IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) -^ ./;v4. 1.0 I.I 11.25 1^128 |30 "^^ *" lift 2.5 1^ 1: 1^ 1 |l.8 1.4 1.6 mm m /a / % osi ^ 'ry Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WHSTER.N.Y. 14510 (716) •73-4303 V -^v ^^ ^^ l\ \ ^"^> 6^ '<^ 4r CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquas at bibliographiquas Th to The Institute has attempted to obtain the bast 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. ~~y[ Coloured covers/ D D D D V D Couverture de couleur Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculie Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ D Cartes gdographiques en cou!c*ir 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 Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serr^e peut causar de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure 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 ajoutAes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl^mentaires: L'institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il iui a 6tA possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. D D D \/ D D D D D Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pelliculdes Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages d6color6es, tachetdes ou piqu6es Pages detached/ Pages ditach^es Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of print varies/ Quality indgale de ('impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire Only edition available/ Seule Mition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, 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 4t6 filmies A nouveau de fapon A obtenir la meilleure image possible. Th pa of fill Or be thi sic oti fir sic or Th sh Til wl Mi dii en be rifl re< mi This Item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmi au taux de rMuction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed here hes been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Bibllothftque nationale du Quebec L'axemplaire film* fut reproduit grAce d la gAnArosit* de: BIbliothdque nationale du Quebec 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. Les Images suivantes ont 6tA reproduites avec le plus grand soin. compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetA de I'exemplaire filmA. et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de fllmage. 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. Les exemplaires origlnaux dont la couverture en papier est Imprlm6e sont filmAs en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'Impression ou d'illustration, solt par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires origlnaux sont fiimto en commen9ant par la premlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'Impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol ~-^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol ▼ (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Un des symboles suivants apparaltra sur la derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols -^ signlfle "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN ". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to 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: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre fllmAs A des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour 6tre reproduit en un seul cliche, II est fllm6 d partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'Images nAcessalre. Les diagrammes suivants lllustrent le mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 W-*-' '■ f t >» 4 J BUDGET SPEECH DBUVKRBD W THK LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF QUEBEC ON THE 5th DECEMBER, 1890 BY HUJS:. JOSEPH SHEHYN TREASURER OF THE PROVINCE AMD SPEECH UBLIVKRBD IN THB Legislative AssemMy of Quebec, on the Utli Deeemlier, 1890 HON. MR. MERCIER :pi?.E3Vwd:iB]E?/ In reply to a crUiciam of the budget speech by Mr. Hall, member for No. 5, Montreal QUEBEC 1891 iiiiriiTiiii I • m i^My indicating the order I intend to pursue, which will be as follows : 155181 1... lJciii;iiI< o.l'UO (jll IJuehec tire loan GHo 28 Jesuit harracks, proceeds of sale 30,000 00 21 Tru! 18,313 43 Ti?tal rfitxipta fruin .-iil «ourtt«a h.mmii.m.m.m .•.!.• JS3|5$8,9*0 uO ) £mmm\ witiimm\vi.,Miiim^ I i / 1 7!) i ay ■le Fisod Yc paid liv sJuriiVs out (jf collections. Licenses — auinmits paid liy rrvmiie dhi'-rrs out of collcrtinns Shcrlironki-' Insipital and n!pl!;:ii a-}]uui Kailway iii~];^-(.l Ihm - rriutiu'.; report of the Suin'i'iut 'ii i n; ..I I'liMic Itistruction... DistrioutiiiLi; to the tt.'acliers of tli' prnvirii-o " L'Kusci;_;nenjeut, ])riiuairi! " J)istriliuting nmendinents to tlie inuui'ipal eode Exhibition of the counties of Chieoutinu and Sa'juenay Joseph l)ussauU, for 10, Odd copies of 'La jiaie il'Uiidsou" I'laserville lajspital Teuuscaiuinq;ut! hospital JL'itei nieu—St. Ilyaciutln' trrey Nuns liospiial — St. .li'K'nne Uoikyu St. Ddruimlin dy Watcrj-'o j 148,841 23 230,000 00 44,200 00 20,075 12 2,5ud dO 239,832 20 210 00 14,079 71 S,345 82 18,S00 11 5,000 00 8,410 37 38,2.-9 98 1,000 OO 1,(»0() 00 2,.".:!1 75 2,UdO 00 25d 00 2,0n0 00 l.r.iid 00 .a)0 00 500 00 .")(id dO 5(10 UO •i i 6 Toarhcis' iK'iisimi fund — aiiminl i^'ruiit 1,000 00 Traiisrii]ilin5i, cti'., of rcLri.sti'rs, etc., rc^istrv oilier, Mniitrrnl Wtist. r»,iri-4 72 llel]t to tlic (listrff-sc'l |,.'o].]i' (if ilic I.ul.rinldf •M'^t IvS^-t 14 Amniity to Mrs. (liis]iiir(I Diol.t ;!;!8 1)3 Hell. '" ^"ll''i't'r.s I'V tliL' St. Siiuvciir tiiu in May, 1.S8U 10,(100 00 Tdtiil mdiiiaiy ixpoiise-^ So,S.Sl,G72 'Jo Now I'avliaim'iit luiiidiiius, C)iic!iic, (■(ni-.tiiictidi) !?ir'U,7()0 00 New coint lidiisc, t^hiclicc, r(iii>triicli(»ii 4I',0.'i7 i'lO Spoiit'cr Wiioil, li(it-li(ii!S(', ccllai', slicils, etc 10,2.']1 00 Iron liridj^i.'s in ]iiuni(M|iaIitic.-' 7''i.4(iO 42 Court houses ami L'aols in rural disiiirts, new vaidrs 4,.";!l 47 Explorations in the countii's of Di'rclii'sip;', Levi-i. ete. tt,S24 "lO Xanifiuraskix Circuit Court hous'' and iv_ristry onice. 2,012 00 Eil..liotlie(|ue dii code .'ivil (",,000 0(> Dictioiinaii'c niinicricine di' lifjnchervilli- 2,7.S.") 00 Heirs (d' 111.' Lit.' .T.'un Linc'.di.v r.,000 OO Oil ]iaintinL,'s i>f ."^iMal^.-rs' jiortr.iil^ 1,(100 00 Ih'othcr Arnold, t'lr rejiaivs to his sclio.d in Montreal 0i)9 o8 Turchase of the lihrary of the lato dudg" I'olette.... .?,000 00 Heirs of the late .Tud.gc^ T>oranf,'er 2,182 40 New mail "'' ^''^ province of Qnchee 10,200 00 Corporation of the city of St. -Inhn's :'),.^iOO (lO Installation of l.ntli Hous'.'s of llic Legislature 4,040 00 Night sell o.ds l!),7o7 45 Printing, etc., the laws, tri correct omission in 1878. (),;'00 00 Quebec railway hri.lge corayiany 404 53 Settlement of the Jesuits' estetes 400,000 00 Codification of the laws 30,675 00 818,583 51 Subsidies to railway Companies S327,417 07 Coustruction of Q. M. 0. & O. railway 10,000 00 343,417 97 Trust Funds : — Marriage licenses, distributed by rrote,stant council of public instruction S 7,104 00 Security by public olTicers 250 18 Aylmer court house lun.l 1,749 80 "La Canadicnne" Life Assurance Company's deposit, jiart returned 5,000 00 Montreal it Lake !Maskinonge railway company, guarantee' deposit, repayment 3,903 04 k Tt'ini-ipouata railwiiy coiiiiiiUiy, f;uuraTituc ili'iiusit, ivpiymi'Tit .J.'),::;:! i>7 QuL'buc atul Lake St. .lulni railway coniiiany, .yuavaii- tou aei.osit, ivi)aym..'nt lO.'s-ilo d:'. Total i.iyi.unts.,f;,hkM.ls e3,:U2,y()7 05 titaternent of Cuah. To ca.^U on haml at .".(Jth .Tiint', LSyj 82,210,019 79 Add inisL luuds ivcipts I'^-^J;^ ^^ " WarrautrtuutstuiidhiguL 30Lh.Iuiu-, 1800 112,:^,! 4j l.',;;40,004: 67 Less excess of ]>ayinonts ovc- receipts fur 188'."..00.i?l,47r),007 oO « Trust fu.ils payment.- 2GU,2;;i.> 22 " Wavmnls i.ssued in 1880, l)iit j.;.!.,! ill 18'JU.... 7;!,2r.O GO l,815,rjG0 24 Cash on hand at aOih June, 1800 ^ 523,:m 43 T. liiiuarks on the Fiscal Year 1889-93. As indicated by the public accounts, the total receipts and payments of this fiscal year were : ,. ^ ., ,^., p- Total payments ^^'?^,^;^?/ f Total receipts, inclmUiio- trust funds and repayments 3,588,920 oO Excess of payments over receipts $1,723,08( la Cash on hand on 30th June, 1889 2,210,019 79 Deduct excess of payments ''"'"*'" ' 48G,032 64 Warrants outstanding on 30th June, 1890 S 112,571 45 Less warrants of 1889 paid in 1890 73,250 GG .v,),oii iv Leaving a balance of. ., -^ 525,344 43 which will be found to correspond with the cash on hand on 30th June, as shown by the public accounts. i^ ^'■il-'"-Ji V\»'!l. Of ooiTse, this only indicates the total oitorations, but does not show the situation exactly. To ascertain the difl'eieiice betwet-n the receipts and the ordi- nary and extraordinary expenditure, it is necessary to deduct certain auujs. Thus, the total payments aiaounted h, S5,312,907 Go But from tlicsc mu-enditure and as to the common responsibility of the Opposition with the Government for it, seein;^ that it had been incurred for jaiblie works duly approved and authorized by the Legis- lature. On ]iage 15 of the piil)lic accounts, under the ht-'ad of special expenditure, a sum of 8818,583.51 is set down. This sum forms part of the expenditure for which we are so unfairly blamed, and yet it is made up of the following : — 8400,000 i»aid in settlement of the Jesuits' estates, which .settlement was autho- ri^^ed by the House and which we had no choice but to carry out, as our adversaries well know that, once the (question was settled and the credit voted, there was no other course left to us but to pay; 8211,297.10 paid during the tiscal year on account of the construction of the Parliament Jiuildings and Qutjbec Court House, obligations recognized and admitted by the Op]>ositioii themselves, because flowing from their own policy when in power, yet not a word to explain this fact in their criticism ; and other items to the amount of 8200,000, in round figures, for iron bridges in municipalities, codification, \c., which hud been voted ut the previous session and which the Government had to honor at maturity. The sum of 8200,233.22 was also ])aidin reimbursement of guarantee deposits, and in tlieir calculations they include it as an expense, although it is nothing of the sort ; yet this sum forms part of the amount for which they so unfairlv criticiz" us. On page 17, 8343,417.97 ajtpear as having Vieeu paid in subsidies to different railway comi)anies in virtue of statutory appropriations. Now, every one is iu favor of this railway policy, and, jireviously to 1887, upwards of 82,000,000 had been granted in subsidies, and 83,000,000 in ruunil figures in 1888. Tiie subsi- dies granted by our adversaries and those voteil iu 1888 amount to a sum of 85,000,000, if not more, and, as they have become statutory appropriations, the Treasurer is obligeil to ]iay them as they fall due, for the obligation is one from which there is no escape on the ]>:irt of the Government. Yet, iu their criticisiu of the total expenditure, the Opposiiion, knowii:gIy or not, totally ignore these details. I am satisfied that the Hou^^; will thoroughly understand and uppreciate the illogical conduct of our adversarit s, who condemn as a v:hoU v:hat the>/ have approved in detail. They arc always in favor of every thing likely to increase their prestige and strongly support almost every popular measure, but, when it comes to fooling the bill, there is a change of tune. They preteud to be alarmed at the increase of the expenditure, forgetting that, in the great majority of cases, they not only encouraged that expenditure, but actually supported it. 1 \ AJtii 10 They are in f',iVi)r of the railway policy, an exceedingly expensive policy and the principal cau-se of onr dfl)t : but in their c:ilculation.s they do not hesitate to give prominence to (lie total figure of the expenditure, hut at the same time they take godd care not to s;iy a woi'il as to the details of this same expenditure, liriclly, they are in favor of expenditure, fut a;^ain^it it tlie moment it has ])een incuired. All '. 