Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 1, 1878, Winnipeg, Manitoba T i u .1, v Manitoba legislature. The budget. Viox. Or. In rising to move the House into committee of Supply from the statements already submitted to the Blouse by the government i think Hon. Gentlemen will agree with me that it is a matter of congratulation that the pub Lic expenditure has been kept within the income during the past year. The receipts during that period amounted to while the expenditure was show ing an excess of in the income. This is a fact which must afford satisfaction not Only to the Large majority of those in this House but of those outside it also and tins i am Happy to add is not an Iso lated specimen of Economy in the conduct or Public of heirs during this administration. For the Hist three years and a half the finances of the country have been so care fully handled that notwithstanding the heavy burdens which the government had to Bear at Tho outset on an income much less than at present they have been enabled so to husband their resources As to place the province in a position which allowed minis tors to Oiler largely increased appropriations for school purposes the maintenance of roads and Bridges the administration of a stick. And a slight increase for hos Pital purposes. Some Hon. Members opposite would no doubt charge the government with enlarging the Opportunity for corruption by Liis increase of the estimates and they will Tell us As usual that we Are throw ing the Money away. But i feel sure it will dish a tilt with any such reasoning As this to convince the majority of the House and it will be still More difficult to convince the country which needs to Ese increased appropriations and which now gets them with it running into debt hear hear last year it will be remembered Wiir estimate was for this year to ask for 400. Or an increase of and i hold that the government Are perfectly justified in Blois increase of the estimates. I am not a believer in the policy of plunging the country into debt and i never was a to amt Cor in that policy. But on Tho other hand Havine a handsome surplus on hand i feel the Wisdom of the policy of expending much of it in advancing Progress in this new country and this it will be seen is Tho plan Tho government has pursued. During the past year we have had to expend some Money for which we had no direct vote a practice which Hon. Members will Bear me out in saying we have never Fol Lowed unless demanded by the Public in Terest. Our expenditure in this Way is a result of the Small pox visitation and was made in the locality of Netley Creek arid Tho Northern part of the province. Tho amount was. I believe Well expanded and i have yet to learn that either the House or the country will express any disapproval of this action. Though having no direct vote for the purpose the govern ment Felt it imperative on them to assist tiie settlers in the locality i have alluded to and by doing so they wore in fact Bone lit tin the entire province. The govern ment a Oxild in fact have no hesitation As to to Iii action in the premises for Tho most prompt and thorough measures were Neces Sarv to Check at the outset a Fea Ltd disease which threatened to ravage the province from one end to the other. In the Esti mates it will be seen we ask the House to place at the disposal of the government an amount of for the purpose of settling overal claims Firisin out of this Small pox visitation which remain unpaid. As to Why settlement had not Beon made before this i May explain that a Large amount of Money been expended in that Section by the Keewatin and Manitoba governments j and the arrangements led to the accounts becoming so badly com that it was impossible for the government to ascertain definitely their share of the expense. Consequently and until a proper understanding had been arrived at both governments refused to pay these accounts and it was not until the arrival Here of or Mills last fall that an adjust ment could be effected. Then an under was entered into whereby on a certain basis these accounts could be apportioned. Before he left it was resolved to appoint a commission to investigate these and apportion to each government the amount they were entitled to pay. With in a few clays Back the work of the commis Sion had been not until then Wim a we in a position to close up this mat Ter before going farther i must no hide to a charge lately preferred against the government by the member for High Bluff who made to do duty once again that old opposition Pablo about the appropriation for courthouses and registry offices. I of accused the government of getting this amount for the purposes named and then Tho follow ins session asking permission to place it in the consolidated fund and that lion member was right enough if he had stopped there. But that would not suit his purpose and so he went on and charged that the government had clone what