*' water supply, heatii.i^^ apiiuratu.-), furni
"buildings, fences, roads, ])lans and snpenn-
" tendence, furniture, jdanting, &c., estimates
"of which [ho said] had been made, to be
" included in the avpro[)riations for 1S72."
But before .anything furtlier was done, the
Patent Combination (government, happily,
was defeated, and Mr. Blake's Goveruiueut
was formed.
Position of the New Government in
the matter.
The site having been selected, and a con-
tract for the buildings entered into, it would
have baen a comparatively easy tajk for the
new Government to let the matter '.ake its
course, leaving the reaponnibility and blame
with tlieir predecessors in case the project
ehould fail through the unsiiit.ableness of the
site. No member of the (iovernment had
any personal or jiolitical ol>jeot to gain by a
change. The premier, Mr. Blake, and his
successor, Mr. Mowat, were residents of To-
ronto; and if they had ai>7 personal interest
either M'ay, it was that that city should retain
the advantage of having the Institution in its
vicinity. Jlr. Crooks was also a resident of
Toronto, .and represented one of its Divisions,
and would, by any change to the prejudice of
the city, bo weakenmg his position at another
elcc'^iou. Several members who supported
the Governinent represented cpnstituencies
having, or supposed to have, a local interest
in the Alimico site beina retaineoniiniin arbitrator prevented
his actinjj. The fullowinij are extracts from
the unanimous report of the others,p492 ; —
"Having walked over the lands, and care-
fully examined, in numeroi;s places, both the
soil and sub-soil ; we are unite the same effect. Other farms
wore spoken well of ; and if the Government
had boon acting for the benefit of their
p'dicical friends, it would have been easy to
make a defensible purcluase from some of
those ; but so al)S(.lutely free has the Gov-
ernment been from any party object in any
part of the transaction that their purchase
of a new site was made from one of the
sturdiest Tories and op[)onent3 of Reform
Governments to be found in Ontario.
■ The purcliase was'madc under the authori-
ty of a resolution moved by Mr. McKellarj
and pa*;sed by the Legislative Assembly, on
tho nth March, 'S73, after various amend-
ments had been r.egatived by the Assembly'.
On the principul amendment the vote was
.'U yeas p-g-iinst 40 nays ; tho opposition
vote having been swollen by the votes of
sever.-',! supporters of the Government who
had as members of the previous Parliament
committed themselves in favor of Mimico,
or whose constituencies had a local interest
adverse to the proposed change. The reso-
lution finally passed by tlie liouse was as
follows :
"livsolved, That careful examinations have
been made during the past year with respect
to the lands acquired by the Province in the
Township of Etobicoke for the purposes of an
Agricultural Farm and College ; that such
ex;'minatious were made as well by prac-
tical as by scientific persons, competent to
judge of the adaptability and fitness of these
lands for the purposes intended ; and that
such persons have in their reports pro-
nounced against the adaptability or fitness of
such lands, and have recommended that the
said Agricultural Farm and College be not
established on said lands.
" That instead of the said lands, the farm
of Mr. F. W. Slone, near the Town of Ouelph,
containing five hundred and fifty acres of
land, can be acquired, and the said farm is
altogether suitable for the hereinbefore men-
tioned purpose."
" That it is expedient to purchase the said
farm for an amount ik t to exceed the sum of
seventy thousanu dollars."
The purchase thus sanctioned was made ac-
cordiiigiy, an agreement for the purpose
being entered into on the 3 1st March, 1873,
which defined the terms of the purchase, and
provided that immediate possessionof tlie new
house and about fouracres of ground immedia-
tely attached to it, together with the right of
ingress and egress, was to be given to Goi'ern-
mei)!,, in order that the building might bo
prepared for the occupation of pupils. The
other p )rtion3 of the Favm and premises
were to remain in the possession of Mr.
Stone until tho Ist December, by which,
time it was expected that the title would be
perfected, the deeds prepared, and the pur-
chase completed.
I
27
Preliminary proceedings at Guelph.
On tl.e Ist; April, 1S73, tlKirofore, the Gov-
ernment prepared t;) take pyssjssiou of tlio
House, t.t-ndiug a person to act as tempora)'y
caretaker. iUis, in violation of tlio agrfcincn't
made with Mr. .Stone, he refused posoesinon ;
and in spite cf every elTort made to obtain an
amicable aettlenient, tlijeoumenceuientui the
work which was necessary before the build-
ings couhi be occupied for a School of Agricul-
ture, was delayed for six months.
Meanwhile, being in daily exj)ectation of
obtaining possession, the Uovernment aj)-
pointed Mv. McCandiess, who was then Pro-
lessor of Agrieulturn iu the Cornell Univer-
sity, Uuitod States, to the oihee of Principal
of tJie new Institution, (2'Jth July, 187o). A
matron was also a]>pointed ; and another
oiiicer, supposed to be experienced in farm-
ing, mechauical work, and general business.