'Slv. Spt?.d;iT, \vc, oil lliis sidi' of llin House, can at least ho;ist tli;it we li;ive till' courii-..- uol ouiy to a.^k i'o!' ihe necessary iij)[aupiialiuns to improve the eonditiun of nui' f-'llow-citi/cir^, hui to acceiit the re.-^ponsibility of our acts and we do not sluiuic from ihf duty of iVanlvIy stating to the Legislature tiie true jiusilion of our limuu c;;. AVlien by tlic votes of its representatives and in virtue of statutory approjiriations, the jii'ovinee has legitimately contracted obligations for winch both sides are responsible, why do the honorable meinbers of the Oppo- sition slirink from stating that they have been a purty to them, and pretend that we are blindly lir.rtliL'niiig tiie Treasury with an extraordinary expenditure ? Simply, because on tliat side of the House little regard is paid to the means, pro- vided the euii in viev.- N' a',t:iiii('(l, whicli is to as; erse ami dejinciatc tlie (lovern- inent's policy. In my financial statement oi 1880, T (stimated the probable ordinary reeeijits at So,40r),G72 8(1 The amount really receiveil was o,r);)(),783 70 or S 131,110 99 more than til.' I'stimate-, but 8152, 888. -11 less than my revised estimates of last session. This (!Xi.'ess of rei'cipts w^is to have iieen derived cliietly from the returns from Crown lands, whi'.'h aecoivliug to tiie (Jommissionei's estimate, should have yielded SI, 2O(),U0(», while in reality tliey only produced .^918,627.77. This dilfi'rence between the actual uoUectioii and the honorable Commissioner's estimate is readily ai'counted foi' by the stagnation and tlepression in the timber trade, the sudden fall in the price of stiuare tim'oer, the overstocking of the market resulting from the forniiilable and growing competition of the timl)er-])roducing (iiiuntries of Kuropi', ihe imjiort duties imi)osed by the I'liited States on our sawn liimlier, and tiie fiilun.' of important h^us's wliiidi tii!'(:'w \n\vk on tuir market ininieiise ([iiautilies of wo jds of all kinds sold and unpaid for. All these, accord- ing to the honov.ible (Commissioner, wri'e so many causes wliieh combined not only to deti'r til" luniiiei' meivhants from g-jtting out all their s.'ason's cuts of timber but also, in the (H'dinary course c/f business, to jjrevent the sale of the stocks on hand and the com[)lete collection of the timber dues and other large sums owing to the de})arliuent. The other revenue items, however, produced on the average the sums on which 1 had counted. 11 policy liL'sitate (no they Ir.ricily, luiii'd. But oil tilt! one hand, if tlio Crown lamls yielded 8300,000 less, on the other, the ex|)enditui'e indicates a hiL'h'T fiiLfiirc than that of my revised oitimates — this excess occurring cliielly in the fullowin;,' items : Interest service, s72,00O mori' th;!n my cotimati^; le.uislatiuii, ^83,OljO. This excess is exi)laine(l as fdllows : Exceptional expenses fur salaries of sessional clerks and messengers and other services, on account of the length of the session 8 'J, 500 00 For printing and binding causeil by a gradual increase extending over several years and tin' linal .si'ttlcmont i-f all ai;counts tu the ;;iiLii .hinc, is'.M) i.ijtoo 00 To meet the expenses incurred liv ihe dill'ercnt committees last session for stenographers, witnesses, Sc:., say 85,000, To meet the expenses con- nected willi the gfiicr.il tdeclious, 850,000, fur wliicli no provision has been made. AdmiuistraliMii of justice, an unforeseen expense of 848,000 more ihau the pre- vious year, due to an increase in the number of costly criminal trials. Additional expenditure for C(d<.inizatioi!, pulilic woik,-i, ri'])airs to court houses and gaols, which were urgent and necessnry, acenrdiiii; to tlic vejiorts of the ilepartiueuLal eii;,'ineers. Till'. Crown lands also sliow an increased expenditure compared witli the juevlous year, luit this dilference had bei u lore-een and provided I'or in the supplementary estimates last s(.'ssion. Indeed, exi^'pL the additional onthiys in connection with tlio administration of Justice and legi:>lalion, all the other increases had been foreseen in those estimates. [ candidly admit that it is liecoiuing more and more ilitlicuU to keeji down the expense of the general adminislratiiui, on account of the iiicrea.--e in the interest iicrviee and the extensii^n id' tlie' publie works and other services in keejijug with \\i>' increase of the piipulatiou. Xi'W dt.'iuands are constantly ari.-iug and it i.>, in addition, almost an impossibility to resist the jiressure brought to bear on the (lovernment by the ]>eo]de wlio want a prdicy alike generous au'l in accordance with the gi'owing rei|uiren;eiits of the eniiiitry. lUit it is well to ivmem' er that it is im|iossible, with tla' pr eds al^uc ni our ordinary resnurcu-, tu nn ( t all the re(|uirenients and satisfy all the wants eutailecl liy such a pnliey. i'.'.th the country and ilie lliuise are in lav( r of a vigorous policy whieli will hasten the develop- ment of our resources; 1 iit it should unt be forgotten that this cannot be aehieved wittiuut some sa(!ritice on the jiart, of tiiose who rea the i)ene(it of that policy. It is our desire, as far as possible, lo m<:et the unanimous wish of the countiyi but let us not be blamed afterwards if the exitenditure has not been kept dov, nto as low a ligure as might be desired, as it often hapjieiis, I am sorry to say, that the very inen, who do their shaic towards encouraging the expenditure, are QftcrWtttdu oftt-n the Htpf \'i turn nronnd and condi^mn it, otx^'^ thoir object bft*" ,.1 II jM^m VY'Lt. 12 Before passing to another hoad of my subject, let me say that I think the fol- lowing statements will jirove of some interest both to tlie JTouseaud to the country, in view of tlie outcry made by our adversaries as to the alleged extravagance and ruinous character of our policy. Moreover, I consider it right to show how far they are astray i:i the charges tliey tlo not scruple to hurl against us : 8T.VTKMKNT OK OKDIN'.Vin' RI-CKirTS AND KXl'KNSES FROM 1888 TO 1890. 1888 Ordinary receipts S3,73S,228 .'jO 1889 do do 3,027,932 20 1890 do do 3,536,495 79 Th(! total receipts for th.Coc three years amount to the sum of .310,902,050 38 representing an annual average of S3,G34,218 79. 1883 Ordinary expenses i?3.305,032 36 1889 do do 3,543,618 64 1890 do do 3,881,672 95 Total expeiiM's for these three years 810,790,323 95 Av(.'rage annual expenditure, 83,596,774,65. Tlie ligure of the ordinary exjx'iiditure is therefore lower than tlie receipts and in(iicates a surjdus of 8112,332.43 for the tbree years in ijuestion, wliich is a very dill'erent result from that olilaiued by our adversaries. Xow, contra.-t the for-goiiig ;>tat('iiien(, with tlie following figures ; — STATKMK.XT OK uKIil.\Al;V JJKi Kll'TS A.\l» KXl'ENSK.S I'Olt 1882, 1883 AM) 1884, AXii i-oR 1885, 1886 AXD 1887. lircri !>!■<. 1882 82,6H(;,0."1 <,)4 1883 2,755,7('7 21 1884 2,823,565 ^iO Jwi'poifies. 82,874,910 16 3,09(;,943 27 :!,1 24,61 ;» [).\ Deficits. 8208,858 22 341,236 06 301,054 64 Total 88,245;i24 45 89,()9(;,473 37 8851,148 92 The total receipts for tln'sn tluv«» yciirs a;iioinite>l fo tin; sum ol' 88,245,3.24.45, Mjual to an annual average of 82,748,441. ■18, and the t(»tal e\])enilitur(! for tin' same period to 89,996,473.37, giving an annual average of 83,032,157.79, and sliowing au annual delicit of 8283,716.31. ,Jg^*%?ft>^!i«»»«9*' *. '^'^ ■*i*fltkmrM, i^amltWWMWjt-; nk the fol- ic country, igance and V liow far 1890. 38,228 .'JO 27,932 20 30,495 79 )2,65G 38 !o,032 3(3 :3,G18 (U 1,672 95 0,323 !)o onliiiaiy rj)lii,s of lilt frmii • 18S1 58 22 ;30 00 J 4 04 48 92 24.45, r till' , and 13 Now, let us examine the following statement Eeceipts, 1885 82,920,147 95 1880 2,949,562 15 1887 2,905,560 02 E.rpenKcs. ?2,930,733 80 3,032,007 25 3,288,797 78 Deficits. S 10,585 91 83,045 10 323,231 IG 88,841,270 72 89,258,138 89 8416,862 17 The total receipts for these three yea'-.s amounted to the sum of 88,841,270.72, giving an annual average of 82,947,092.24. Tlie total ordinary expenditure for the same period was 89,258,138.89, which gives an annual average of 83,085,- 046.29 and a total deficit of 8410,802.17 for tlie three years. An examination of tin; tliree statements just suhmitted will indicate at a gliince that the three years of our administration show a surplus of 8112,332.4;'.. We therefore succeeded with our ordinary receipts during those fiscal years in more than covering all our ordinary expenses ; so that under this liead it is impos- sible to assert that we liave increased the amount of our obligations. Xow, compare this result witli that olttained ])y our predecessors from 1882 to 1884. A deficit of 8851,148.92 in the ordinary operations stares us in tlie face, and one of 8410,802.17 from 1S85 to 1887. Add these sums together and you get a total shortage of 81,268,01 1.09 on the ordinary (liberations of the six years. From these figures, it is easy to .see what little fdundation there is for tiio charges which our adversaries liave been making agiiinst us by tlie coliimn full in their organs. Either they wrote knowingly or they accepleU as proven what was not so. In either case, they M'ere guilty, because they acted ii[)on a regular d(4ermination to deceive the iteojile as to the true situation. (.)n the other hand, if they claimed as true what was not so, their writings were e<|ually mischievous. We expended more than our estimates; there is no <|uestion about that; but at all events our receijits sulficeii tip cover our urdiuary expenses. Ou the other liand, during the last six years of tli'^ir tenure (it (itlnr our adversaries admittedly .spent less, but, unfortunately, while spending smallei' sums for certain ]iur[ioses, they maniiged to accumulate, beiwetn their oi'dinarv recei|its and eNpi uses, a deficit of 81,208,01 l.O'.i. In the lace of such a icsult, I ask eveiy impartial mind which is the b(>tter , it was .i5077,7GO.o2 wiulc tn-day ii aiuiiuuts to Si .lT)'.', 400.88 nr an increase o!' ^r281,(i4(), Jo. I regard. h(jwevei', the diiference hctwicen the reccijits and expenses merely riR accidental, i'nv, witli the iv\i\-ai uf trade and the new sources di' revenue to 1.k> drawn npnn, that ditfcrc'iiee will disai^peai'. sri'.ci.vr. i:.\"i't:Nii:t'n;i:. Uiiuidc ;u make any serious assaidt upon us us regards the ordinary expendi- ture, iiur adversaries have fallen lia,(d\ on the special or extraordinary expenditure, fur the manifest ]au'p(,s,. oi Cdnlusing thi' minds of llmse wlm are not in a ])osition to appreciate the ilistinciiun which slioidd he made hetween the e.\|)enses of the I iiiinaiv servitcand the (\\]i( uses on capital account. To hear these gentlemen s])eak and to judge he wiiat has het-n written m thidr ]iress, it might lie imagined that wi' h.id invcnleil this di.stinetiou ; hut it is only necessary to glance over the dehales on the luidgeis wlcu tle^y were in power, to disi^ivm' that they were exlrenudy ].articular on this very head. Indeed, tie- eouvictioti that such was the ca.