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PAGE TWELVE

Prince Edward lslan l Claims

THE MATHIESONTRIEF

AN INVALUAIBLE ASSET T0 ISLAND LEGISLATORS

A turning-pointwin the history of

Prince Edward Island was

the presentation of island fiscal claims before the Dominion Government by the late Hon. John A. Mathieson, K. C., following

his election as Premier in 1911

This statement of claims has

farmed the basis of all subsequent presentations, and has result-t

ed in millions of dollars of revenue‘ accruing to this Province. lt _ . - - f f ~ti s vices was preceded by a manifesto which Mr. Mathieson prepared as lzixricifficrffflhisn cggiigyusfglflr.

leader of the Opposition, and on which he and his followers were

elected to power.

This manifesto, covering our claims at Ottawa,

is here republished, as a matter of special interest on the eve of _ F I Y t Hm opening o‘ the Lqisloh" Aflemuy’ when the new hsco] up 111,113; iiiiallliil. $334,052.20.

rangements with Ottawa are to Provincial Rights

The preparation and presen- taiion‘ of this Island's claims against Canada, including amongst others. the following:

1. The cost of the Prince Ed- ward Island Railway, amounting to $3,144,000, n-ith interest since 1M3. '

2. Damages for non-fulfilment of the terms of Union respecting continuous communication be- tween this Island and the Main- land.

3. Fair transportation rates.

4. The Tunnel.

6. Compensation in respect of the Public Lands of Canada which have been transferred to the larger Provinces without any con- sideration for the interest of this province therein.

G._An equivalent for the in- creased subsidies granted the larger provinces to meet the in- creased aost of education. public works and agriculture.

‘r. The payment of the sub- ddias upon an assumed population of at least 150,000. as was done in the case of British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and A1-

berta, inasmuch as the failure of.

he announced. i

lcluding attempts to commit cor- rupt practices.

4. Amendments to further sec- ure the independence of mcmbcrs of the Legislature and the ex- clusion therefrom of persons in the omploy of the Dominion Government. whcthcr paid by sal- ary or by fees in licu of salary.

5. And generally a thorough rc- form of the Elcction Laws. with the simplest and most oxpcditloils mndc of cnforcPmcnt of the siinc,

Public Accounts

1. The appointment of a Pro- vincial Auditor, who in provincial affairs shall be given like pow- ers to those possessed by the Auditort-Gencral of Canada in his department.

2. A thorough investigation of the public accounts by compctcnt iudepcndcnt accountants rind t-hc funding of the debt when nsccr- tnincd so as to secure tho lotvcst rate of interest.

3, The era of dofirits shall be

thtls Province to attain that p0p-'

ulatiion is owing to the default of that-t Dominion.

8, Restoration of original rep- scoentatlon in the Federal Per-

01ft. 0. Our share of the Pinhery Award. Ago-torture

krlvitlre being the principal Maison of Us Island should oc- aqry the dale»: place on the course o! sited-ins in the Pulblic Schools.

2. The establishment by the Government of Canada of an eaiperimantal farm system vdtltin this Province should be urgently pruned to n successful issue.

9. The department should be charged with the duty of negoti- ating and arranging for better transportation facilities and fair freight rates for this Island's ex- ports and imports and with the collection of its trade statistics.

4. A complete re-argnnizatinn of this dcparimcn under a prac- tical hrrirl is essential.

Ialucistrinn

l. Remedy the nnce arising frmn the rxcessivc prices and ltlfflflfll‘ quality of text. books and school supplies. Lei. the Govornmcnt purchase school books and supplies at wholesale prices and furnish the same to the schools at cost.

2. Provide ndoquatc salaries for teachers, and by scale of increase based upon experience and coini- pctence, give sufficient encour- agement to them to remain 1p the profession.