Possession was obtained on the 1st of Octo-
ber, and tho following necessary additions
were male to the building : a dining-room,
kitchen, store-rooms, and laundry on the
ground Hat, and a lecture room, reading-
room, bath-room and domestics' a])art-
ments on the upper ilab, cont:iiued in a
stone buililmg, witii a cal-shed attached,
together with tanks and wells for the storage
and supply of wacer for heating and domestic
purposes. Owing to tlie late date at which
these works were commenced, and the im-
perative necessity foi' tinisliing tliem in time
lor a winter session, as was then contem-
plated, considerable extra ex})ense was en-
tailed. The original coMtraco, for the alter-
ations andacfore the opening of th.e sidmol, a
Committee was ai)pointed and reported a
scheme for the management of the School
and Farm; and in A})ril 18(54 tho necessary
oJhcers siiggested by the licport were ap-
pointed, viz. : the Rector, also a Farm l""ore-
man, a Cardener, a Stock Manager and a
House Keeper.
The Management of tLe Institntion.
The success of a new Institution depends
at first to a large exteut on the ellieieiuiy of
the Princiital and Superintendent or Man-
ager; and it is impossiide to anticipate with
certainty whether any iwan who has not been
tried in that capacity, possesses the qualiti-
es; lis necessary for it. Mr. McCandless at
the time of his appointment as the first Prin-
cipal, was Professor of Agriculture in Cornell
University, and ajipeared to ha,e given satis-
faction in that capacity. He had also testi-
monials from the Old (,'ountry speaking well
of his scientific and practical knowledge of
English and Irish farming, and his ability as
a teacher of agriculture." The (4overnment
did not expect to find anybody with
higher testimonials in these respects; and
could not expect that any perton who
had held the oUice and discharged with
success the duties of a Prineipnl of an Agri-
cultural schooljand Experimental farm would
feel tempted to take charge of the Ontario
enterprise at the salary which the Govern-
ment was able to oO'er.
Mr. Me(Jandles3 soon proved that, what-
ever his qualifications were as a lecturer
or professor, he was wanting iu the
tact, method, and administrative capa-
city necessary fur the domestic ."ud out-
door management of the Institution, and
in tho temper and firmness neces-
sary to gain the respect and ol)edierce of
the pupils. Everything Mcnt wrong under
his management. On the 2Md June the Hec-
tor resigned, and put his resignation on the
ground of "Prof. Mc(!andles3' administration
of affairs being such a compound td' tyranny
and incapacity that he could not comfortably
or honorably have anything to do with it. '
Most of the other officers were in a state of
dissatisfaction on account of the Professor's
treatment of them ; the foreman tendered his
resignation in consequence ; and the students
were on the verge of rebellion, and threatened
to leave the Institution almost in a body.
After trying in vain to in;prove matters by
28
1
a
i
I
I
8
8
t
t
a
d
t
£
f
S
d
I
t
1
V
e
i
i
1
t
', lb
a
o
(I
(<
ii
ie $1500.
A sum of ,$5,(X)0 is voted by the Legisla-
ture annually to pay gratuities to oiHcers in
the public service, whose services may dur-
ing the year be dispensed with unt every-
body then or toruaerly connected with the
Institution. Tlie moat objectionable part of
the letter was, groundless insinuations which
it cjntained against the former matron, a
pure and lumorable lady, who had ceased
some time before to be connected with tho
Institution ; and against the housekeeper, a
person well-known in Guelph, a meml>er of
one of the churches there, and esteemed and
recommended l)y her jiastor and many res-
l)octable friends in Guelph. Mr. McCandlesa'
insinuations against the house kecperhad beta
previously made to the Committee of Inquiry,
and they had reported them to be without
foundation. The letter also professed to give
scraps of confidential communications which
Mr. McCandless represented himself as hav-
ing had from or with his otiicial superiors j
and he endeavored to transfer the blame of
his failure to the Coinmijsioner, by setting forth
what was mainly a rehash of various stories to
which Opposition newspapers had already
given currency. His object in this letter, so
far as his. temper permitted him to write with
a deiinite object, was to compel the Gov-
ernment to retain him, in order there-
by to prevent the letter from being
published ; but in this object he failed.
'!'he interests or indeed existence of the
institution required him to go ; and go ho
must. But the Premier expressed him-
eelf as willing to make allowances for
the writer's bitter disappointment and
irritation in having to leave his situa-
tion abruptly and under a cloud; and,
notwithstanding that the letter had beea
written, was willing to s. ttle with the pro-
fessor f(,s' )/ the Irtii'r had not htwii written,
in case In; chose to withdraw it. On frd-
ing that his letter had no effect towards
the accom])Iisbment of his purpose in
writing it, Jfr. McCandless withdrew the
letter; and the Executive Council agreed
to pay the two sums of $l(tOO and ^500
already mentioned, and Mhich, if tho
letter had not been written, iiiii'ht reason-
ably have been paid.
After the Council mcecing was over
at which this had leeii agreed to, Mr.
Mcr'andless called on the Premier, and,
learning wdiat had been agreeil to, ho
begged to get the money that even-
ing, representing that he was negotiating
for the purchasfi of a certain business which
he named, and that even a day's delay
might deprive him of the opportunity.
The Premier was moved by his urgency, and
authorized the money to oe paid in antici-
l>ation of the Order in Council, which wa-j
done. The Treasurer being in England,
the Premier was in part discharging tho
duties of the Treasury Deportment at this
t)me. Perhaps no (Trder in Council wa$
Etrictly speaking necessary ; but a formal
report was afterwards made for payment of
ttie half year's salary, and an O^der ii;^
S9
Council thereon was duly drawn up, and
signed. The account of §500 was passed
with other accounts embraced in another
order in Council.
In all this, it will he perceived, that no-
thing was done but what was just and ri,jlit
in itself, and was in the puldic interest, and
in accordance wi'.li constitutional practice.