-e will he immeiliately f(U'Ced home hy a stiidv oi' Mv. Dcsjirdins' speeidies. Tru' , that g.'iitleniiu was not ih" 'freasufer dc fi, luit he was the ojlicial and autl!oriz(.'d mouthpiece of his friends t « ex[)0P,iid and defend on tl"dr behalf the great theories of jxilitical economy of the then Ministei'ial ]iarty. 1 must admit, how. ver, notwithstanding his learned demonstrations on iinancial matters, that his priiK ipl( s did '.ot always (diime with liis theories. His strictness was jiot absolute under al; cirec!, (stances, hut greatly clepenv); II they -.ere indemnod by hia own friends; wliile, in Oppoaition, all tliid ijrsRt V''Mucijii«;B flo pocnpoi'slv tiamHoi^ bv him "« n 1^fin'f>t(.rir,l)f,* ^ptfl rnp»KlJ»ts(i .M ho 'c.)«gr;r npj)!icnbl«, Vs 1 1 ? > ■"j^^mMeA i:> In any case, it is ackiiowlodged l)y ocoiioiaihts that two !)mlc;et-!are necv^sarr, one to represent liie uxpensos of a jji'iiiiainMit cliar.icter awl ih: oihf:r those conncH'tcil \vitli tlio gveat public wurks. ^Moreover, apart tioui iif; tli^-orics upheld by the economists, it mattevs little what you call uii expenditure when it lias been iir.st ]>rupeily sam-tionfil. In lact, thi' distiiictinii bicorn'.--* i^eri'victly legitimate wliea the Ibunc Ins been iiilbi'iiii-'d that ivitiin cxpt-n.^e.^ are diargeable to oajiilal. Siipjiose, in!' cxiunjiic, thai ibc Tr.Msur.-r bi'iiigi •I'.vvii ;i \ui'l'j,it (/ ordinary exix-nses and tliat in adilitioii la- proposes utlier exp.eudilur*:'- lo the Huuse.. to meet which he lias no revenue. If tin; House eonsidrrs t!iat these apimjprialions are in tlv.' public interest and that it makes them with a fjll kuow- leil^fe uf what it is ab(jut, it is i|uite e(aji])eleiit for it to d.i so. Thi^ w&a. iiioreo%-er, the doctrine maintaineil by i;ur ailver.^aries when in ]>owi.-i-, but now O.uil th -y are in Opposition it suits them to forget their jiast jivim-iples. Tli.ir pi>:-«.'nt oum.en- tiou IS that there should no longer be any sjiecial exp.n liture, on th»r 'jromvl that this special expenditure is being used to mislead the jM.'up'b; by j#tii|>osely confounding the ordinary with th" extraordinary ex]ieuses. Ibit th'-y ,tr-;ffyigy 1-l't iis a, !■ -aey c,[' ilrbts wh [•!.'.*''■ hfive been oliliged to pay, as I will show in a neimriil. In ciaisifying tlifs.- >t>f'(:i.j5 <.'Sj/<;nses, over which they have ma, a; so inaeh outcry, iv will be biuml that, liit-y are com])osed in great jiart of iheirowu '.i.digati.ius, which we- had to .' ISDO fimounted to the sum of yl,'.M)4,o7r).;iG. divided c.s follows : — In 1888 total of lliis exiieiidituix- (sc,- puljlic acciumts) S G-SV--'- TO In 1889 " " " 4«,».a459 GD In 1890 " " " HlHJfHZ ')! iylAf(}4,rj7:j 90 Here then, a])art from the railway sulisidiL's grant eil ia 18S8, in iIr- l^jtal figure expendeil under this head from ISSS to ISO't; but, from t!iH Fum. of 81,90-1,575.90, there must lie deduct 'd in the tirst jilace tl..> special rtc(.'i[.t»« taken in from 1888 to 1890 and aniomitin- to .'?20(;,",j;;6.29, and tlien if yon add to the latter the !?112,oo2.-f-l of siir]du.v's on the so-called ordinary operntionif, y-.u will get a sum of 8ol9,2G8.71 ; no'.v dei'.nct this total, and there remaiiw a Iwkiice of 81,585 0OT.2.J, which represerts the exact Hgun; of the special exfieniiture. All the figures I have just cited have i.een taken from the public aceoiint.? ami arc official. X(jw, accoi'ding to this ii:/rease, L t us establish the ii'jiiTC f>.r which our friends are responsible ;uid then -^i^e v.iiat can be legitimately laid t'l' cur c'urge. •I 1 L \0' 16 Amount of claims settled iiiul payments made by us, but which are in reality ascribable to the obligations of our predecessors : — Trom 1S8S to 18 'JO. For construction of rarliamont buildings S 538,489 53 do do do 301,770 95 Explorations in Dorchester an I other counties under a resolution- of the Legislative Assembly, on the 14lh June, 188G 10,000 00 Insurance on Parliament I'uildings. I)e])osit refunded 32,7G5 00 Arrears in the Crown Lands to meet old liabilities 58,844 95 Indemnity and costs resulting from errors in land surveys in the County of Kouville— old claim 10,500 00 Lockwood claim 10,500 00 Heirs J. Langolier 5,000 00 Corporation of the city of St, John's — old claim 3,500 00 Printing, etc., of statutes to rectify an omission ui 1878 ... 6,500 00 Total of sums paid on our predecessors' obligations S 974,370 41 Statement cfsu nis pail u »(A'r the hrad of aiJca)ices a nd special or extraovdina'ry expenditure, for ivhich v:e are responsible :— from 1888 to 1890 : 1890 : Settlement of the Jesuits' estates S 400,000 GO 1888 to 1890 : Iron bridges in municipalities 151,460 43 Codification of the laws 107,999 40 Improvenieuls to the Montreal court house 71,422 83 Explorations in L)orchester and other counties 19,824 50 Committee to purchase seed grain 50,000 00 Night schools 19,737 45 8820,444 60 McGill normal sjhool, enlargement 2,500 00 Arthabaska court house, new foundations 7,400 00 Court houses and gaols in new districts, heating ajjparatus 12,000 00 Circuit Court, Kamouraska, new building 12,512 00 Spencer Wood, stable.s, sheds, etc 14,231 OO Court house and gaol, JJonaventure, wing for the gaoler and guardian 4,000 00 Bibliotheque du Code Civil 6,000 00 Xew map of the i)rovince 10,000 00 Ijoucherville's numerical dictionary 2,785 00 Jul Jul Inl Av r.rj I'm If \ i: K in reality 38,489 53 01,770 95 10,000 00 32,765 00 58,844 95 10,500 00 10,500 00 5,000 00 3,500 00 6,500 00 4,370 41 ovdinai'y 0,000 00 1,460 43 r,999 40 422 83 ,824 50 000 00 737 45 ,444 GO 500 00 400 00 000 00 512 00 231 UO )00 00 )00 00 )00 00 85 00 d^ul,^'c I'olotto's library 3,000 00 Jiuloo Lonuigi'r's heirs , 2,182 40 Installation of tlio lluii.ses of A.-j>emliIy iiii I LjgisLitive Ojim.-il... 4,<">40 UO Arbitration between Quclifi- ami (jntaiio 1.G73 72 (Quebec railway bri? 112,332 42 Advance to Protestant Insane Asylum repayable out of the ])roceeds of the saleoftlie Leilucfann 17,821 29 130,153 71 8 800,051 84 The real balance of sjiecial expenditure at the 30th June, 1890, for which we are responsible is therefore 8800,051.84, Let lis now examine the items wiiich made up this amount : Settlement of Jesuits' estates 8400.000 00 Iron bridges in municipalities 151,400 43 Codification of the laws 107,999 40 rureliase of seed erain 50,000 00 Improvements to ^Montreal court house 71,422 83 Night schools 19,737 45 Explorations in Dorchester county, etc 19,824 50 8820,444 60 The balance of the special expomliture, not included in the foregoing statement, amounts to 8109,760.95, and is tliereibre more than covered by the surplus of 8112,332.42. o O M I W^iL_. IM All tlic! figiUL's just givoii ixre otlicial ami can be verified on reference to tho public accounts for 188S, ISSO, ami 1800. I have considered it my duty to thoroujihly post the House in regard to these special expenses, whiidi liiivc boon so unfairly usi-d n^'ainst us in the pross and at inililic im-i'lin.u's. Indeed, it wnuld be an iininissiltility to say how often state- nu'uts, as erioiiuuiis as tin y have been e\aj;},'(> ruled, have been ])u!)]islit'd by the <>pj)osition press as to llie ii-al tinancial siluatinii. Xevertlieles'^, it is by means of .such a disjilay (if lii,'ur. s, wludly devniil nf any ollicial (diaracter, that they have eudeavnied til mislead the ii(iii>' aud tbf (dectorate. U is needless loi' iiie to dwell fmther on a subject whii'Ii lias already been exhausted on so juany previous occasions. It shduld not be for'^'otten that these <,'i'iitlem(>ii had their own buduet, ]iroparod by the advocate of their. iinancial doc- trines and intended to serve as a cati'i.'iiisiu for the elections, In pruof of this, it is (inly necessary to nder to (lie ()j)position newsjiapers since last session, which have been repeating in every posible sha[)e tho figures and calculations of their ]jolitii?al ei'i;m>mi»': Iv 19 •enco to tho ,^arcl to tlieso jtriiss niiiJ iit ofti;n stiiti'- ili«'(l by tlio i.s \iy iiicaiis t tlicy liiivf rcuily liiMMi 1 that tlicst? iUK'iill (loo- i' oi" tliis, it siou, which lis of their '> enligliten )nt'use aiul I(! regaril- up to the )f Quebec «,G6G 67 ^,047 25 2,571 45 lliiilway laml sii1).siili('.-^, rdiivurtctl into money subsiLliiis, 1,1101,000 acres, at 70 cents per acre — !?1,;j30,700, iirst 35 cents per acre pay- able as the Avork prugre^ses r)'>5,l'.50 00 i>,80S,247 88 ])alanoR of laml and other debts in connection with the construction of the Q. M. 0, i^- 0. Railway 122,364 00 Loss on Exchange I'aidc dejiosit 27,000 00 Kaniouraska court huu^e debiaituves 8,955 00 Contract for statues on rarlianient buildin-'s 32,000 0() Estimated amount reiiuired to complete Quebec courthouse 150,000 Oi» Quebec court house bonds 100,000 00 Asftcts. 827,180,852 25 I'art of price of l>). M. < >. ,'\ 0. IJailway depnsit.-d in banks ? 3S5,(I00 00 I'art of price of ij. ^I. 0. i^ U. Itailway invested in Quebec court house bonds 200,000 00 Part of price, do, invested in city of t^Hiebec debentures 15,000 0(1 Balance of price of Q. M. (). i^ <>. Ji'ailway uni>aid. 7,000,000 00 .^ 7,000,00(1 00 Capitalized railway subsidies under 1 )ominion Act 47 ^'ie., cha)!. N. 2,394,000 00 Claim against Hon. Thomas McCreevy 100,000 00 Cash in banks Cost of Jacques Cartier normal school, [Montreal, to be repaid from sale of property Advances to various parties Estimated amount due as interest ou Common School fund from Ontario , Quebec court house tax under 45 Vic,, chap. 2(j, ami 48 Yic, chap. 15 525,344 43 138,348 02 104,002 69 70,000 00 200,000 OO $11,131,785 14 Excess of liabilities over assets on 30th June, 1890 10,055,007 11 827,180,852 25 The "ross lialiiliaes stand at nearlv the same fiourt* as on the 30th June, 1889, but the assets-, which amounted to 812,813,960.50, show a diminution of $1,682,175.36 at the corre;-.ponding date in 1890. Z li^. -. iiWifesi i^Ai* V VV' I ! 90 Tho funded debt, which amounted to 821,510,960.30 on the 30th June, 1889, had dropped to 821,448,006.07 on the 30th Juno last ; thodilTeronce of 802,293.33, liaving been applied to the redemption of a corresponding amount of our bonds. Tlie net liabilities over tho assets show an increase of $1,011,219.40 as compared with the fiyuro of the 30th June, 1889. But this indrease is easily accounted for by the payments made during tho last fiscal year, over and abovo the total receipts. A glance at pages 14, 15 and 10 of the public accounts will show for what purpose these disbursements were made and how tho jjayments were applied. The difference between the receipts and expenses; the settlement of the Jesuits' estatf's, 8400,000 ; trust funds and deposits refunded, 8260,233.22, and other items clearly indicate what was done with the cash on hand and the moneys reci^ived since the last fiscal year. The guarantee deposits of tho different railway companies ara being repaid gradually and call for no particular explanations. Tho sum of 82,808,247.83 in the. liabilities under tho head of subsidies to railway companies, represents the balance of all that has been voted by the Legis- lature for this purpose to the 30th June, 1890. It is impossible to say. oven approximately, when we shall be called upon to meet these liabilities, as that entirely depends on the progress made on their works by the dillerent companies entitled to the subsidies as soon as earned ; but, though the dates of these pay- ments are more or less certain, it is absolutely necessary to make provision to meet the whole of them the moment they are legally due. Some of the companies are pushing on their works vigorously, while others again are going ahead very slowly. Some of them have not yet even effected tho conversion of their land grants into money subsidies. Nevertheless, these companies always succeed ulti- mately in establishing their right to tlie subsidies which have been granted to Ihem. These grants are included in the liabilities, as they are obligations which will have to be met some day or other. Strictly speaking, they should only figuic among the liabilities as they come due. The sum set down as the balance of land and other debts in connection with the construction of the Q, M. 0. & 0. Kail way does not call for explanation at the moment, as all that relates to this item will be explained when the House is askerl to vote any appropriation entered in the liudget for the purpose. But I may state that under this head is included a sum of 845,000, representing the Bellerive pro- perty. The capital of this liability is only payable in 1892. It is not yet possible to ascertain the loss we will have to bear as regards the Exchange Bank deposit, as it will only be known when tho estate has been finally ^t^ound up. \W ...