STATEMENT OF THE I PUBLIC EXPENDITURE OF THE pbov.ch.on™,oI I COMPILED BY G. E. JACKSON, CONSKUVAllVE NOMIKEK, T . * • ■ A.' ■5 1 Addressed to the Electors of the South Biding of Huron. '-,11 \fO . . ^ \" We will require an extravagant Government, one which will ;|5^ be unworthy of the trust committed to them, if the time J^ " comes in the present generation, when by reason of any ^J\ "policy inaugurated or expenditure involved, it wlii?'^ become necessary to make an appeal to direct taxation." ? — Hon, Adam Crooks' Speech, 1874. * /\ - 5V^^T$ K X K T K H: X ' John Whitk k Sons, Printers, Times Office, Exkter. 1879. •»-'>*<> wo.»o< ■ ■ )^-i^eFtyFf^ft«^:a 9 / ^J/Pl^f.:'!-" .. ■ 12,013 — 78,157 77 Members at $450 each 34,650 _„ ll Total under Sandfield 135,857 .i'l^CMi Increase under Mr. Mowat 75,352 f The table on the preceding page shows an increase, in cue year, of seventy -five thousand, three hundred and fifty-two dollars. STATIONERY & PRINTING. The Keform orators when in opposition in On- tario did condemn in the most vehement manner the large outlay for printing and stationery, but here is ati example which shows how their profes- sions and their praoticos correspond. In th^ year of 1874:, in Legislature Depart- ment, printin,' and stationery under Mr. Mow.it cost .... .U'^ $29,875 In the year of 1871, under John Sandfiold 13,259 ; bOO.t' $l6,ftlft or an increase under iVlr. Mowat of sixtoen thou* sand, six hundred and sixteen dollars in one year. INSPECTION OF PRISONS ANfi AbYLUMS. The/t are not a dozen more institatious in Ontario to be inspected at the present time than were in 1877 ; yet the cost of inspecting has more than doubled. iDspectiug in 1B77, under Mi Mowat f 11,341 Da. •« 1871, under John baud field 6,199 j,tr f-! ','M- __,-l~ I ii I ■ ' I ^' $(3,U2 7. '• • man GOVF.BNMENT HOUbti . ,;^^f,, ' Tne Grovernor of this Provinc«j reHiiivs in the same house lind oocupios tlio hhiw) .'^rouuils iu Toronto as were used for that purpose Id 1871 ; but the cost of rnaiatonance h',\H increased over fifty per cent. Govdrnmaut house and Lieut -GuV;^riior's olHce cost, in 1877, under Mr, Mowat $9,ido O&ivi Do, in 1871, under J. Sandfield 5,998 vod,ch',., MB. spe:akek Under Mr. Mowat receives, per year $2,300 CJTider Jolin Sandfield, receiyed per year 1,450 Increase, per year while the work and duties are precisely the same. SGHOOIjS. Total school pupils in 1876 502,250 The Government expending $524,903 Total school pupils iu 1871 489,615 The Government expending 351,306 X hi 173,597 How is this increase of $173,397 to be account- ed for ? Only $70,000 of this huge expenditure was used for common tchool purposes, the balance eaten up by extra officials, a Board of gentlemen beino- employed in Toronto, with very lai'g,© 8' salaries, who have entire control of tbef Education al system, making rules and regulations unfitted for a rural population. A monopoly in the print- ing and publishing of schoolbooksis given to some fiivored firms, whose prices are most exhorbitant ; and, as if stiU further to f.ivor them, this Ceutral Committee are allowed by the Government to jnake continual changes in the text books. In old times a Fourth Book s>ld by retail for 20 cents, but now the price is from 45 to 50 cents. The other books have increased in proportion, while they are U9ibha>' batter boaud nor do thoy contain improved matter. In fiot, the \vbole school system has become more expensive ; but we ask, Have the schools improved? arf* they more efficient ? 1 do not wish to be understood as saying one word in disparagement of our Public School teach- ers. There is no class of men more deserving of encouragement smd supporr- than they. The qual- ifications required of them by law necessitates ti.eir being men of superior mental ability. Their duties when faithfully performed, are of invaluable service to the future prosperity of the State, aud i should be glad to see them placed in a position of comfort and respectabilitv which they are no doubt entitled to. While the Civil Servants ol the Government, appointed through political influence, are pampered and overpaid, the Public School Teachers, a far more deserving body of people are treated with iudiffHrenoe and neglect. u SCHOOL INSPECTION. Total No. Schools in 1876 5.042 1871 4,566 Increase in number 476 Cost of Pub. School Inspection in '76 $26,935 u .