Sir. AIcC;indles3 afterwards took his letter to
the opposition leaders ; they thought that po-
litical capital could be made out of it ttgainst
Mr. McKellar and the government ; and Mr.
Cameron thought it consistent with decency
and pr(ry. "'
So much for the Model Farm transactions.
->■« <»» » «
Sa'c ot* TiBiber Limits.
There is no transaction with regard to which
greater or more persistent eflForts have been
made to excite the public mind against a re-
form government, f^han their placing " under
lioense " (as it is called) certain timber land
on Lake Huron. While the truth is, that the
transaction was one of the soundest policy,
has had most beneficial results, and refiects
the highest credit on the Commissioner who
devised and carried it out, and on the Govern-
ment who accepted his advice and sanctioned
the sale.
The quantity of land in question was about
5031 .square miles. That territory, if
in a square, would be about seventy miles
from north to south, and the same distance
from east to west ; and there remain still un-
sold about 5000 square miles in the Western
agency of the Province, and about 5750 in
the Ottawa Agency, making together 10.750
square miles yet unsold. No further large
6ale will probably be necessary for a good
many years.
The transaction took place 15th and 16th
Ootolvir, 1S72, which, was some days be-
fore the present Premier entered tlie gov-
ernment; and two only of his present col-
leagvies were members of tlie government
then. If all the purchasers had completed
their purchases, the transaction would have
yielded to tlie Province a bonus of ^'''JS.BOl,
and gnmnd rent (.^2 a square mile) .$10,064 ;
making an average bonus of $117 a square
mile ; and a4"o riling together an annual
return of al.'out $40,000 for interest and
ground rent, exclusive of timber duts ou
the timber whatever the quantity may be,
which is cut from year to year. Several
T)arties, however, failed to comply with the
conditions ; in consequence of which 586.^
square miles of area offered remain still at
the disposal of the Province.
The sale cannot possibly be .an injurious
one to the Province, for the whole matter
remains completely in the hands of the
(iovevnment and of the Legislatures ; for.
What is it that was sold ?
It was not the land, nor the timber on the
land, but merely the, /?rs/ n'.7/ti to obtain an
annual licevsc to cut thr tirnhcr, the licensee
paying "such rates and being subject to such
conditions, regulations, and restrictions as
maj' from time to time be established by the
Governor-General in Council." These are
the w(>rds of the Consolidated Act, ch. 23
(12 Vic, ch. 2.3). This annual license
confers on the licensee the right of cutting
timber on, and the right to take and keep
exclusive possession of, the lauds described
in the license, subject to such regulations and
restrictions as may be established (this is still
the language of the Legislature); and all tim-
ber cut on the limits is liable for the pay-
ment of the Crcown dues thereon.
It will thus be seen that, si; ce the Gov-
ernment has the undoubted r)ght to make
such regulations in regard to the licensed
territory as the Government in the public
'uterest sees fit, and to charge such rates as
may to the Government seem just, the public ,
interest is protected by safeguards unheard,
of in other transactions.
Public advantages of the Sale.
The purchasers of the limits have nothing
to rely upon, 'n regard to the regulations^
which they must observe or the rates
which they must pay, except the seatiments!
of justice anil equity in the Government'
and the legislature and the people. But, re-j
lying ou these aentiu.en s, the purchasers of
timber limits expend large sums of money in
making roads, improving streams and rivers,
buihling shanties, and making all necessary
business arrangements, so that the capital
employed now in the lumber business of *he
if
i:\
30
Proviiico is estimated iit !il)out $2/^, ('00,000.
}Tlie Ti. inoo (It rives an juiuumI revenue ot
aUuiit half a million of doUiirs from the ter-
t ritory whicli win nndor license pn-vions to Llio
t transaetion of 1»72 ; and the Imsincss gives
» cniployment to a lirge number of men ; in-
i volves tiio eotuniiiption of largo auppliea from
t the auttled portions of the country ; eiioour-
I a^C3 settleiuent near tht; hunboring stations
^ by allording S(!tt!ers th-ir oid.s mark 't ; and
1 a splendid market it is for tlie products of the
I Boil. nay sometimes bringing .SIO to §100 a
■^ ton, and iijl.SO to );i2 beinggiven for a bushel
■^ of O-ltP.
i It is in this way tliat the territory of the
J Ottawa, and of the St. M.uirice, ftner
was bectained were in every instance
either the full value or more than the value.
Soma of the purcliasers afterwards forfeited
their partial payments rather than pay the
balance, and no instance is known in winch
the purchaser ha* marie any large sum by a
resale. M:iny of the purchasers, if not all,
would to day gladly give up their purchases
on being repaid their money. And up to this
moment it is believed that, from the de-
pressed state of the lumber trade of lute,
not a stick of timber lias been cut in any of
the limits bought at this sale.
It has been ab.surdly and falsely said that
the sd3 was in the interests of the lumber-
men of the Ottawa District. Now, the num-
ber of persons hoidin.' limits before this sale
^vas iiinety-eight; of these imt 4 bought at
the sale, and iiot one of the four was from
the Ottawa District
Former bales.