^ 21 th June, 1889, of3G2.293.33, f our bonds. 011,2.19.40 ns Jreaso is easily er and abovo ! accounts will mymonts wero tlementofthe [),233.22, and id the moneys • being repaid subsidies to by the Legi.s- to say. oven lities, as that t companies 3f these pay- provision to e companies ahead very of their land ucceed ulti- 1 granted to Lions which only figmv ction with tion at the se is askerl may state lerive pro- et possible ik deposit, The sum ofS8,95o is intended fortlic rcdomption of the amount of debentures on the Kumouraska court house, which be'\r 8 per cent, interest per annum. The credit for tho completion of the Quebec court house is the same as that voted last year to completely and finally cover all claims connected with tho construction of that building. Now, as regards tho statement of assets, I do not think it calls for any special explanations, as it does not materially difler from the one presented in the lust budget, with tho exception of the cash on hand, Avhicb shows a lower ligure. But it may be well to repeat what I said on the subject in my budget speech, last session. " However, I am of opinion that we should include among our assets tho cost of the Parliament buildings, upon the construction of which, together with the departments, the province has laid out a sum of 81,500,000 in round figures. " To my mind, this is a real asset, as it represents a building of groat value, and the same rule should eipuvlly a]i]ply to all other properties of the Govern- ment. It is only light that tho moneys expended on objects of this nature should appear as a set off against our consolidated debt. In this way our financial position would bo better appreciated at home and abroad, and would give increased confidence to investors in our securities. It Avould thus be known that, if wc* have a funded debt, we have also o show against it a large asset in the shape of properties of great value, of which no account has yet been taken." I am still of the same o])inion, but I did not wish to make the change, without first obtaining tho views of the House, which has not yet seen lit to express itself in any positive way on the subject. The House will, doubtless, remember that, according to the preamble of the Act authorizing a loan, the jloatirig debt amounted, on the 31st January, 1887, to the sum of S3,7G1,4G6.75, as far as it was p03sil)le at that daU'. to asceilain the state of the liabilities ; but since then it appears that, to the SOtli June, 1890, we have paid, in connection with these same obligations, more than was then foreseen and, on the contested debts, a sum of .S974,370.41, the details of which have been given in my explanations relative to the last fiscal year under the head of special expenditure. At least, this was what we were able to establish to the 30th June, 1890, outside of what we may be called upon to pay in the future, as we have not yet succeeded in forming a definite estimate of these contested debts. For instance, there is among these contested debts a balance of 8087,619.17, which stands against us in the accounts of the Dominion with the pro">'ince. Tims far, we have not been abh to come to an agreement with the Federal -— '^^ ! i; \ \0: 22 Government as to the mode which should be adopted for a final and satisfactory settlement of these accounts ; but it is certain that, no matter what may be the settlement effected, ever were it the most favorable, we shall remain the debtors of the Federal Government for a large amount. Xow, if these 8974,370.41 be added to the sum of 83,761,466.75, we get a total of $ 4,735,837,16 which represents the aggregate of the obligations left by our predecessors. If you deduct from this amount the proceeds of our loan of 1887.. 83,378,332 50 81,357,504 66 And if you add to this sum tlic 8158,000.00 entered in the budget of the current year to settle all claims connected with the construction of the Quebec court house 158,000 00 a figure of 81,515,504 06 is reached, and this figure represents the balance of the lloating debt that has since remained outstanding, because tlie loan wi; were authorized to negotiate was not sufficient to cover all. Instead of 83,378,332,50, we would have required 85,000,000 in round figures to meet all tlic obhgations of our predecessors, as they have been so far ascertained. For it must not be forgotten that the preamble of the bill was for a sum of 84,037,614.89, to which was to be added 8174,190.57 for the construction of a court house at jMontreal and other items. Tiie statement of the assets and liabilities indicates that the floating debt amounted to 84,000,400.46 on tlu^ 30th June, 1890. Account must be taken, in this statement, of the 32,898,247.88 applicable to raihvay subsidies as established by law, and also of the 8800,051.84 under the head of special expenditure, including the sum of 8400,000 unanimously voted by the House in settle- ments of the Jesuits' estates. Tliese two sums form together a total of 83,698,- ;i99.72, whicli represented, on the 30th June, the floating debt for which we are responsible. There is a wide ditt'orence between this figure and the one which our adversaries proclaimed in their press and on the hustings during the last electoral campaign. Some of them put it down at 85,000,000 ; others again ran it up to seven or eight millions. Judgiug from their absurd statemf i.os, there is no iloubt that most of those gentlemen were in good faith. I say in good faith, because no serious man, in a position to knowingly judge and speak on the subject, would have ventured to state that the lia])ility column being 827,157,808 31 on the oOth June, 1S89, compared M-ith the liability column, which, on the 31st January, 1887. showed 22,143,447 65 The differenre between the two columns was 8 5,014,360 56 ■■f . ' P^m it ur tfKi. ~Ik^ \ \«; mr-'m^- 23 [1 satisfactory it may bo the I the debtors 4,735,837,16 5,378,332 50 1,357,504 6G 158,000 00 ,515,504 06 bt that lias 3gotiate was ve required sors, as they le preamble 5174,190.57 oating debt e taken, in established qjenditure, in settle- 3i' S3,G98,- ich we are one which g the last again ran there is no ood faith, le subject, 57,808 31 ^3,447 65 4,360 56 Therefore, according to their contention, the flo^'^ng debt, at that date, amounted to 85,014,360,56 more than on the 3l8t January, i887, while, in point of fact, it was only $2,954,680.60. They reached this result by reckoning among the liabilities the §2,171,755.22 of the guarantee deposits from the railway com- panies, without taking into account against it the sum of $2,210,019.79 cash on liand. Now, 1 ask all who are iu good faith ami whokuuw what assets and liabilities really are, to say what opinion should be held of the man, who, with a reputation for intelligence, should dare to go before the public and proclaim that the tioatiug ihibt amounts to $5,000,000, wholly basing his calculations on the column of liabilities and neglecting to take the assets into account ? The answer at once suggests itself. It sometimes and, indeed, often happens that the attention of tin; elector and reader is caught with resounding arguments, supported with the cry of bankruptcy at our doors. But fortunately tho good sense of the electorate enablod them to exercise a proper discrimination during the last campaign, as they preferred the Government's figures to those of its adversaries. To sum up, the total amount of our obligations from the Slst January, 18S7, to the 30th June, 1890, is 83,698,299.72, i.icluding .32,898,247,88 for railway subsidies, voted without protest against our policy by our adversaries, and the §400,000 in settlement of the' Jesuits' estates, unanimously voted by the Oppo- sition, This then was, on the 30th June last, tlie real amount of the obligatiiius imputable to our policy. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES UNDEK OUR PREDECESSORS. Before p' ssing to another head of my discourse, let us turnback for a moment and sf»e what was the state of the management of tlie finances by our adversaries when they were in power, so that it may be compared with the result ut our administration from Uie 31st January, 1887, to 30th June, 1890. From 1875 to 1887, the total of the expenditure chargeable to capital account, together with the floating debt on the 31st January, 1887, and other obligations arising out of the contracts of our adversaries, amounted to 825,244,983.00, which gives an annual average of S2, 103,747.00, or, if you add to this item the contested claims of §4,534,497 as they stood ou the 31st January, 1887, the average annual capital c.\[)enditure would be S2,f 00,000. The amo\u;t of our obligations from the 3l3t'January, 1887, to the 30tii Juno, 1890, is S3,G98,299 , annual average, .•?1.05G,655. JkJL \ \e le sum to the that Govern- 3 which tlie demands of a estimates. meet all the have proven I for the pur- y companies »rith works of t upon, and to 3 question, as vice. It is >rder that we racted under be provided 575,364 27 222,097 41 .,086,131 74 ,883,593 42 62,961 00 ,946,554 42 280,000 00 ,666,554 42 end of the I For next fiscal year : Special expenditure, as entered in the budget $ 838,555 00 Kepayment of guarantee deposits 231,070 00 Eailway subsidies.... 756,000 00 Total required Sl,825.625 00 These tflro, sums form a total of $3,592,179.42, which is the amount, approxi- mately, that will have to be provided for between this and the 30th June, 1892. As I have just stated, this sum is only approximate, as it is im- possible tj foresee the exact outcome, Avhich may exceed or fall below the sums indicated. All depends more especially on the demands that will be made by the railway companies, which draw on the Treasury according to the more or less rapid progress of their works. And the same remark applies to the public works in course of execution. As for the balance of the actual obligations, it will be required at a more or less remote date. If, between this and the 30th June, 1892, we have to pay the whole or part of this amount of S3, 592, 179,42, and perhaps more, if any new appropriations are added to it, the interest service will be increased in consequence, and, as the interest at 4 per cent, on this amount represents $143,687, that service will be proportionately augmented. To meet this additional amount of interest, we must necessarily increase our sources of revenue and this we propose to do, by submitting for the approval of the House, measures which will enable us to realize the necessary receipts. As the balance of the obligations must also be liquitlated at a more or less distant date in the future, the Government must bo in a position to honor them at maturity, as it would never do, under the working of our constitution, to wait until the last moment to provide the means for the purpose. If the necessity of a loan is to be regretted, it should not be forgotten that the province is bound to do honor to its legitimately and legally contracted en- oawements. At the same time, it is well to note that this loan is required for public works, which will increase the value of property in the province, as well as the general prosperity, and constituUj permanent investments of a nature to develop the national resources and wealth. We must not delude oursel'es into the belief that it is possible to carry out great public works, to promote 'he material progress of the country, without calling upon the latter to make some sacrifices, especially if it desires the advancement of the general welfare of the province. .JM^^ ..'