was improper in the premises. Now on two former occasions i explained this matter so fully that it seemed Tome almost impossible to misconstrue Tho action of the go1 eminent. And How after that any Hon. Mem Ber could cot up and charge the govern ment with using this amount to meet run Ning am at a loss to comprehend. Let me again explain to the House that this amount was to pay running to Settle an relic of the late had to be. Met. I will show this House sat that what i now state is Correct the opposition May doubt our figures i ,1111 Happy to be Able to place before them of Fin authority they must the auditor general of the Dominion. State ments from that source cannot be Ipie toned for a moment. In laying those before Tho House 1 will for the Snake of at the beginning and not merely furnish a few isolated figures. In the Fust place then according to the statement i hold in my a statement verified by the signature and Seal of the consolidated fund amounted to and an additional amount of being allowed made a total of this is the sum we had to shirt with. Coming now to the defeat of the Lato admin traction in 1874, the state Nie it which Sims up to june shows the Rte Pittil to be which being de hinted from the amount with which the Lvuv Ner lir St started shows them to have in Jun from capital account. I have Here a further statement from the bringing the account up to a Jinnav 1st, few Days ago Lio Wini that w have to our credit on Capi Tal this sum if deducted from the with which this and started out shows us to five since ist4 the sum of this statement of the auditor general our own provincial statements As shown in Tho Public accounts will be found to agree to a cent now 1 propose to show the of Mise what we have done with this or which we have to account. Thi. Which was incurred to pay out standing debts we also took out of our re venue to supplement the amount drawn from the Dominion to liquidate these outstanding debts. The situation in which we now find ourselves is that to have in hand less an amount of due for educational purposes for marriage License fees and for Law fees. If to this we add the on Small pox account which the House is asked to vote we make the amount to be deducted from what we have in hand for All the outstanding accounts of Tho ment. By this it appears thai the to Tal saved out of our Revenue has been i now propose to leave the estimates for a moment to refer to made against Tho government time and again on the floor of this and made too in language at once violent and insulting. It was stated that this government had made certain pledges which Thoy had not carried we had adopted principles which we violated. These Are charges which i propose to showing plainly How far our promises have kept Pace with the performance. I will take up these promises seriatim and make it Plain to Hon. Members How far our pledges have been kept. If to Havo fulfilled All that we promised then to must not be slam dered. And those who have been manufacturing untruths will be held responsible by the country. If we Havo broken our pledges then the responsibility will be ours. At the outset of its career this government said to Tho country through my self and i quote from my address to the electors of Winnipeg in december i was pledged to dispose and defeat if possible Tho then Clarke administration. The govern ment have determined should they to Hii Stii Ned by tie people to con no tiie expenditures As nearly As possible within Tho income of pro Vince to practise Tho closest Economy consistent with tills end scr Trici in Trio ministry to Throe to obtain the Dominion a Ovorn Mont r sufi Clenty increased subsidy to enable Tho govern rent of Manitoba to ingot the demands upon Tho revenues resulting irom a rap kill growing population to secure the introduction of an effective inuit Copal system mid in connection therewith aiding the municipalities in Tho maintenance of roads und Bridges to abolish the upper House to reduce if possible the indemnity to members to Amend the schoo Laws in essential and important particulars to reduce Tho expenditure in connection with the administration of Justice to the greatest sex to it possible. Tho Large amounts of Money that Havo been squandered uselessly in Hie incl minis an Ion of Justice during tie past four years i l not be repeated a it is my to reduce Tuc expenses of the department Aud employ Crown counsel under a Taitl of fees reasonable but at the sumo time economical. The government have also determined to promote a act Oal and progressive legislation on All subjects affect ing the interests of the province is a. Should i be so fortunate As to secure a renewal of your Coald Finice by being returned As your representative in the second parliament of Manitoba 1 pledge myself to use eve a legitimate Effort to secure to the City of Winnipeg Tho full bin Nellt of the Canadian Pacific a Allway by procuring the passage of that