The sale is generally spoken of as if it
W(!ro the tirst sale of licenses in this territory;
while the fact is that for "the years 1852 an7, such licenses
" covering an area of 2,9(>o square miles, and
" th.at in October, 1SG3, ()i)2 square miles
•* were otTered for sale by public auction, 342
" miles of which were sold at an average bonus
" of §1.14 cents per mile, only making a total
" of 3,308 square mil 's placed under license
" on the Lake Finn... territory, or more than
" three-fifths of the area oU'ered at the sale
"in October last." See Urown Lands Pieport
lor 1873, p. 9.
It h-ts been further stated Ihit a cour.se
similar to that in question was taken by the
< Jo cerumen t of Quebec, and was condemned
by the Hon. Mr. Holton and other Rftorm
leaders it Lower Canada. That is not so.
The 8 vies there were made privately; and
what Mr. Holton and his associates con-
demned, was, s» lling by private sale, instead
of by public competition ; and so selling at.
corapaiatively trifling rates to political
friends.
31
The Sale of 1872 approved by the
House.
It is remarkable also that, thouj^h every
effort was made by newspapers before the
session of IST,"} to ex'jite party feeling and
fmblie feeling against tiie Ontario sale, the
arge.st \otu \siiieh the Opposition eould o*'-
taiu against the (Joveru.aei.t in referenee to
the trausaetion was IS, as against 53. And so
clear waa tht; policy of the uale to th'ise who
underst lod the niattcr, or whose eouatituents
understood it, that many Upi)osition mem-
bers could not briiij themaelvcs to vote
against the (I )\^rninent ; ami the following
members of this class voted with the sup-
porters of the (joveriim;;nt, abandoning for
a time tht ii- lea in pro-spect-
mg, exploring, and surveying ; and that the
examinations mav:n laid out, but 2,000 acres had been sold,
and thcoc had brought only 20 cents au acre.
- — ■ ♦ ♦-«%►-+.,»
Coiistitutionnl iUsIe ns to
3iiiiist('rs buy in;;* Siati
ill Farliumeiir.
The circumstance of Mr. Treasurer Crooks
not having obtained a seat immediately after
his unexpected deieat in East Toi'onto, has
l)een the occa.sion of incessant absurd attacks
from ("onservative opponents— attacks which
indicate an abandonment of anything like
political princij)le on the part of .si'- h of the
oppo-sition leaders as have made or sanc-
tioned those attacks. Home Uetonn friends
may have disliked the uuavoiiiable delay ;
but for the opposition to pretend a Ccmserva-
tive h irror of Mr. Crooks being without ^a
seat for a tew months before the Legislature
meets, is ridiculous. Mr. McDougall, the
new Conservative would-be leadei', wms
himself a minister without a seat for
several months. Members of Canadian
Conservative (iovernments have been in
the same position for months, and have
been without seats for a time even while
I'arliameut was in session. Mr. Mor-
rison was a minister without a seat .'or two
whole })arliainentary sessions. Mr Viger
was a minister without a seat for 18 months ;
and Mr. Vankoughnet and Mr. Cayltiy were
ministers without seats for several months.
The doctrine of Canadian Cou.servatisui, as | I
enunciated and defended by Sir John A. | i
Macdonald, the Hon. M. C. Cameron, and if |
others, in the debates on Mr. Morrison's '
case in 186'2, goes far beyond what is nc- i
ct^ssary to maintain that a position like that I \'
of Mr. Crooks was correc and consti- | '
tutional ; their doctrine being in fact 1
that it was correct and constitutional for a 'i
minister to be without a seat during a aucces- |'
sion of Parliamentary scssiotis \ and in fact, yt
until Parliament voted want of confidence
in the Government as a whole. The Re- I \
form contention was against that ^nonstrous I j
docstrine, and was in coudenmati* n of the i :
continuance of Mr. Morris n ^'daring several
** l/ear,i iu the Government without a seat
■-f
32
III
*' in cither House of Pivrliamont." {S'-e
Journal 18()2, ji. 43, A'-). Tlie resolu-
tion olForeil by tlie Reform opposition
to the House on the ocuasion and con-
taining that language, etubodicd, in an
authoritative way, what is to l»o regard-
ed as the Reform doctrine, and is in
strict accordance with British constitu-
tional rule.
No (juestion is made in PJngland as to a
minister n^maining in olfice after losing his
seat, proviiled that he has in contemplation,
and expects, to obtain a seat before Parlia-
ment meets. It is a rule recognized by all
parties that the Minister's position is unas-
sailable if, when Parliament meets, he is in a
position to explain and defend there the acts
of hia department and of the Government.
All the controversies in England as to a min-
ister who has no seat, have been where he
was without a seat while Parliament was in
session.
The discussion in the Lr^islative Assem-
bly on both sides assumed tiiat the English
constitutional rule, whatever it was, was
that by which the Canadian practice should
be regulated ; and that no rule more strin-
gent had been adopted in the Province,
or was applicable to a Province. The
truth is, the difficulty of obtaining a
seat where there are upwards of 600 mem-
bers, is so great as to be a serious evil, ac-
knowledged by all parties ; and the difficulty
must be far greater in a House of less than
1 00. It was at the request of the Premier
and his other colleagues, that Mr. Crooks re-
tained so long his place in the Government,
after hia defeat in East Toronto ; and the un-
df^rstanding has always been, that he should
obtain a seat before the session, by stand-
ing for some suitable vacancy that might
occur in the meantime, either as the result
of an election trial, or otherwise. The
contested cases arising out of the late
general election have been numerous ;
moat of them are still undisposed of
by the courts ; and, under these circum-
stances, for one of the Reform members
whose seats were not contested, or have not
been successfully contested, to abandon hia
seat on the Treaaurer'a account, before the
contested seats were disposed of, would
obviously have been an unnecessary and a
premature sacrifice which could not reason-
ably be desired or sought for.