^smmm' LAO: 28 I ■ ' In concluding these remarks, I may be permitted to remind the House and the country that, in taking the initiative in a multitude of measures intended to improve the condition of the people of the province, the Government is only con- forming to the well expressed wishes and desires of the entire population. More- over, Mr. Speaker, we have taken neither the House, nor the country by surprise, as in all we have done both the House and the country were duly notified. Once more, too, let me repeat the remarks I have already made on several occa- sions — that the people are in favor of an energetic and a vigorous poligy, but that such a policy cannot be carried out without some sacrifices on their part. Thus, in granting new subsidies to railways, in building iron bridges, liberally subsidizing the cause of education, .relieving distress, helping agriculture and colonization, erecting new buildings, the utility of which cannot be questioned, and effecting improvements in all parts of the province, we are continuing the policy sanctioned by previous Legislatures and forced upon us by the real wants of the country. Needless to say that a policy of this kind cannot be carried out without ways and means. The country must understand, and I believe it does understand, that the improvement of its condiiion cannot be effected without costing it something. IV. Couversion. As announced in the Speech from the Throne, proposals of a confidential nature have been received for the conversion of the debt, authorized by the law of 1888, but the Government has deemed it prudent to take no fimil decision in the matter before getting the law amended, as it is incomplete in certain respects for the purpose. The House will readily understand that it would not be judicious or advis- able to make proposals of this nature public, as such publicity, if it were possible, could only injure the success of the pending negotiations on the subject. If we can effect a conversion on the desired conditions — and I have reason to hope that we will — the result will be to realize an important sr^ ving in the interest service on our debt and to proportionately lighten the budget. I may add that the proposals we have received justify the belief that an advantageous conversion in all respects is possible. The changes to be proposed in the law are intended to facilitate the success of this important operation, and I am satisfied that the amendments to be sub- mitted will meet with your approval. the House and ures intended to nent is only con- pulation. More- ntiy by surprise, re duly notified, on several occa- 5 poligy, but that eir part. Thus, in erally subsidizing and colonization, ned, and efl'ecting policy sanctioned } of the country, ivithout ways and derstand, that the it something. of a confidential zed by the law of decision in the :ain respects for icious or advis- it were possible, ubject. I have reason to ig in the interest belief that an ate the success lents to be sub- 29 V. Current Fiscal Tear. The House will understand that, at this early stage of the current fiscal year, it is very difficult to discuss at any length the probable result of its operations^ considering that all our calculations rest only on estimates. Nevertheless, it is possible to anticipate — only approximately, however — what will be the probable result, as far as the ordinary operations are concerned. The appropriation of last year for the administrative service amounted to §2,249.389 92 And adding the service of the public debt 1,176,055 32 We get a total of 83,425,645 24 Which represents the then foreseen amount of the ordinary operations. We ask, by a supplementary budget intended to meet certain oIjH- gations of the service, a sum of. 215,570 01 Making a total of $53,641,215 25 Such is our estimate for the current fiscal year, and we think that, with prudence and a wise economy, it will prove sufficient to cover the ordinary exj;enditure. On the other hand, we have reason to believe that the estimated receipts on which we depend will cover the proposed expenditure. The operations of the first four months should not be taken as a criterion by which to judge the results of the whole year ; for it should not be forgotten that the opening months of the fiscal year are generally the worst, the payments always exceeding the receipts for the same period, while the receipts being periodical do not always come in simultaneously with the disbursements. Certain sources of revenue can only be realized at certain times of the year ; for instance, those arising from Crown lands, such as ground rents, which fall due, generally speaking, only in December; and the same remark applies to the timber dues which are paid in May and June and to tbo licenses, which only come in in the spring. The service of the Education department, and that of Agriculture and Colon- ization demand large outlays at the beginning of the year, as can be seen by a glance at the expenditures for those services which figure in the statement of the receipts and expenses from the 1st July to the 1st November. This explains the difference that exists at certain tiraes of the jear between the ordinary receipts and expenses. 4|IL *.fi^«ir»!!l||Rs;- "JSpHwfmfl^ff^. i__\J' 30 The estimated lii^'urc of the expenditure, tlio sui)plementary estimates in- cluded, therefore amounts to the sura of $3,641,215.25, and, if you take into account the fact that the estimate of the receipt is placed at a very low figure, to which must bo added the iie\ urccs of revenue proposed to be created, there is no doubt, if our liopes are realized, that our receipts will be amply suflicient to cover all apparent dilference at this moment between revenue and expenditure. T venture to believe that these explanations will convince the House that my anticipations will be realized and that -we shall succeed in balancing our budget of the ordinary expenditure. nSCAL YEAR 1891-92, I estimate the receipts of this fiscal year at §3,602,835.70, of which $35,000 represent the receipts on capital account and S3,567,835.70 as ordinary revenue. Tliis estimate is based on the receipts of the last fiscal year, allowing for changes and a possible increase or decrease in certain items. Tlie following are the receipts on which I count : ESTIM.VTED RECEIPTS FOR 1891-92. Federal Subsid// : Subsidy payable under the Confederation Act..S 959,252 80 Interest on trust funds 74,622 22 Special subsidy under 47 Vic, chap. 4 , 127,460 68 Interest on railway subsidies under 47 Vic., chap. S 119,700 00 $1,281,035 70 Interest : Interest on prico of sale of Q. M. 0. & 0. rail- way.... .$ 370,000 00 Interest on loans and ueposits , 20,000 00 390,000 00 Administration of Justice : Law stamps $ 170,000 00 Fees 2,500 00 Euildingand jury fund 9,000 00 Contributions for the maintenance of vagrants inprisons 8,500 00 Gaol ijuard, Quebec and Montreal 4,000 00 ¥V aJT 31 mates in- to account , to which lere is no it to cover io that my budget of h $35,000 { revenue, jr changes 1,035 70 0,000 00 Fines 500 00 Montreal gaol, sale of broken stone 0,000 00 Montreal court house, stumps not included 2,000 00 High Constab.v. ri foes, Quebec 700 00 203,200 00 Itegistration stamps 17,000 00 Licenses 450,000 00 Crown lands , 1,050,000 00 Taxes on commercial corporations 130,000 00 Percentage on fees of certain public officers 7,000 00 Percentage on renewals of hypothecs 350 00 Legislation 3,000 00 Ofcial Gazette 25,400 00 Lunatic asylums, paying patients 300 00 Public buildings, rents, &c 650 00 Contributions to pension fund (civil service) 7,000 00 Casual revenue 2,500 00 Quebec fire loan 400 00 Refunds 10,000 00 Municipal loan fund 25,000 00 S3,602,835 70 This estimate has been prepared with the greate?t possible care and I have reason to believe that we shall realize its amount. The sums to be received from the Dominion Government call for no expla- nation. The receipts arising from the administration of justice are set down at a very moderate figure ; my estimates being rather under than over what they are likely to produce. Thus, last year, they yielded 8220,727.64, so that the estimate is not excessive. I estimate the revenue from licenses at 8450,000, which is a slightly higher figure than that of last year, but lower than they will produce on account of the changes to be made in the present duties. 1 estimate at 81,050,000 the receipts from Crown lands. This ligure is not exaggerated, especially in view of the additional revenues which we propose to collect. The revenue from the tax on commercial corporations is placed at 8130,000, Avhich corresponds Avith the amount collected during the last fiscal year. In the Comptroller's opinion, we can surely count on this sum. I have put down the receipt fiom the municipal loan fund at 825,000 ; but this item is always more or less uncertain. It often happens that we get nothing from this source, while, in some instances, our estimates are exceeded. All depends ou the nature of the settlements made. AHl I v 32 All these estimated receipts being based on an ordinary average, the figures of which are, in no case, exaggerated, 1 believe that I can rely with sufficient cer- tainty on the whole amount being realized. Certain items may, perhaps, yield a little less, but others again will produce more than the stated figures. Let us now take up the expenditure. I estimate at 85,385,476.17 the total payments, distributed as follows : — Ordinary Expenses : Interest on the public debt 81,239,556 82 Administrative service 2,319,337 97 83,558,894 79 Capital Expenditure : • Construction of public buildingr- &c 8 838,555 00 Eailway subsidies i... 756,956 25 Eepaymeut of railway guarantee deposits 231,070 14 Total. 