* '71 11,527 ■'}iii^h Increase under rjr. Mowat IV'^*' $15,40« This shows an increase ot over 125 per cent, in the cost of public school inspection under Mr. Mow at. HIGH SCHOOLS..^ J jj, I No. High Schools in 1876 104 •* 1871 101 Increase in number 3 Cost Hi«'h School insp'u in lb76 $8,565 " 1871 2,999 i« Increase under Mr. Mowat $5,566 High School ii spection under John Sandfield cost i29.69 per school, while under Mr. Mowat it rose to $82.36 per school. Is not this total increase of nearly twenty-one thousand dollars in the cost of inspecting both High and Public Schools out of all proportion to tho work peifoxmed ? : 10 The Education Depository hrauch ofthe Public Service, when Mr. -TohQ Simdtield Maodoriald was in power, was bitterly assailed by the present ocoiipauts of the Government benches as an ex- pensive and useless .enciiinbrauoe. The object of this Institution was to supply the schools with iL.aps, apparatus and books at a reduced rate ; the Government contributing one-half the cost. This Institution cost in 1876, under Mr. Mowat - $58,859 Cost in 1871, under John Sandheld.... 39,924 Increased cost under Au', Mowat $18,935. it In 1876, the Government ot John Sandfield supplied books, cfec, gratis. to ths? amount of ..;....... • ^24,369 In 1871, the Government of Mr. Mow- at supplied books, &c., "ratis, to the amount of.......;,....; .-••■• ^^'^^^ Difference ''^^'^^ 8o that while nearly nineteen thousand dollars of an increased expense is iucarrel, the piiblii*. only receive the benefit of seven thousnud, six hundred dollars. MAINTKNANOE OF PUBLIC INSTITU- TIONS. 2948 prisoners :ind patients were maintained in the Government prisons and asylums in the "year 11 of 1877, at $140 per head, or a tot.J r-ost of $407,- 234. 1629 prisoners and pabients were maintaiued iu the year of 1811 at a cost of $171,428, or $103 per head, shewing under this so-called Reform man agement, a direct loss tc the Province of one hun- dred and nine thousaud and seventy six dollars /iSSi^f^Q (^'7a\9 \A7"V.a.- almnlH tliie liA is iiiourrel, the publii*. only receive the benefit of seven thonsynd, six hundred dollars. MAINTKNANOE OF PUBLIC IJNSTITU^ TIONS. 2948 prisoners and patients were maintained in the Government prisons and asylums iu they^-ar M of 1877, at $140 per head, or a total cost of $407.- 234. 1629 prisouers and patients were maintained iu the year of 1871 at a cost of |171,423, or $103 per head, shewing under this so-called Reform man agement, a direct loss to the Province of one hun- dred and nine thousaud and seventy six dollars ($109,076)? Why should this be so? The cost of food and clothing has not increased. IMMiaiiATION DEPAETMK.NT. in the year 1874, the last year the Local Gov- ernment had control of this Department, they spent $184,640, assisting 25,444 immigrants, while in 1871 the cost was only $29,712, but 25,842 im- migrants were assisted. This shows a live-fold increase. ITow can this be explained? In this way : Mr. Mowat divided over fifty thousand dol- lars a year amongst some half-dozen political friends whom he had appointed as immigration agents in the old country. TNCHEA8EI) COST OF OFFICES. Mr. iVowat says the reason the expense of his othce has increased, was that '' he had to write so " nmny more letters aud till up so many more " quires of paper with writing." But if Mr. Mowat ha^rj had so much more to do, why is it that he and the other members ol his Administration are absent from their duties more than half the yea,r, attending to their private business, pleading cases in the law courtii for all who will employ them, la or stumping the oonutry making political speeches — while their work is left to be performed by sub- ordinates? Bat the labors in conneofciou with their otlicos have not iucrdased ; on the ouutnirv, they have dimiaished in many instances, while the cost is gre.iter. CliOVVN LANDS. No. acres sold in 1877, under Mr. Mowat 46,671 Receipts in 1877 $628,712 Expenses '' $211,138 No. acies sold in 1871, under J. Sandlield 