3. Provide a thorough Normal School training for all candidates for tcncllcr llccnsc.

4, Adapt tili- sysiiim gent-rally to thr» special nccrls of this Prov- iru-c,

existing griev-

, Public Works

1. 'I1iiit the Provincc, except ihc iricorporntcd towns. hc div- idcd into Road Districts and the road taxes collcctcd within cat-h district bc cxpr-ndcd tficre- iri under tho supervision of tho road attic-or or caeh district. and that tho dcficlciicy 1f any bc marlc up out of illt‘ general rov- eriuc.

2. That sucli nxpcnditure bc madc by public competition. so that all taxpayers may have an opportunity of performing work in lieu of iaxcs._

3. Thnt n11 amounts lll addition t.o such ioxcs rcqulrcd by SPVPriIl districts for works h" zipporlloncd to the rc- <pcctivc districts by resolution of the Lctzislnturr.

4. That proper provision mad" for flit" locating. repairing rind mnrkin! nut of ihc coursc of wlntcr roads.

H. Thxit yonrly saln-rlcs bc

not

ihn faciuring iiicir public kinds.

br- marr- breaking. duc

rond officers rcc~iving stock farm and allowed purchased and paid for, cash on are Claims No. 3. Fair Transporta-

clased, and upon a successful prosecution of our claims against Canada. the debt of the Prov- ince will be discharged. SPEECH

Delivered at Georgetown. Sepi-

rmbcr Nth, 1908. by Mr. J. A.

Mathieson, loader of the Opposi- tion, exipounding the policy of the Liberal Conservative Party in Provincial Affairs:

l i Mr. Chairman. Ladies and Gen- ‘tlctmen,

This meeting has been adver- tised as the opening one of the Local caznpaign.

It may be. explained tihnt the object in calling it at this pnr- tioular time is to place before the people of this District and of the whole Province the plntfomi of the Conservative party in Pira- vincial affairs so that in the Dominion Elections which are now upon us the principal icat- ures of our policymay be dis- cussed fully.

We know not the day or the hour when the Local Elcction may be announced. Rumors have i-un that 1t may be close upon the hccls of ilic Dominion Elec- tion-tliat the writs for both iiiny run concurrently. The people should not. be taken unpreparcrl. The issues involved are oi’ such vital importance to this ‘Province that cvcry opportunity for ihcir consideration should h» mnrii» available. _

This year the grcaicst qucstions that concern us aré common to local and Dominion politics.

a ‘The Claims Of This Provinci- Against Canada

If I can place this matter bc- fore you as clearly as it merits

demand there ivlll be but one voice from the free and dude- pendcnt men of this Provinci- iind that will b!‘ that we must insist upon our just cluinls unti‘. ihryv arc rilltiwcd and piiitl.

Iii order to realizc what illust- claints arr- it is |lf‘(‘(‘§$l\1‘_\' to glmtgt- brick in ihc days ilcforc Confederation when we Wt‘l'(‘ ircc

to manage our own affairs with.

our own rcsourcvs and iticncc dowiiiivard to ifin present any. In 1873 wllcii Coufcdcraiion

took placi- this Island as a sop- arntc colony was 100 scars old. Its population has doubled in thc last 30 years. Its rcvonucs wcrc doubling cvr-ry 12 ycnrs and it WhSJJlllldlIlg roads, bridges, splen- did publlc buildings. wharvcs. lighthouses. increasing the sal- arics of teachers, buying lands from the proprictors, establishing and operating ivith great succcss a stock fiirm. building -up manu- industrics of many Tlicrc u-as no more cnt- i-rpi-lsinp or progressive com-mun- liy iii llll British North A-mcrica. Tlic debt of tlic Province was than offset by the balance on lands purchased by thi- Island i{()Vl‘l‘Il111f'f1l from tho pro- prictors. cash loaned to lcnnants. stock recently

any further sums for commission hand and some other small items

or wages in connection with pub- lic works.