1,826,581 39 85,385,476 18 As members have had the estimates in their hands for some days past, 1 would only take up the time of the House to no purpose in entering into the details which make up this whole. Moreover, as each item will be considered in Committee of Supply, it would be simply doing double work to enter into details at the moment. The total of the expenditure on capital account, including the re- votes, is 16"^ than that of last year. We ask $838,555.00 for public works, buildings, etc., aind 8756,956.25 for subsidies to railways. For the next fiscal year, the expenditure for public works, buildings, etc., including subsidies to railways, will amount to 81,695,511.25, which is 834,015.24 more than we have asked for the current year. This excess is only apparent, because what is not spent during this fiscal year will be required the year after, as demonstrated by the re-votes included in the budget for next year. Thus, the item for railways is placed at 8756,956.25 although it is impos- sible to state with any exactness, in advance, what will be the amounts required for the purpose. As the railway subsidies are paid in virtue of an appropriation settled by statute, the amount figuring in the budget is only put there to show as approxi- mately as possible the financial operations of the year in their entirety* T^ 83 the figures !ficient cer- ips, yield a f the total 358,894 79 826,581 39 385,476 18 tvys past, 1 us into the y, it would 'otes, is le«3 956.25 for blic works, 695,511.25, This excess be required it for next t is impos- ts required settled by IS approxi- The following statement will indicate the increases and decreases : 1891. 1892. Parliament buildings S 20,000 00 S 20,000 00 Quebec court house 3,207 00 155,800 00 Statues by Hebert 12,000 00 Laval normal school, Quebec', new building 75,000 00 Spencer Wood, construction of a green house, etc... 1,000 00 600 00 Construction of iron bridges 100,000 00 100,000 00 Court house and gaol at Aylmer 20,000 00 New vaults for court houses and gaols in rural districts 7,000 00 Night schools 40,000 00 50,000 00 Construction of a vault for the archives at Quebec, revote 10,000 00 10,000 00 Enlargement of the Montreal court house 150,000 00 100,000 00 Montreal gaol, revote 300,000 00 400,000 00 Court house and gaol, Sherbrooke 3,000 00 Heating apparatus in court houses, new districts.... 8,000 00 12,000 00 Court house and gaol, Gasp^ 2,286 00 Quebec gaol 3,890 00 Court house and gaol, Iberville 3,000 00 Stoning roads 10,000 00 10,000 00 Colonization roads 50,000 00 Montreal exhibition association 25,000 00 Court house. Hull, revote 10,000 00 10,000 00 "Edifice National," at Montreal 10,000 00 10,000 00 Kamouraska court house fund 8,955 00 McGill normal school, Montreal 60,805 00 Jacques Cartier normal school, Montreal 42,000 00 Exhibition grounds, Montreal 4,000 00 , 24,721 90 For damages caused by a hurricane in Beauharnois, Vaudreuil and Huntingdon 9,880 00 Codification of the laws 6,009 84 Balance due for costs and damages in connection with the Egan township law suit 15,000 00 To complete the Arts and Design building 5,532 00 General index 6,000 00 $1,086,131 74 8838,555 00 For 1890-91 81,086,131 74 « 1891-92 838,555 CO 6 Less » 247,576 74 j xyv J I \? n> 34 'l|^ RAILWAYS. 1891. 1892. Q. M. 0. & 0. llailway S 70,364 27 $ 6,956 25 liailwuy subsidies 500,000 00 750,000 00 Quebec bridge 5,000 00 $575,364 27 3750,956 25 Ilailways. 1892 $756,950 25 •• 1891 575,364 27 More ^181,591 98 The importance of railways is no longer open to discussion. The province of Quebec, with its wealth of minerals, forests, water powers and products of the soil, can only bo developed by furnishing easy means of communication to its inhabi- tants. If the rich valleys of tne Lake St. Jonn and Ottawa had been opened up by railways only twenty-five years ago, those vast regions would be to-day popu- lated by thousands and thousands of Canadians, who have been forced to exile themselves from their native laud in search of a livelihood. PUBLIC WORKS. The expenses which we propose to incur in connection with the construction of public buildings are of absolute necessity. The sum asked for the Parliament buildings is S20,000 to complete certain parts of the attics, necessitated by the growing requirements of the public ser- vice — more space being needed. We ask S75,000 for the erection of a new building for the Quebec normal school — the actual structure being too old and no longer in keeping with the rtnuirements of the day. The S600 asked for Spcacer Wood are to be employed to complete the improvements in course ui execution during the last two years. 8100,000 are asked for the construction of iron bridges. This policy seema to be greatly appreciated, judging from the engagements already contracted and the many demands that are being received. The appropriation of 8100,000 asked for the enlargement of the Montreal court house is required to carry out the remaining works The sum of .$10,000 appropriated last year for the construction of a vault for the archives at Quebec was not used ; but, as this vault must be constructed in the near future, we again enter it in the budget. I TTO 85 Tlio credit askocl for tho construction of a new gaol at Montreal will not bo entirely expended this year, but, as it is important that the works on this building should bo pushed forward rapidly next year, we add $100,000 to the $300,000 voted for tho current year, so that there may be no interruption to tho imder- takin ,. We ask 820,000 for the construction of a court house and gaol at Bryson, and SIO.OOO for road-stoning, as an e.cperiment. Several counties have already applied for grants for tho macadamizing of certain roads, but, before tho 30th June next, the department cannot establish the (juantity of works done and tho amount paid out of the appropriation. For a proper understanding of the value, importance and utility of the works for which wo ask appropiiations, 1 have only to refer hon. members to the report of tho Commissioner of Public Works. And, speaking of the Public Works Department, I may remark that it is a branch of the civil service which is daily increasing in importance. A glanc<- at the differei ' public enterprises successfully carried out and thoso in course it execution or in cv^ntemplation, will give an idea of the progress of tliis departmen; . A mere enumeration of these is enough to warrant my assertion : Construction < " iron bridges over the rivers in our rural districts to enable the people to act, move about and prosper; macadamizing of our country roads, so tliat at all seasons farmers may easily circulate from parish to parish ; erection of a normal school at Quebec to replace the present dilapidated old building, which is unfitted to receive the young men desirous of getting in that excellent institution tho requisite training to enable them to spread the benefits of education in our country parts ; construction of a vault to place in safety the archives of Quebec, which are so precious for our national history : construction of a new gaol to replace the pre- sent inadequate one at Montreal, the commercial metropolis of Canada and tho most populous city of the province ; completion of our Parliament buildings ; enlargement of the Montreal court house — all works which must of necessity be carried out. With respect to the subsidies to railways, it is — as I have already stated — always difficult to foresee, even approximately, what will be wanted for this branch of the service, us all depends on the vigor with which the companies will push on their works. In any case, Lowever, I believe that the sura specified will be amply sufficient to meet the demands that will come in, as the amount entered in last year's budget was not more than half expended. As regards the details of these works and other information on the head of the railway policy, I may men- tion that the Commissioner's repori. will be found to cdntain all that hon. members may desire on the subject. In the estimate of the receipts which I have )ust submitted, I have taken a very moderate average, without fully allowing for tho increase of revenue to be created, but I may atato that thoy will exceed the amount of my calculations. { \ x^'n. 36 With all due regard for the requirements of the public service, it is, never- theless, absolutely necessary to keep the expenditure within the limits of our reso ircas. I have no doubt that, by exercising the strictest supervision over the employment of the public moneys, it might be possible to more or less control its figure ; but, short of making retrenchments in the controllable services and cutting down a host of grants which are of great utility, it would be difficult, if it is desired to maintain the effectiveness of tlie different services, to put down a lower figure than the one wo ask. It should not be forgotten that the interest service, which, in 1886, amounted to 8997,760.32, has to-day attained the figure of 81,256,406.88, the difference of 8281,646.56 between these two sums representing the increase over 1886. As this is one of the services which it is impossible to control, it is useless to think of reducing its amount, except in the event of the conversion of the debt being effected on the desired conditions. In the contrary event, a gradual increase may be looked for in the interest service, as it becomes necessary to pay off our present and future liabilities. While admitting that it is growing more and more difficult to control the figure of the expenditure for certain services, still it should never be lost sight of that it is sound poUoy to not overstep our resources. At the same time, we must be prepared for the fact that, even in proceeding with all the prudence desirable and practising all the economy possible, the expenditure for certain services must attain a higher figure in keeping pace with the development of our resources and the increase of the population. By following this course, the province will increase and prosper and the revenues it will yield to the Government will be i i proportion to its prosperity and in keeping with its resources. Still, while looking forward hopefully to che future, we must be careful to not discount it too confidently and especially to not forget that every dollar we spend beyond our revenues becomes a burthen, both in capital and interest, on the Treasury. It is needless, at the moment, to dwell on the details of the differen' services which show an increase in the expenditure as compared with previous years, as the whole appropriations for those services will be fully discussed before being adopted ; it would therefore only tire honorable members to enter into these details at present. Moreover, counting upon an increase of revenue, we have deemed it oui duty to devote larger sums to the cause of education and to everything calculated to promote the best interests of the province, and 1 am sure that there is not a member in this House anxious for his country's prosperity, who will blame us for having pursued a policy in accord with the wishes and aspirations of the people- VI. General Keiuarks^ Such, Mr. Speaker, is the financial position of the province explained frankly, conscienciously, and in all its reality. I do not belong to the school, who pretend that it is good policy to attenuate the effect of figures and to conceal the true state of affairs. I trust that the Eonae and +he country will do mc at least the justice of crediting me with being sincere. Moreover, Sir, what interest have I in makij]g a statement that would give rise to some distrust in the public mind ? Convinced as I am that the best policy is to call things by their right names, it would be repugnant to my feelings to be ranked among the adepts of such a school. We have no pretension to infallibility, far from it ; buc we can at leatt concienciously claim that we have neglected nothing to render ourselves worthy of the confidence which the people have reposed in us. We have pursued a broad and liberal policy in all that relates to the develop- ment of our resources and are perfectly satisfied thf* that pohcy is in accord- ance with the wishes of a people, who ardently desire the progress and prosperity of their country. In