92,272 Beceipts in 1871 $869,585 Expenses '' 163,152 Increase in cost under Mr. Mowat $47,986 So that while the labor of this Department has decreased one-halt, the expenses havre increased by forty-sev3n thousand, nine hundred and eighty-six dollars. PUBLIC WOKKS. Works superintended in 1877 to the amount of $318,827 Salaries paid in ^877, under Mr. ^Jowat • $16,702 Works superintended in 1871, to the amount of 405,783 Salaries paid in 1871, under John Sandfield I0,b65 Increase under Mr. Mowat $6,337 18 How is this? Greater cost and le?g work per- formed I ANNUAL EXPENDITUEls Mr. Mowat makes it his boast that he went into the Government to spend rmblic money. He has done it with a vengeance. The largest amount expended by John Sandfield was in the year 1871, and amounted to $1,816,866 But Mr: Mowat spent $2,940,803 in 1873 Do " " 3,871,649 in 1874 Do " '* 3,604,624 in 1875 Do " " 3,740,627 in 1876 Do " '* 3,117,413 in 1877 Total in live years $17,276,016 The ordinary revenue of the Province amounts to about $2,400,000 per annum, made up of a sub- sidy and grant. from Dominion Government, inter- est on special and invested tunds, sale of Crowt Lands and timber limits, and a number of smaller items. Mr Mowat, therefore, to meet this expen- diture, bas been obliged during these five years to sell part of the capital of the country upon which this rovenUH to a certain extent depends. To meet the dofioiency in 1877 the public securities .have been pa'wned and notes discounted m banks to the amount of $725,133. COMPAEATIVE LXPENDITURF.. Mr. Mowat says his Govenimcntis only respon- 14 sible lor the current expenditure of each year, and that he should not be charged with the amounts expended on what he claims as capital account. Such sums ought to be deducted from the gross expenditure. Let us accept this method of computation for the present : Gross amount expended by John Sand- field in the year 1870 11,580,668 Deduct Kefunds $80,313 " Colonization Roads 50,000 *' Public Works and Buildings 407,734 538,047 Current expenditure, 1870 $1,042,616 Gross amount expended by John Sand- field in 1871 — the last year of his Government $1,816,866 Deduct Refunds $181,044 ♦* Ottawa Fire Assist. 25,000 " Cost of Elections... 19,505 " Pubhc Works and Buildings .^ 430,620 Colonization Roads 55,409 (( • 711,578 Current expenditure, 1871 $1,105,288 in Under Mr. Movvat's Adminiatrutioa the accounts stand as follows : — Gi'osR amount expended by Mr. Mowat in the year 1877 $2^b6B,315 Dedui't llefunds $100,682 " (Colonization lloads 77,300 Public Works and Buildings 283,577 461,559 Current expenditure, 1877 $1,906,756 Gross amount expended by Mr. Mowat iu 1878 $2,408,500 Deduct; Refunds $ 56,148 " Public. Works and Buildings 298,607 *' • Colonization Roads 85,612 440,367 Current expendituve, 1878 $1,968,133 How, then, do the accounts stand ? The cur- rent expenditure for the year 1877 exceeds that of 1871 by the enormous sum of eight hundred and sixty-four thousand, one hundred and forty dollars, and i.878 exceeds 1871 by the enormous sum of eight hundred and sixty-two thousand eight hun- dred and forty -two dollars, or a total losa under 16 this 80-called Reform AdmiDistration, in two years, of $l,7:i6,986 ! Tliis question naturally arises in the minds ot common sense people, What has the Government of Mr. Mowat done that the people should renew their contidence in his Administratio n? In what way has he attempted to carry out his Reform pledjjes ? It is evident the economy promised has resulted in wild and profligate extravagance, for which the people have to pay at the rate of at least six hund- red thousand dollars a year for running expenses alone. SALE OF TIMBEU BERTHS. He sacriticed five thousand square miles of val- uable timber berths in 1872. selling them for $119 a square mile, whereas, similar limits the 3'ear before, under a different Government, realiz3d 5^240 a square mile, which shows a direct loss of six hundred thousand dollars. SALK OF MUNICIPAL LOAN DEBENTURFS. Be sacriticed one and a half million dollars of Municipal and Government debentures at a loss of two hundred and forty thousand dollars — sold to a one-horse company in the old country, ot which the Treasurer, Mr, Crooks, who conducted the sale, was at that time the Canadian solicitor. That Company has since become insolvent. 