line through or near the ally. I also pledge myself and the influence of my gov to urge upon the Dominion government the speedy settlement of the much vexed land. Now let us Soe How far those promises have been fulfilled. In the first place 1 promised if possible to defeat the Clarke administration. Well it is matter of his tory that that government was Defeated and that in the following administration i held office As provincial treasurer. Tho second Promise i made was that i would keep the expenditure within the Revenue and that the Promise has Beon kept is abundantly testified by the Public accounts backed by the auditor general. The prac Tice of the closest Economy consistent with efficiency was promised in the third place. Hero again the Public accounts and the balance shown to be in hand Bear witness in our favor. What could Havo Boon done in Tho Way of Economy has been i must confess with to Felt the possibility of accomplishing much More in the Public interest were our Revenue not so contracted. The reduction of the ministry to three constituted the fourth Plank in our platform. Tho member for Kildonan with his usual recklessness of assertion stated Tho other Day that j had promised to reduce the ministry to two and accused me of trickery in Tho premises. Now or. Speaker the fact is that no such pledge Ever was Given by myself or anyone else authored to do so and Tho govern ment never was reduced to less than three. But there was a departure from the policy then announced which was brought about in one of those political crises experienced in All countries. The time seemed oppo tune for such n. Union of the English speaking representatives As must Conduce to the general welfare and in furtherance of such a Union it was proposed that Tho Leader of the opposition should enter the Cabi net hear none wore better acquainted with this change and All the Rea sons which led up to it and brought it about that the Hon. Members for Kildonan and Poplar Point. Or. Never knew it. Jinx. My. The Hon. Member did not know it he might very easily have made himself acquainted with the facts. He had Only to look at the report of the discussion which took place at the time on the floor of the House. Well the change was made owing in no Small degree to the influence of Hon. Members opposite. I believed and Hon. Gentlemen generally believed that change to be one in the interest of the English speaking representatives and had the anticipated Union followed be Otid doubt the change would Havo been deemed one pre eminently for the Public Good and Well Worth the Small additional charge entailed. By the fifth Promise we pledged ourselves to procure if possible an increase of the provincial subsidy. To succeeded in this matter also although Hon. Gentlemen opposite had not Given us credit on that score. _ or. Did not get As much As you should. Hon. My. We got As much As we could. Had it not been for the special efforts then made by the govern ment it is Well known we would have been left where we were. And that a still larger subsidy was not at that time procured was let me add largely due to the Manciu res of the member for Poplar Point and a few others who used every artifice to defeat the government s movements by sending Tele Grams to Ottawa insulting articles in the papers and circulating falsehoods by every Means in their going so far As to accuse me of having run away from Mani Toba with we succeeded however despite All their machinations and Fortu Nate it was for the country that our Mission prevailed. Had it not the inevitable result would have been a still further curtailing of the Small appropriations for roads schools with in the end a resort to direct taxation. That desperate state of affairs was happily averted in consequence of our efforts Large outstanding debts were paid and Saul Lucient sum was secured to enable us to carry on the government economical y. W e i have More than once had occasion to been much bet Tei pleased could we have met the Public requirements of the Western and other districts of the province More fully. But it is apparent that with our limited Means More could not have been accomplished. Sixth in i Ivas if possible 18 reduce the indemnity to members. Xot being at that time i thoroughly conversant with the tactics of the opposition As i am new to Public knew nothing i of the bother and trouble political men have both in and out of the House. Since i have known my views have changed somewhat and i feel that representatives on the floor of this House were quite right when they decided not to reduce the indemnity. Very Many indeed held strongly that this ses signal allowance should be increased rather than decreased. It would be observed that in this matter the pledge was made conditional. If it were possible the reduction was to be effected but it was Only possible by consent of the which has never been Given. An effective Bill for municipal purposes