entrusting us with the control of its destinies, the province has approved the policy we have inaugurated. But such a liberal and progressive policy cannot be caried out unless those, who benefit by it, are agreeable to shoulder their share of the burthen it entails. However wAi disposed the Government may be in favor of a policy destined to contribute to the advancement of the interests of the province, it must not lose sight of the fact that the wa} s and means must be provided to carrj' out every new scheme that is proposed. As the wants of the province are in proportion to its immense extent, it is admitted that jtrivate iu^tiative would be powerless in most cases. Its population, comparatively limited both in numbers and resource?;, consequently find themselves compelled to call on the Government for the i-^provemeats of general utility, and under the circumstances it is with jjrcat satiffa on that I can state that, notwith- standing the almost irresistible pressure brought co bear on it, the Government has nevertheless succeeded in keeping within the bounds of the possible, I do not hesitate to assert that the Government's policy has been of * fortunate character and that the few sacrifices which it now requires from the province are a mere trifle compared with the immense results which that policy has already produced. Ljt the House give us its loyil tisp" stance, and, with the distinguished leader who ST) ably and successfully Uiei,N ^ne policy of the province, we c^n look forward with confidence to the Tiiturc ! k ^ — '- — ■ M rw: FF^v 39 SPEECH DELIVERED BY HOI^. . JVEEROIBR PRIME MINISTER OF THE PROVINCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF QUEBEC ON THE nth DECEMBER, 1890 In reply to the criticism of the Budget Speech by Mr. Hall, memha for Division Xo. 5, Montreal. \ Mr. Speaker. — I must congratulate the honorable member for No. 5, Montreal, on the lengthy speech which he has just made. I congratulate him on important. The fact we have to deal with is that the total expendiLdre of 1881-82 amounted to $3,628,000, and the total expenditure of 1889-90 to $3,812,000— a difference of $200,000. Now, is there any reason to be alarmed at this ? Is there any reason to blame us for it? How i? this increase of $200,000 to be justified ? If it cannot be justified, we are guilty ; but if we can justify it, according to the admission of our opponents themselves, what is there to be said about it ? It is not sufficient to set figure against figure. It must be reasoned, accounted for, explained. Let us see if it can be justified ? Well, Sir, I have no hesitation in asserting that it is justified by the public accounts. Our adversaries blame us for an expenditure of $3,812,000 in 1889-90, while we cast up to them one of $3,628,000 in 1882. The difference, as already stated, between the two is $200,000. Now, in the first place, give us credit for the sum of $242,000 more of interest that we have had to pay on loans that had to be contracted to pay off your debts. This is not a hustings where a clever speaker can humbug his audience. We are hero 73 members, elected by the people and presumed to be intelhgent. I believe that we are incapable of allowing ourselves to be misled, even by the cleverest man, and I therefore ask how can our adversaries reasonably blame us for this $200,000 increase, which does not even represent the interest on the money we had to then \ \^'l :*«^*.i£Hl ikM iii 41 of Let it is of The first id to ot a o73 that man, ),000 ,d to borrow to pay off their own debts ? Every one knows that, in 1882, the very year that these gentlemen spent $3,600,000, they voted appropriations to railways and pledged the province to the payment of more than $100,000 of interest. Everyone knows that, before these gentlemen were turned out of office in 1886, they voted railway subsidies and that they again pledged the credit of the province to the payment of more than $100,000 of interest, making in all $200,000, without pro- viding the ways and means to pay a single cent of these railway appropriations. And then when we came to power, in order to meet the most pressing obliga- tions, we had to borrow 3^ millions of dollars, which, at 4 per cent, represents an interest of upwards of $140,000. Well, if we spent last year $200,000 more than they spent in 1882 and this increase is justified by the increase of the interest service alone, what have they to say ? Are we not obliged to pay the interest on the money borrowed to settle their debts ? Where was my friend from No. 5, Montreal, at that time ? He was in public life as he is to-day. He was supporting the gentlemen whom he still supports. Did he utter a word against Mr. Chapleau ? Did he criticize the expenditure ? Did he approve the exorbitant expenses ? Yes, he did, and yet his friends in that very year, 1882, spent $3,628,000, though the expenses they had to bear w^re much less than those we have to support at present. But to-day he is severe upon us, because we spent $200,000 more than was then spent, though this increase can be justified as I have just justified it. More than that, the very men, who are reproaching us to-day with the increase of the expenditure, are the same who in 1888 allowed the railway resolutions to pass unanimously or at least without recording their votes against them. And why ? Because they had themselves applied for and obtained subsidies for certain railways in which their friends were interested ? In other words, they had an interest in keeping silent and those who were not interested did likewise. And it is, after this generosity on our part, after risking our popularity to build railways controlled by our adversaries and at their demand, that we are blamed by them for these very expenses. Mr. Speaker, I had fancied that gratitude might be found among public, as among other men. If so, how comes it that those, who went down on their very knees to us at that time to ask for subsidies, are now the first to criticize and sling mud at us ? Among these extraordinary expeases for which we are to-day blamed and which have helped to swell the total, there are some in which these genUemeu concurred and, if this system of slander is persevered in, I may be driven to diadose the famous " Bound Bobin " signed by the gentlemen on the other side to 6 II ii 42 \ \S get an increase of indemnity and then I hope that we shall see the end of their outcry about the increased expenditure for legislation. I remember that I was at the time at the end of this very table, in this very seat, surrounded by our adversaries, who wanted absolutely to have $1000 inserted instead of $600, which was the amount of the indemnity at that date. I very well recall my answer ; I told them : You will not get $1000 ; but I will perhaps try to give you $800 ; whereupon one of those very gentlemen whom I see at this moment and who was one of the speakers on the other side the loudest on the hustiags and elsewhere in his thuuderings against our increase of the members' indemnity, said : Keep your $800 , we don't want it ; we want $1000. But he changed his mind for all that and took the $800. This item alone of $200 on 87 members — for we are 87 including the legis- lative councillors — makes an increase of $17,400. Our friends are ever ready to approve the '^.olails of the increase, but they refuse to accept the amount as a whole, that is to say, that they have no objection to squeeze out of the public chest what is agr9( '.bie to them, but they do not want to have it added up in favor of the Goverument. They are strong on subtractions, but they do not want to hear of additions. My honorable friend has referred to the item of legislation. I will not go into all the details, as to do so would be too fastidious, too tiresom.e. But my honorable friend has said : Legislation has cost this year $312,000, while in 1886 it only cost $181,944. In the lirst place, the eleption expenses, must be struck out for the elections of 1886 are only charged in the fiscal year 1886-87. Conse- quently, we see an immediate rise in this item for the next year to $278,000, that is to say, that we had elections between the 1st July, 1886 and the 30th June, 1887. Our expenses were increased by nearly $100,000. Is it fair to take as a point of comparison the year 1885-86, when there were no elections, with the year 1890, when there were ? But, if you wish to make a comparison, take the same item for 1881-82 and contrast it with that of 1890 ; there was a general election in 1882 and you will see that the difference is not great. The difference is not much if you strike off the $17,400 increase of the members' indemnity ; there is scarcely any difference in fact. Make another comparison ! Compare last year with the year 1886-87, for the legislation of which we are not responsible. You have $278,000 as against $312,000. If you deduct the $17,400 increase of the members' indemnity, you have hardly any difference and you have eight additional counties more than in 1882 to increase the election expenses. The whole of the election expenses amount to to the sum of $43,000, so that you can see by these details that my these ; < • i.a^^- "i-iflfS." idlL 43 1 Ifor Inat [on in 1363 honorable friend from No. 5, Montreal, has been unjust, no doubt unwillingly, for he is certainly one of those who usually treat questions in a fair, equitable and reasonable manner ; but I believe that in this instance ho has not been fair. One more detail and I shall have done with this part of my remarks. In the ordinary expenditure I believe it is usual, Mr. Speaker, to include the charitie*. Nobody, I think, will deny this fact. But I would like to know what is the differ- ence between the charities we give and those given by our hon. friends opposite ? During their fit of economy, they began by retrenching 10 per cent, every year from the appropriations for charities. Let us not indulge in sentiment, but deal rather with the practical side of the question ; take 10 per cent, annually from a grant, and, if I calculate rightly, at the end of 10 years the entire grant will have been eaten up ! When we came into power, we stopped this reduction ; we not only did that, but we went further, and increased a host of thebO grants ; we even gave new ones, and will my hon. friend deny that he was one of those who helped to have these new charities granted ? Is he not one of those who asked to have the gi'ants to certain charitable institutions in the province of Quebec increased ? Why did he ask this ? Because, in his heart and soul, he believed it to be neces- sary. Well, if it ..as necessary in hig case, why was it not equally necessary ia the case of one of my friends ? If it wab necessary for two members of the Legis- lature interested in two benevolent institutions of the province, was it not neces- sary for the sixty-five members ? If it was necessary for the sixty-five rzembers, might it not be necessary for the bishops of the province ; might it not be ne:^8- sary for the priests, for the nuns, who devote themselves throughout their whole lives for the cause of humanity with such an admirable spirit of sacrifice ? All the applications, or at least a great number of the applications made for these grants, were supported by the gentlemen opposite. Now, we are blamed for these charities. Is this just or fair ? And when charity is asked and an increase of the grants to benevolent institutions has been obtained from the Government, is it justifiable to reproach us with the total of these credits