The Resolution to condemn Mr. Morrison
is in the Journals of the Legislative Aasembly
of Canada, 1862, page 42, and reads as fol-
lovrs : — "That this House being convinced
that one of the beat safeguards of the Pre-
rogatives of the Crown, as well as of the
liberties and f ranchiaes of the people, is to be
found in the application of the principle, that
the Government should be conducted by
Ministers responsible to the people, and hold-
ing seats in Parliament, — avail themsolves of
this opportunity to express to His Excellency
the regret with which they have seen that
principle violated by the continuance of the
Honorable Joseph C. Morrison durimj several
years in the Government, without a seat in
either House of Parliament." That Resolu-
tion eml)odies the Reform doctrine.
The Conservative doctrine waa stuted by
its present leaders, Sir John A. Macdonald
and Mr. M. C. Cameron (reported in the Lead-
er newspaper, April 7th, 1862), as follows : —
Mr- M. C. Cameron's Opinion-
Mr. M. C. Cameron said " he had not road
anywhere that it was necessary in order to
carry out responsible government that Her
Majesty's ministers should be on the floor of
the House. It was only necessary that they
should command the confidence of the
majority of the people's representatives."
Sir John A- Macdonald's Opinion.
" Hon. John A. Macdonald said that in the
House of Commons the two political parties
had each in turn brought in Kills to do away
with the practice of compelling Members on
taking office to return to their constituents.
One session such a measure waa introduced by
one party, and in the next by the other. "
Again, on the same debate, he said, " Mr.
Loranger had commenced with a dissertation
on responsible (Government, and complained
that Mr. Morrison, in holding the office of
Solicitor-General without a seat in Parlia-
ment, had committed a breach of its principles.
Why, that had just as much to do with res-
ponsible government as it had with ecclesi-
astical law. What was responsible govern-
ment ? Before it was granted the Gov-
ernors of Canada were not bound to
have advisers whose views were in ac-
cordance with the wishes of the people as
expressed in Parliament, and was similar in
position to the Governors of what was called
Crown Colonies. Now, however, he must
take them from the party which ia in the
majority ; and whether the whole administra-
tion, or any part of them, were out of Parlia-
ment, did not affect the question at all, be-
cause if Parliament chose to give its confidence
to an Administration, not one of whom had
a seat in either House, it might, in its
omnipotence, do so. All the people could
ask was, that every act of the Mini9try,
whether executive or administrative, 6r
an Act of Legislation, should be in accor-
dance with their well understood wishes, as
made known by their representatives in the
Commons. When he said, therefore, that
the allusion to the principles of responsible
government had no relevancy to the subject,
he waa. in the strictest sense, correct, becatue ,
iw
33
whether a Minister was in or out of Parlia-
ment, he was equally responsible. Ami,
again, ^fl'. Marrimn's not, hnvivfi a sent was
not a tkincj to he ohjrctcd lo hy the opponillov,
but to be regretted by tlio Government.
To oarry on tlic Government, it was of course
desirable to have as many members of the
({overnmcnt in the House as possible. Sir
Kobcrt Peel, when the mombors of the Cabinet
were without seats, said to Col. Sibthorp
tliat, although it would bo a great advantage
to have them in the House, he was content
to forego that advantage. Then he had the
S»;crctary for the Colonies out of the House
for a long timo, and yet it was not contended
for a single moment that he had committed a
breach of the Constitution in not llnding him
a seat. The Hon, gentleman (Mr. Macdonald)
would repeat the sentiments of Sir Eobert
Peel and of Lord Jolin Russell, both great
statesmen, who possessed the confidence of
oi^posite parties, and pronounced their views,
and wore thus, when united, a perfect con-
stitutional authority. The Hon, gentle^jan
(Loranger) could not explain away tJio fact
that Sir John Campbell, afterwards Lord
Campbell, although Attorney- Generai for
England, could not get a seat, and di. Under these cir-
cumstances one serious dilliculty to be faced
was the danger, if not the certainty, that if
the new Debentures taken for iho. reduced
debts shouhl remain in the hands of tin;
Government, the experience of the past
would be tlio experience of the future ; and
there was no feature of the (.lovcrnmont
scheme which was more eomnieudcd by
business men and others, than the provision
that the Debentures should be parted witli
{)romptly, instead of being retained for col-
ection iu the hands of the Governmeixt.
Had a diflferent policy been adopted the
probability is that not 50 per cent, of tlie
amount would ever have been realized by the
Province. In fact, a sale at almost any rate
would have been more advantageous to the
public Treasury than the retention of the
Debentures by the Province.
PROCEEDINGS IN' LEGISLATIHE.
On this account 'the first proposition of the
Government was, to distribute the new De-
bentures among the indebted municipalities
as part of their share of the surplus distribn-
tion. {See Journals, 1873, ]>■ 208). But this
was found unacceptable to these municipali-
ties, who not unnaturally feared that they
would have difficulty, as successive govern-
ments had had, in obtaining payment ; and
the general desire was found to be that the
municipalities should get their shares in
money. The Government therefore took
the alternative power of selling the Deben-
tures, and paying the proceeds to the munici-
palities entitled to share in the distribution.