was the seventh Plank and the statute Book will speak As to How that pledge has been redeemed. We have Here now provisions for municipal purposes As effective As they Are in Ontario or elsewhere. All that was necessary was to accept the machinery provided under the Bill. But these provisions the House had not thought it Wise to Force on those who were not willing to receive them feeling that under a compulsory Law the Good would not result which might otherwise be expect the eighth Promise had reference to the abolition of the upper House and beyond All question that had been accomplished a though not without a struggle. I hold that our action in that matter has been Well received in Tho the Wisdom of that abolition will become More and More apparent As Tho years Roll on. An upper chamber in a Young province like ours was unnecessary nay More an absolute incur Brance. So far from proving a wholesome Check on this House and aiding in the pro motion of Good legislation that upper chamber had worked in a direction Alto Gether Adverse to the enactment of sound Law and had proved itself thoroughly obstructive and this sort of thing be it remembered would have lasted for All time had it not been nipped in the Bud. My ninth pledge was to reduce Tho expenses in connection with the administration of jus Tice and to arrange for the employment of Crown counsel under a Tariff of fees. That intention has been carried out and i have every reason to believe that the country will feel satisfied with the Way in which the work has Boon done. However whether this satisfaction exists or not the govern ment can Lay claim to have carried out their Promise. Tho tenth object to which the government had to devote itself was the promotion of sound practical progressive legislation. I ask has not this been accomplished can any one look Over our Book for the last four years without being convinced that our legislation is progressive hear there certainly Are defects. But what legislation is with out them imperfection Marks everything on Earth and what we contend for that we have surpassed All other legislation and produced something absolutely perfect but that we have done our utmost to enact Only such Laws As wore for the Benefit of All. Our statutes show i think that we Ai e fully up to the Mark in providing the necessary machinery governing Thia rapidly extending country cheers com pared with Tho legislation in Ontario or else whore in Tho Dominion ours will show very favourably it is not in All respects so advanced As so advanced As we could desire but it must not to forgotten that they Are an older people and that we cannot expect to reach at a bound their attainments. In regard to the Canada Pacific railway Tho government promised to use their Best efforts to have Tho line of route changed making Tho crossing at Winnipeg and in this respect also the government had fulfilled its engagement. We did every thing possible to induce Tho Dominion government to change to Weir determination placing before them Tho great advantages of Tho Winnipeg and Southern route but no representations could Avail. In the twelfth once last place Tho Promise was Given that the government would do what they could to bring about a settlement of the vexed land question and if Tho administration have not been wholly instrumental in doing this we Havo at least assisted in bringing the question up and de manding that something should to done to Settle this much vexed Long pending ques Tion hear hear and now or. Speaker Al think i have gone Over All the ground have brought under the notice of the Hon members Tho promises made by us at the outset and shown that in every Case except too our pledges have been redeemed in their entirety. And of these two one was a qualified Promise and Tho having relation to taking another member into the Cabinet was something Tho Neces sity for which could not then have been which had since met with general approval and something which under Tho circumstances to were fully justified in doing. Having made these explanations Tho injustice of the opposition taunts As to our deceiving the people breaking our pledges etc., will be at once apparent. In this respect indeed Hon. Members opposite Havo gone altogether further than was necessary. Even if they Are in opposition a certain degree of Danclor is expected of them credit ought not to be withheld from the govern Imant when it is due hear hear and when these Hon. Members go to the country i presume we will All go before Long they will learn that the people of Manitoba fair play and Are not willing that their representatives should to insincere and fac every obstacle in the Way of the government instead of helping Thorn to Advance the Public interests hear although Hon. Members were in opposition they must not suppose themselves at Liberty to do and undo just As they please. It was quite is necessary that members in the opposition ranks should