17 CENTRAL PKTSON. They increased fehe cost of baildiug the Central Prison from $200,000, the amount which it was contracted for, to $475,000, in consequence of taking it out of a responsible contractor's hands, and lea,ving it to be done by day's work. CROOKS ACT. Instead of reforming the laws, making them m(.re liberal and just^ they have enacted class legislation of the most obnoxious kmd, revivmg Tory legislation of the days of King Charles, which caused the Hebellion under Cromwell, ami was the means of extinguishing -i dynasty of kings. One of the chief charges in the impeachment against Kini? Charles was, that he had granted monoplies tor the sale of spirits. Is not the Crooks Liquor Act a monopoly of the worst description, taking away one man's means of living and givmg it to another? They have appointed Inspectors and Commissioners to carry out this law. In the County of Huron they cost $2,894 a year, whih- the license revenue collected for Provincial purpo- ses .mounts only to $2,271. Before this Govern- ment came into power, this municipality collected the license fees in th^ County at a cost ot $300 per annum , FAKMERS' SONS ACT. This is another specimen of class legislation. What right have they to a vote more than the sons of any other class of citizens, if the parerts have 16 equal proport3' qualification ? We waut to know, Is it fair, is it just, is it ilofoim tb\it the sou of a blacksmith, Uie sou of a store keeper, the sou of a carpeuter, or the &ou of a prot'essioual man, who pay the same taxes as a farmer, should be debaried from exercising his irf^nchise? Is there not as much intelligence amougst the villages and towns as is to b« found in the rural parts ? Why, then, should we have a distinct class ? Are we not all •equally interested in our common country ? MR. BISHOP. It is claimed by the friends of Mr. Bishop, that as tliis is an agricultural county, weshoukl only be represented by a farmer, and therefore he is the only man who should be chosen. In the first place, Mr. Bishop has no more claind to belong to that class than I linve; he owns a farm— so do I ; he makes the principal part of his Hving outside of a facm— so do T. It ip only a few years since iy.'r. Bishop, in company with Mr !). L. Sills, carried on storekeeping in the village of Brucefield, while a large portion ol my life was spent exclusively on a farm. But when a man is sent to Parliament, he goes there not to judge turnips or dig drains, or to be a Professor in an Agricultural CoUege^but to attend to the business of the country ; and as the greater part of the business of the Loc^l Legislature con- sists in the expenditure of a large revenue, his capacity and ability in that respect should be taken into account. . 19 Mr. Bishop lias been nearly seven years in Par- liament. Can he show an instance dnring tiiat time when he attempted to stem the tide of ruin- ous extravagance of the Mowat Government ? On the contrary, his name is -to he found amongst tixose members who voted against every reduction. He determinedly upholds the unjustifiable mcrease of his own salary, claiming that $800 per session, or, as is the case this year, $1,600 per annum, is Httle enough for his valuahle services But it was never intended that members ol Parhament should be hired servants, working from mercenary motives, but men of independent chai- acter, placed by the will of the people lu a nigh and honorable position to represent neither the interests of Grangers and business men, neither mechanics nor farmers alone, but to further the prosperity, the welfare and the liberty ot all the people of the whole Province. The pay to members was intended merely as an • indemnity, a remuneration for th« casb outlay, so that a poor man might not be debarred from seek- ing a seat in the legislative halls of the country ; aiul will any man presume to say '.hat $450 is not an ample allowance for a six weeks' stay at the capital-^hat it i^ not quite sufficient to support any gentleman in luxurious comfort, and