No opposition whatever was made to thia
course at the time. On the contrary, it re-
ceived the approval of both sides of the
House. Not one of the municipalities en-
titled to share in the sur-plus Avas willing
afterwards to take its share in these Deben-
tures at their market value ; and all pay-
ments have, consequently, been made to the
municipalities in cash. The statute giving
effect to the scheme contained a provision
also, for payment by an indebted munici-
pality of its new Debentures at their market
value, if such municipalities chose to do so,
before they had passed from the hands of
tlie Government (30 Fie, C. 47, §25, 26);
but not one indebted municipality applied
to have the benefit of the privilege.
A leading member of the opposition in the
Assembly expressed an opinion that not
more than 80 per cent, would be obtained
for the new debentures. The amount ob-
tained wan con.sideralily more than he fore-
told.
It IH
VAMK ol' llir, DKHKNTUHIW.
to b<^ remembered that these Deben-
1 1
34
4G
ture.H bore interest at fi per cent, only, and
most of them provided no sinking fund. The
ol lowing table will enable a comparison to be
made of the value of Debentures bearing 5 per
eent. interest with Debentures bearing G^ an d
per cent, interest respectively.
Assuming that a Debenture payable in 2
y(!ar.s bearing ii^ \wv cent, interest, is worth
l)ar, a
ijj 1 00 Debenture at .'» per cent, (in order
to return fii per cent.) is worth 83
Debenture at G per cent. " 94
7 " " 105
Or, assuming that such a Debenture bearing
spvcn per cent, is worth par, and no more,
yiOO Debenture at f» per cent, to
return 7, is wortli 7'8 C4
" Debentures at 6 per cent, to
return 7, is worth 89 32
RATES OBTAINED.
The Debentures in question fell due
in ditl'erent amounts annually, from 31st De-
cember, 1874, till 31st December, 1892 ; and
the lust on 31st August, 1893 ; and the prices
obtained were regulated so as to net the inves-
ters less than 6^ per cent, on the longest
dated (on those due August 3l8t, 1893) ; and
less than 7 per cent, on those due December
31st, 1880; which two classes comprised all for
sale in England; £313,300 sterling. The
amount retained for sah. in Canada was
£y 1,100 sterling ; these two suras amounting
to £364,400 sterling ; which sum represented
$1,830,132, the amount saleable of the Deben-
tures.
Those Debentures due 31st August, 1893,
or 19 J years from July 1st, 1874, were sold at
84, equal to interest under 6^.
Those due 31st December, 1885, or 11^ years,
were sold at 88, equal to interest under 6^.
Those due 31st December, 1880, or 6^ years,
were sold at 90, equal to interest under 6f.
It is very seldom that Municipal Debentures
can be sold at as high a rate as will pay the
Y»iirchaser less than seven per cent. , and often
the rate is eight per cent, or more, and there-
fore the sale of live per cent. Debentures at the
rates mentioned was unquestionably a good
sale.
It is said that higher rates were obtained
for the Debentures of Quebec and of the
Dominion ; and could have been for the De-
bentures of Ontario. But the Debentur«>g in
question were not Debentures of Ontario. If
Ontario had occasion to borrow money on its
own credit, its Debentures would probably
have brought considerably more than Quebec
35
le obtained
miount ob-
[1 lie fore-
ese Dcben-
only, and
fund. The
irison to b«*
.■aring 5 per
ring G^ an d
yuble in 2
t, i» wortli
tier
rth 83 34
94 4&
105 55
Lire bearing
no more,
to
.... 7'8 C4
to
... 89 32
fell due
m 3l8t De-
1892 ; and
I the prices
t the invcs-
;he longest
1893) ; and
i December
rised all for
ling. The
lanada was
amounting
represented
tlie Deben-
gust, 1893,
vere sold at
r 11^ years,
inder 6^.
or 6 J years,
inder 6f .
Debentures
'ill pay the
, and often
and there-
tures at the
,bly a good
•e obtained
md of the
for the De-
sbeatur"? in
)ntario. If
loney on its
d probably
hau Quebec
Debentures; btitwe have had nosnch ocoaHJon
find are not likely to liavL". It the province
had even guaranteed the paytncufc ot" these
Municipal Dehcnturea they would h.iv(,
br 'Ught higlier rates. A nii.stakeii Hunonuc-
rnent in a friendly newHi)aper that tluy were
guaranteed by ihc province, thou^di the error
was corrected inuncdiiitcly afterwanU, lias
over since been dishonestly paraded l-y op-
positionists as i>roof that thts payinent oi the
Debentures was guaranteed by tlie rroviuee,
though those who set up the jnctcnce know
the contrary tti be the truth. I'urchasers
took the Debentures at their oun risk in that
respect. The Treasurer or tiie rJoverninent
had no authority togurantee their payment ;
and to do so would have been in direct op-
position to tlie policy which had V)ceu pro-
posed to and sanctioned by the House, and
approved by the ciuntry.
THE treasurer's XKOOTIATlONsIX KNii r, \\r>.
The Treasurer endeavoured, but luilid, lo
soil the Debentures through Messrs. Glyn,
Mills, Currie & Co., orsoioe of lluiir friends ;
and it was fortunate for the fProvinee lliut,
through his long eonncction wiili the Directors
of the Coh)nialTi-us(.s' Cornoratiou (Limited),
hewas afterwards able to induce them to act as
agents for
receiving tenders and obtaining
purchasers for the Didientuies at the prices
fixed by him. They did not themselves be-
come purchasers, but through their exertions,
and those of other agents, the Debentures have
been realized at the prices named.