be actuated by Prin Ciple As it was for the government just As necessary for the former to be candid and honorable on the floor of the House As for the latter now or. Speaker i would like to revert to the estimates concerning which i desire to offer a few explanations. Some questions were lately asked and some remarks made As to the amount of Money this House has voted the govern ment since july 1st, 1874. Or. Hear Viox. Or. And if the Hon. Member for Ste. Agathe will pay close Atten Tion to me and take Down a few of my figures. I fancy he will hear to some advantage As Hon. Members Are aware a change of the statute caused one year to Lap Over another for six months j and of these i would speak. During the year from 1st july 1875, and ending 30th june 1876, you will find that the amount voted was this was for the years that Lap Over. For the year ending 30th june 1877, were voted. From this you want of course to deduct one half on account of the change in the fiscal year which change had been made on january 1st. Hence we have for the six months in question and a total vote for the eighteen months of out of that vote lot us see what amount the govern ment expended. From july its 1875, to december 31st, 1876, As shown by the Public accounts the expenditure was that is the outlay for eighteen months you must recollect. During that period the Supply vote reached is i have shown there fore the government expenditure in excess of the the whole period Only the receipts were a surplus of during the eighteen months expenditure for the same time. These figures will i Hope make the position sufficiently Clear to Hon. Mem Bers. Although we had a vote of Over our actual expenditure yet at the end of that six months these estimates lapsed and As provided by the act went into the consolidated Revenue fund. All we ask is that these accounts should be looked into carefully and fairly and they will make the provincial Revenue and expenditure Clear to anyone comprehending statistics. These statements let me repeat have the most positive and Complete endorsement of the auditor general for the Dominion for they do not vary one cent from the figures Given by him. And now or. Speaker i will close hoping that Tho explanations i have Given will make it apparent to every Hon. Mem Ber that our position financially has been much improved and that a careful and Cor rect account has been kept of All the receipts and disbursements Over which we have had control. At a future stage of the debate i May have something More to Bay if further explanations Are needed or. Martin Rose to speak but owing to Tho fact that Hia arguments wore not Well formulated it was next to impossible for our reporter to follow him a Well As he should have done. After referring to the auditor general s statement he said he was ready to prove that there was a deficiency in the Public accounts of 1874-5 of Here the speaker s remarks were so unintelligible to the reporter that he was unable to gather the remotest idea of where the discrepancy existed the Premier had said he had obtained an increase in the subsidy of but he it under a condition alike discreditable to him self and to those who imposed it. Tho condition was that the upper House should be abolished. It is True that this Promise had fulfilled. The Bill passed this House but in order to get it through another place one of the members of that House was promised a seat in the government and another was made sheriff. He could prove that the government had lost on a Man named Thomas to whom they had Given permission to sell Stamps. They had taken a Bond ostensibly for their Protection but it was not Worth a cent. There was another Point to which he would refer. Section 3. Chap. 9, 35 vic., provides that l no person holding any office commission or employment to which an annual salary from the Crown is attached shall to eligible As a member of the legislative Assembly or sit or vote therein during the time to holds auth but we boo the Hon. Attorney general drawing a salary of a year As Law clerk. He considered it a Gross out rage upon Tho House. But this was not the Only Case of the kind. Until recently the speaker had drawn a salary As superintend ent of schools. Another thing he had to bring against the government was that there was an item in the Public accounts for which no voucher had Beed produced. This was an item of for refreshments to members at the last session. To declared that he had not used any of these refresh intents himself. To did not think it was right for the poor Farmer to pay for Tho Champagne drunk by the members of the government. It being six o clock Tho speaker left the chair and Tho House took recess until half past seven or. Martin still having the floor. Kahn in o ski six. Or. Martin charge against Tho government was also founded on an item in the Public accounts. By them it appeared that chief Constable Power had Beon sent to Keewatin