leave a handsome allowance for pocket money ? We are told that no man ought to be elected who does not profess to belong to the Reform 20 pai-ty. But surely Bomethiag more ought to be required than a blind adhereuoo to party. If a Governmeut professes to be Befora:i it ought to be ecouomical with the public niouey ; it ought to aim at the most perfect Hberty compatible with public safety ; it ought to make wise and equitable laws, to be entirely in opposition to class legisla- tion. It is foolish to draw party distinctions in the Local Assembly, as it is rn erely a County Council with enlarged powers. The questions to be decided in that House are of a different charac- ter from those which can be deliberated upon in the House of Commons. We may disagree upon the question of Free Trade and Protection, but at the same time concur in the matter of granting a bonus to a raih'oad, or in the building of an insane asylum. It is asserted that th(" Conservative part/ are not sincere in this view, i)ut facts speak more forcibly than wordy professions. From the year 1867 to the year 1871, the Hon. John Sand- held Macdonald, a lifelong Reformer, and for many years leader of that party, was at the head of the- Ontario (xoveniment. Yet during his regime he had no warmer supporters than Mr. John Carling, of London, and M. C. Cameron, of Toronto. In fact, Conservatives in and out of the House gave him a cordial and generous support. Why ? Be- cause he carried out his professions. He paid the public servant? in a liberal manner for honest services performed, not because they were pohtical supporters. He used the public revenues in developing the natural resources ot the country, 21 ill the building of useful public institutions, such as the Loudon Lnnntic Asylum, the Brantford Blind Ahvluin, the Penetau^^uishene Reformatory, and other public works. He l)uilt a handsome and commodious residence for the Governor in Toronto and the Deaf and Dumb Asyluai at Belleville. He built excellent roads, bridges and locks, to improve the streams in MusK'oka, planned a scheme for draining the swamp lands, and appropriated two hundred thousand dollars for that purpose, set apart one million, five hundred thousand dollars to assist in the building of railroads leading to our wild territories, and after all this expenditure in furthering these valuable public works, accuinu • lated a surplus ol Udarly four millions of dollars. Printed by John White & Sons, Times, li.xeter. 38 ADDENDA. -» »•» ■ « EDUC^ATIOK DEPAETMENT. COMPARISON BETWJ-KN ThB YEAi.K 1871 aND 1877. 1871 1877 School Population ..... .... 489,615 494,804 Niiinbei-of i-jchools ,. 4,566 5 148 Number Hi,i,'h Schools .... 101 104 Normal School students .... 174 106 Total eMpenditui» .... $351,806 $550,984 The people i-eceived ottlu.'se sums as follows:— To aid common sdiools . .. $17»,975 $J51,962 Hi^h schools .... .... 69,986 77,199 Library books 1,650 2,768 Maps and apparatus .... 15,03r: 20,665 Totals^ ..$265,649 $352,594 The cost of expending tuese sums cost under the two Governmenis as follows : 1871 1877 Public school inspection .. $ 11,527 $27,904 tti^^li " ** .... 2,999 9!331 Examiners 600 6,577 Education office salaries .... 12,013 15,800 Carried forward $27,139 $59,612 24 1871 1877 Brought forward 1^27,139 $59,(512 KdncJitioD office coiitin,i;encies 3X)34 5 347 ' ^ ' 6,559 59,986 5,105 Training teachers .... .... ]s[ji Library, maps and apparatus 34,949 J )epository salaries .... .... 3 403 l-)o. L'0!itiugeM(u>s .... 1,571 3 202 MuSfil!!! .;. Qttdl n\^AA Journal ot Iiiducation ... 2 370 1 '"IS Normal and Model schools, Toronto, salaries .... 11.811 18 212 Contingencies ditto 5 977 7'5f8 Normal school, Ottawa salar's Nil 7 508 Contiu'^encies for ditto .... Nil 7430 Kev. Dr. Ryerson's r. tiring ^^iiowMnce .... .... . .^^(3^^ ^ f ^^'^''« $94,695 $190,248 ho that ;^189 more scholars and three more High Schools entail an additional expense under the leadership of Mr. Mowat, m management alone m the sum of ninety-five fhonsand, five hundred and hfty-three dollars In other words, it takes $95,000 to distribute $86,000 to (he people No amount of logic or special pleadi,jg can get over these facts,