Even at the risk of fulse interpretation upon
hiB action, the Treasurer could not without
failure in his mission, and consequent detii-
ment to Provincial interests, have omitted to
avail himself of the Colonial Trusts' (I'oi'pora-
tion, that company being the most suitable
agency for carrying out the object entrusted
to him by the Government.
That Company has a high reputation
in Jjondon, England ; it has a respectable
Directorate ; it has a largo and resjiectable
body of clients, who have contidencc in Cana-
dian securities ; it has a million of dollars
invested in Ontario mortgages ; it is the only
ue ; but the constitutional theory in
regard to these committees, is, that amajority
of those present at every meeting should be
in hanaouy with the Government of the day ;
M'here there is a raajoi'ity of one only on
the whole list, all this majority must be pre-
sent at every meeting during the whole
session, or the minority by acting in concert
Tuay snap a vote contrary to the opinion of
the majority. To avoid this, where the
fairness of an opposition cannot be relied on,
and the opposition did not know what fair-
ness was, the majorityoughtnot to depend on
36
IM
a BinjL^lo iniurn)iuiit iiuzn ik rir ftnUtnl
loi/h, and lu ivr /kciI, ho mnntl a inajor'Uij as
Ihrci; OH l/iii PuIh'k; Arroantn C'niimltli'r, inu'
imiM it evff pt'dviulid thai lluir laajur'Uj on
the Commitlvc was too lanje.
-»4^»»»4
\m I
MiUTitii^ License Issuers.
Anotlior ]);iltry complaint whioh tlio ()[)-
j.oaitioii make is, that in apitointing Issuora
)!" Marriago Licenses, when ])y an act passed
in the thinl soasion the Province took the
matter lato its own hands, the (lovornmcnt
:
easy to maintain that the partisan a2)poini.v . ,
of former hostile Governments should be x
all cases preferred for appointment to com-
petent and deserving friends. Reformers
and other friends will not withhold their
support and approval, because in some in-
stances some of their number Avere preferred
for these appointments instead of their common
adversaries. The general opinion is, that the
Government has been, not unjust, but, on
the contrary, even too considerate, towards
hostile olHciuls, who strive to injure the
Government as whose officers they act.
Tho Reform Sclicmo for Distribution
of Surplus and Sctllomont of Muni-
cipal Loan Fund Debts.
AS .M>()i'rr,i) nv i.roisLATivK a8.skmiua'
|r\ I.S7;{.
' licHolocd, Tliat it is expedient to provide f(»r
tlio re-arrangement (if the MiinuiiK.l Loan
l''unil debts, so as to secure tlio duo and
regular iKiyineut of such of them, or of such
portions of them, as are to be paid.
That it is cciiodieiit to di^ilrilMite amonijst
tlie .Munieipaliti''.-i ot the Province for loe:*l
purposes, ti»o fuim-e ])iodueiJ' of said delitn,
and HO miioh of th<; other funds of the i'ro-
vince as m,iy, with the produce of tho Haiil
debts, be etpuil to the allowances hereinafter
uiontioneil.
That with respect to those debts under tho
Mnuici[ial Loan I'und, on wiiich an assess-
ment of tivf et;nts in tho dollar on tlie assi'ssed
annual value of tlu; pro[icrfcy of tiic indebted
municipality in I8.")S, was not Hiillicient to
l)ay tlie interest, the practical etl'ect of tho
Statute 22 Virloi'ia, c. 15, (entitled An Act
further to amend the (Consolidated Municipal
Loan Fund Acts,) lias been to roduee every
such debt, on the tirst day of Dc.ciimliiir,
iS,"i;i, to the HUiu on which tlu; said rate of
tive cents iii the ( r Canada,
by taking stock in the railway eoni]ianics,
Avhich Avere to construct the said raihvays,
and by making hians to the said companies,
Avhieli stock Avas taken and Avhieh luans were
made on the mistaken represent 'tion to the
said municipalities, and in the delusive ex-
pectation by them that their advances would
bo matlc good out of the pr»)lits of the rail-
AA^ays ; that the railways .so respectively
aided by the said Province and by the said
municipalities, have been greatly instru-
mental in developing thcAvealth and resources
of this Province ; and that Avith resi)cct to
tho said railAvays lio built Avithout iuiy Tro-
vineial aid, it is expedient, in view of the
said facts, to credit to such of the said ninni-
cipalities as ate not benelited by the Statute
22 Vict., c. 1,'5, their shares of ,<^2,000 a niile
of railway so aided, the share of each being
w
37
tribution
f Muni'
s.
A8.SK.HIU.Y
>!•() villi' I'lir
L-ip:'.l Liiuii
Lj duo iiinl
uv ui Biicli
13 atnniiijrHt
a for local
lid dul>t.s,
I" the I'ro.
r till! KJiifi
icrciiuit'tcT
under tlio
nil a.sses-i-
10 a.«8i'sdecal advantai^e, the ailowaiuH! in
respect of the naid railway shall he >'•.", 000 a
mile as of the date afori'saiii.