on Busi Ness for the Ontario government and had been paid out of provincial funds. He could not see that this province should be called upon to pay the expenses of men upon duty for other provinces. He would also refer to the ballot if the government had had any Pride or principle they would have been Defeated but whenever they see the opposition getting an advantage they immediately absorb the opposition principles. Although it had been said to would not be re elected in St. Agatha he would Challenge any government supporter to run against him there and More he would Challenge Tho member for Lockwood to run against him even in that constituency. Whenever a vote was taken in the House lie was reminded of a flock of sheep for whenever the govern ment stood up to vote nil the members on the opposite Side and a Fow on this followed blindly. One of the items to which he took exception was the item Tho speaker besides this to had an office rent which was Worth and his indemnity making in All for two months work which was extraordinarily Good pay. The speaker ought certainly in this country to be satisfied with then be willing to pay for the Champagne. Again refer ring to the deficiency he would say three different supporters of the government had admitted that there was a deficit. Cries of name name the member for St. Vital had mentioned that there was a deficiency in the accounts. The member for St. Boniface had told him he had been informed that there was a deficit. The minister of Public works had come voluntarily and said i know what you Are aiming at i used to pull the cords of the opposition he would speak of Tho salary of the chief Constable who Only got if there was a Man who deserved a High salary it was that official As his duties were dangerous As Well As onerous being liable to be called upon to expose his life at any time. In the accounts was an item subscription to la juin Croc this was without doubt for Tho Benefit of the attorney general who had formerly been connected with that paper. Then we find Leon Chenier witness assisting Survey at baie St. Paul Leon Chenier work on Road Leon Chenier expenses to Lake Manitoba. This looked like Friendship to supporters of the government. He consid ered Tho payment of for the parliamentary companion to have been a piece of extravagant expenditure. He would again return to deficiency in the Public accounts. The accounts passed through the commit Mittee in 1876 while he was away and there was no opposition. Or. Lemay said the Hon. Member for sle. Agathe reminded him of the old when a Man told a Story the first time he knew it was not True the second time he began to believe it was True and the third time he would swear it was True. The Hon. Member had spoken to him yesterday even said he was going to make the government dance to Morrow. Lie the speaker asked him if he referred to the deficiency in the Public accounts. Lie Martin said who told you so to which he the speaker explained that he had heard that he Martin had discovered a deficiency. Viox. My. Davis Rose to reply to the accusation against the government with refer ence to the alleged loss on Stamps. A Man named Thomas had asked and obtained per Mission to sell Stamps whereupon he asked for them on credit. This was peremptorily refused. He then offered to give Bonds and this was agreed to on condition that Tho Bondsmen were Good. He succeeded in obtaining the Hon. A. A b. Bannatyne As a Bondsman and on a Bond for got an and Vance of the Bond is perfectly Good and the Hon. Member could not prove that Tho facts were different to those stated. To be continued properly. The Sonson Luu fairly opened you Purchase of lie Finol Quality and Ulo Vest possible prices at Tho following specialities have arrived per express dancing dancing ladles Jolly slippers. A ions Patent coloured Hoitin of celebrated of boots. Kangaroo kid Allock. Allock. Ladles leather hoots. Laced hoots Centen Nial took. Cloth laced or Button r i i m ladles kid buttoned boots. Snow Ucol sting Over Leallie cloth or Pru Nella boots Sli Ousbor sign Errn. Initial lit i slippers Cirii skating. Sleich inc Kelt Hiis Sian Leatric walking Genis steel Hall Boota to c. R. Ill s. Ii j rat no Volt y 0 lit soft impervious to Snow and than anything Ever in this note the window und address main St., two doors North of Telegraph office 3d o a see some of oter Stock taking pbk3i n Yards Dundas Cotton 10 36 Inch whate i Wincey g 12 towels. 12 Yards fast color print. Be had at valuers a Pearson main Sli importers of dry of oods having complo Tod Ali or fall and Winter Stock arc prepared to offer special inducements in winces dress goods blankets tweeds underclothing Etc we invite attention to our Linos of expo Iod daily from Fisher s Landing ten casks dark a mob nine i Lents which will be of Rcd at extremely Low a Titch Faumina lands for Sale. Wheat Cash for Oats at wholesale and retail St Root newspaper if newspaper ;