after they have been increased ? Take all the services — they are in the same position ! Did we not properly and fairly treat our adversaries who asked us to build railways or execute colonization works ? Did not our adverse, lea contribute as we did to the incurring of the expenditure for them ? Undoubtedly, and yet these are made a subject of reproach to us. Mr. Speaker, this is not fair. And when my honorable friend from No, 5 Montreal reflects a little over what he has done to night, he will be compelled to admit that he has not been fair to his constituents, that ho has not been fair to the Government. No more to him than to any otaer representative of the minority, pa ilL 44 i Ati' have we ever refused the grants they have deemed it right to ask. Whenever he has asked for anything for Protestant educational institutions, it has been granted to him. When he asked us to increase the grant to the Protestant hospital of Montreal and to place it on the same footing as the Catholic hospital of Montreal, we consented to do so. When he applied for certain grants for charitable institu- tions dear to Protestants, we met his views. When we were asked for grants for the Jewish institutions of Montreal, we also gave them, because we believed it to be our duty to protect that minority as well as any other. When we were asked here at Quebec and in Montreal, on behalf of the minority, to have special credits voted for the protection of English and Protestant women, we did not hesitate, because we believed that it was necessary to assist the institutions for the purpose. We said : you, the ladies of Quebec, and you, the ladies of Montreal, who pick up and look after these poor women, who dd riot speak the language of the majority, or profess their religion, who are exposed to danger, who have not the requisite protection in a strange country, we will help you, because you state that you have not the necessary means to meet all your expenses. We will extend to you the same protection that we give to all, because we are in favor of justice to all (Applause). Need I go further ? Not more than fifteen days ago, the very man, who is criticized so severely, my friend, the Treasurer, asked us for an appropriation for Sherbrooke in favor of a Protestant library and a Protestant institution which had never received a grant from any of the preceding Governments. We gave it. But do you think that by granting credits to all applicants, whenever we find them necessary, we will not increase our expenses ? Do you think that if we wished to be niggardly, to only grant favors to our friends and to always refuse them to our opponents, we would not show more satisfactory budgets ? This, however, is not our policy, because it is not a just or a fair one, and because we do not want to be niggardly at the expense of the province for the benefit of our party. But let us leave the details ; I might pass the night in giving all these details and the result would be disastrous for our adversaries, because I maintain that, comparatively speaking, they have drawn more heavily upon the Treasury than our friends have drawn. If you take the amount granted to railways since our advent to power, you will see that our adversaries exceeded us by over 75 per cent. One instance is enough for me to cite — that of the Bay des Chaleurs railway. This company was controlled by Mr, Eiopel, the Conservative Federal member, and Mr, Eobitaille, all ex Lieutenont-Govemor of the province of Quebec, two men who did us, per- sonally and politically, the greatest injury that could be done, and one of whom, ■ \ U:':. ,di_Jfe. 45 as lieutenant-governor, was not satisfied to reign, but wanted to govern. I have a perfect right to say this, for it is a matter of history. He is no longer governor ; he has become again a politician and a railway speculator. And what did he do with the money he came and begged here, stating that it was to be employed for the construction of the railway ? What did he do with it ? He put it in his pocket. (Laughter). Ask the poor workmen who toiled for months and months, in rain and cold, suffering every possible hardship to earn a dollar a day ; if we had not stepped irii they would still be unpaid ? Ask the farmers whose lands were stolen ; if we had not intervened, those lands would be still unpaid for ? Ask the storekeepers, who furnished the provisions and everything else necessary to feed and maintain that army of workingmen — had it not been for us they would never have been paid, and yet we are reproached because, in granting this extra subsidy, we neces- sarily increased the interest service — an unavoidable consequence, for capital expenditure means increased interest to pay ? Do you want me to name to you the other companies controlled by Conservatives which came to us on their knees begging for subsidies, and consequently seeking to increase the debt and the interest service ? It is needless, as they are well known. We are now at the 9th December, 1890. We had the general elections on the 17th June last. Now, all these expenses, for which we are blamed to-day, were in the budget and the public accounts before the elections. They were approved and voted by the majority and, in some instances, by the unanimity of the old House. We went before the people with this record, which our adversaries style a record of extravagance. No stone was left unturned to get the people to con- demn us, and, when we were on the point of starting for the elections, one of the most eloquent of our opponents, who is no longer here, said to us : " We shall go before the people and you will be swept out by the public indignation." Well, we went before the people, our majority of 17 was increased to 25 or 26, and the Government, M'hich was represented as tlie most extravagant ever infficted in the province of Quebec, came back stronger than ever. And why ? Because we were frank, open and aboveboard with the people. Before leaving, we stated boldly what we proposed to do, and the people preferred this almost brutal frankness to the captious, I will not go so far as to say, hypocritical, for the word would not be Parliamentary, but I may say the hidden and secretive policy of our adver- saries. Consequently, when the people, who are the judges and know how to handle the scales, saw the two parties before thera, they said : " We prefer the one who Weighs most even if it spends more than the other which is lighter and which is not frank," and so we came back stronger than before. ,-\.\_UJ.' 46 Mr. Speaker, I remember the scenes which occurred on the hustings and ali my friends will remember them ; you too, sir, will remember the charges which were hurled against us, when we were struggling for the triumph of our cause. It was not enough to tax us with extravagance, with leading the province head- long to ruin, but our adversaries even went so far on the hustings — and I might name the very members now here present who had the audacity to do so— as to assert that we were enriching ourselves at the public expense, that from poverty we had suddenly sprung into wealth, that we were living in a sumptuous style unheard of before in the province, and it was insinuated that, if the expenditure was increasing, it was because we were pocketing the money. It was even said that we were building houses, castles, in fact, that were costing millions, that wo were rolling in our carriages and pairs and, in fine, that we were in every respect guilty of such shocking extravagance that honest folks in both parties should join and make un effort to get rid of us, the whole winding up with the question : Where will this system land the province ? But this is not said here. In good company such nonsense is not spoken. But before the people, the good people, who are so honest, but so easily deceived sometimes, no such precaution is taken and the most stupid nonsense is often uttered in the hope of duping some, at all events. But let us leave this aside. It is useless to begin over again. The judgment has been rendered. Our friends opposite had the fullest opportunity to plead their case, and they used it. The trial is over and there is not one of the charges that has been repeated against us since this morning that has not been passed upon and dismissed by the electors. Have our adversaries been sent here to reverse the decision of the electoral body ? I have no doubt that it would give them the greatest pleasure to do so, considerating that it was so unfavorable to them. But to succeed in this, Mr, Speaker, they must regard this House as a court of appeal. Well, that court of appeal has been constituted precisely for the purpose of carrying out the decision of the electoral body. Do you think we are going to agree to this demand ? Do our adversaries imagine that we are going to pro- nounce the people wrong in condemning them ? It has always been our conviction that they should have been condemned long before and, that if they were not so, it was due to the fact that they knew how to manage things more artfully than others at the time. But I am sorry to say that they are now condemned to remain in the flames of purgatory for five years. Masses may be said to lessen their torments, but, when they get out, they will owe their liberation to prayer but not to their good deeds. Well, if the vetdict has been rendered, why begin over again. Mr. Speaker, I have one piece of advice to give to my friends. They are not obliged to follow it ; but I beg of them not to fatigue themselves too much. Let the gentlemeu Mt" 9h \ t a n P SI s d( si n< at in 47 I ' - I opposite continue to argue the case they have been arguing, since 1887, on the hustings and in this House. They have been tried, judged and found wanting. Let them begin over again, if they please. Wa will listen to them with respect for they deserve respect, but, I shall not add, with interest, for it io ...ways the same old story over again with them. We can, for politeness sake, pretend to be serious ; but I do not think anything they can say is likely to alter votes here nor do I believe that it will cliange any in the province of Quebec. In any case it is always th3 same old story over again, in the same old tone, the only variation being its occasional eloquent repetition, now in English and now in French. I do not intend to tax the patience of the House any longer. But I may say that we have the people with us ; that the people have approved our expenses, and that it approves our policy. We must push on that policy. In a few days, we shall bring down the railway resolutions. Eailways, still controlled by our adversaries, will be subsidized and subsidies have been asked from us by gentlemen on the other side. If .they must criticize our railway policy, they have a duty to perform, which is to begin by moving that the subsidies they have themselves solicited be struck out, and, when those items have been so struck out, you can be sure of one thing — that the majority of the House will not find the balance too high. I hope that I have neither been too long, nor too violent. At all events, my desire was to be as brief and as courteous as possible, but, whether I have succeeded or not, I cannot say. I am certain, however, of one thing — that, if I have not succeeded, I have not been more unfortunate than my adversaries in their attempts to criticize my honorable friend, the Treasurer's, budget, attempts that are invariably failures notwithstanding all their ability and exertion (Applause). KtVr i * * • ■ * • » • • *