That aftt-r the (!ali-
tie>', wiiich will not be benelitcd by the Kaid
Statute. '22 T/i . c. 1."), have jiiven wuaiH of
money by w.iy of jrift orbonuato divers rail-
way.s or p(»rtion:i of niilwav:'. wliich, if not
conimencctl ])rior to 7fh iKicinhcr, iSTO,
M'oiild have licen cnticJed to aid under the
said Act ; that the sums «o /.jiven wen: lirL'cr
than miifht have been necessary if the said
railways had recciived aid from thc' Province
in the same way as tl\e Act of IS7I ]>roviiled
with respect to railways cnmmeiici'd a;hr
the said date ; that it is expi'diciit (i> iiialve
to these municipalities an allo\s'ai)(C', as of
the 1st Peliruary, 1S74, at the rate of ."j^l.OOO
per mile of the portions of railways wliicli
havo not been, and are not to be aided by
the Trovinco, such allovv.ince in respect of
any railway to be divided amon;u;st the
Municipalities which have ^'ranted bouiists
thereto, in proportion to the amount of their
saiy 22 Vic.'.
e. 1."), creilit as of 1st January, 187.'^. as
against thcii- debts, for the share wliich
would from time to tinio have been payable
ti> them respectively, of the C!er allot-
mcnt to a county, the share .'ucording to
]»opulalioii of any local municip.ality therein
which IS indebted to the 8aiv. applied in aid of railways, of
tliainag(,, of tlie building or improvement of
the coiat-house or gaol, of tiie building or
improvement of an hos[)ital, of ju-oviding for
tlie use of the niunieiiiality an industrial
farm, a honsn of industry or of refuge, or in
building or improving schools, public halls,
bridges, harbours, piers, or gravel roads, or
sliatl be ap[diod in making other iicrmanent
inijirovemcntsaU'cctiug the municipalities, or
^illall be applied in or towards tho reduction
or payment of municipal oblig.ations already
contracted for permanent works ; and proper
])rovi.,ioii should be made for the due appli-
cation of the money to the objects specitied.
(-1.) The amount goinir to any city or local
miuiiiipality after the payment of debts shall
lie applied to any of the said objects which
may be tletermined by the council of the city
or h)(!al municipality at any time after the
tirst day of February next.
(,").) Where a portion of a county, or union
of counties, indebted to the Municipal Loan
Fund, has been separated from the imlebted
county or union, and has assunuHl part of the
debt of the county or union, the allotment in
resjiect of the railway allowance shall be
divided in like manner.
That a like sum of .$2 per hcalied to jiermancut improvement affecting
the localities, and approved off by the Legis-
lature.
That, in view of the past history of the
^lunicipal Loan Fund, it is essential that the
new debentures to be obtained from muni-
ciiialities indebted to the said fund, shall not
exceed an amount which shall constitute such
debentures good and reliable investments to
all holders ; that by the Municipal Act of
18l)() it was enacted, that no municipal coun-
cil shall assess or levy in any one year more
than an aggregate rate of two cents in the
dollar (exclusive of school rates) on the value
of the ratable property in the municipality ;
that it is expedient, in making a final arrange-
38
Hi
\ liir
III
ment of the Municip'»l T.oau Fund debts, to
act upon the policy involved in thia enact-
ment, and to provide that, in case a rate of
two cents in the dollar would be insufficient
to pay rive per cent, annually on the debt, or
reduced debt, to the said Fund, after allow-
ing for the ordirjivry and necessary rxpenscs
of the municipality (other than schools), the
amount of the debt to the Municipal Loan
Fund shall be placed at such a sum, that the
interest thereon at live per (icUt. shall not
exceed what an assesanient of two cents in
the dollar on the assessed value of the pr(»-
perty in the municipality would be suHicient
to pay, after meetini; the ordinary and neces-
sary expenditure of the municipality other
than schools as aforesaid ; that it is expedient
that the annual amount to In- so pai0 ;
that ^80,000 of these debentures were pur-
chased by the late Province of Caiuidn, and
are now held by this Province ; that no in-
terest has been collected thereon since the
same were purchased by the I'rovince of
Caaada, shortly after tlio issuing of the
said debentures ; that in consequence of cer-
tain proceedings authorized by an Act of the
Pariiamont ot the said late Province of
Canada, 27 Vi''-, ^orrowod or obtained under thf Municipal
Ln,\n I'und Acts, or witli the i)roduce of such
money, such investments shall, at the dis-
cretion of tlic liieutenant-fJovjrnor in Covai-
cil, be assigned, in such way as he may ap-
point, as a sei'urity for the l»alance due by
the municipality to the said fund. Ur, where
audi investments are of gri:ater amount and
valuethan thebalance so duo, the 1 ,ieutenant-
(ro^'ornor in Council may require the said in-
vestments to btf assigned absolitely, iu dis-
charge of the said balance.
That new debentures bo obtained from the
indebted municipalities respectively, for the
balances due by them , that the dehentures
shall be in such form and for such respective
sums as the Lieutenant-Governor in Council
sh;-Jl direct ; tliat the debentures shall pro-
vide for ])aynient by the same sums, per
annum as nearly as may be, as the munici-
jtalitiv^sare now liable to pay ; p''ovidedthat
no more shall be payable annually lor twenty
years than two cents iu the dollar on the
assessment of 1872, would provide f\)r as
aforesaiil ; and that no debentures shall al-
low more than twenty years for payment of
])rincipal ; that these debentures sliall, a*
far as practicable, be equally distributed
"among the municipalities entitle