6. A comiplcic investigation ‘of a

the department, a rc-organiza- tion and improvomi-nt of the Whnic system. and capablc nd-

ministration of the snm». Reform 0f Election Laws

To provide for; 1. Vnto bf ballot.

of llquid assets.

this had bcen done under customs-and excise tax not ex- ceeding 03.10 pcr cnpitn.

A ficticlous financial crisis came in 1873 rind the Province went lnin Confederation with n. haste that now appears to us to havc partakcn of panic.

The expenditure of tlir- Prov- ince in ihetyoar hcfore Confed- eration, cxclusivv.» of railway ex-

2. Repeal of all laws rnactcd tiv penditure had rcaohed $985,081.

the present Government favor persons guilty a! practices.

3. Strngcnt 11wr to punish bribery and fraud at elections iri-

I

which This included ‘$19,005 corrupt chnse of lands. But let it» go at

for pur- the larger sum for purposes of comparison. Wc surrcndbrcd to Canada the right to raise rev-

THE CHARLOITETOWNMGUARDIAN

:6I1l1t? by Customs and Excise tax- ation and at once became liable

to a taxation of $5.05 per caplta an increase of $1.95 per have enabled us to finance

other services without "' cinbnrrassmcnt.

011i‘ sligliicst

iida until lust year it $11.70 pcr head, an increase $6.65 per hcud. At the outset it will be

power on its to the amount equalling $489,850.

In rciurn Canada agreed

e financial balance wal thfl

litgaiiist iis from the outset to In {amount of at least $150,000 per an- ‘Jlllfll. We also liud collie under in much hcavicr debt and had imade a clear gill to Canada of ‘fa railway which cost us $3,144,- 000.

Two motives appear to actuated inc Island statesmen of that time, the one in a minor degree being the fcar of deficits on the Island railway and the other, in thc highest degree. the promiso rif the Government of Canada to provide “continuous communication" between this Is- land and the mainland.

What We Surrciiderod ,

It must be borne in mind that

in surrendering to Canada the tarlff-Innl-[lng power we placed in their hands the direction of our commcrcial and industrial rlevolopniciit, cut off the inde- pendent lilies of trade we had cs- iablishcd and thereby made our future welfare depend so much more upon continuous communi- cation with the mainland of Crin- ada. wnm we have lost by the non-fulfilment. of the terms o! Union no man can estimate. Twenty years ago a claim was made up for financial damages amounting to $5,000,000 which was conceded by both local political partics of the time not to be ex- cessive. Under the pressure of immediatc need the claim with ihc added wrongs of the inter- Vening years was sold out in 1901 by our local Government for a paltryr Sllbfildy of $30,000, which certainly did not measure one fifth or our actual financial loss, whilc for the arrested develop- ment nf the Province “in which ‘time inst is forever lost" and for Iour conscqiicnt loss of population .no compensation was glvcn. l In 1873 1i ivas estimated that the expenditure of Canada upon {its public works on the moi lillllfl would amount to Fri: this we were allowed compensa- tion on thc balance of the debt. .W1len we consented to allow Can- ada to charge us as part of our debt the cost of our railway and ‘forthwith presented the railway ‘tto Canada 1t was not contemplat- ed that the further expenditure .'on railways rind canals on the mainland. should amount to hun- dreds of millions rstlmate. The systcm of traylng subsidies to railway companies up to $6.400 a milc was still in the llltllfr‘. The cnrimnous in- crcase or’ taxation was not cvcn drcatiut of. T-hc cumplcie change in the railway policy of Canada since 11173 justifies our claim ‘itwhich will be called claim Num- rbcr I) to be allowed the cost of ‘the railway which wc gave .to =Caiinda upon tln- assumption .thut ihii railway policy of Can- ada was then settled. Since that time a railway has been built by Canada in the neighboring Island of Capo Brctomwhicli cost $3,- 800,000, costing thc Province of Nova Scotin not onc ccni. Why this unjust discrimination? In iic- rordiincc Willi the railway pol- icy crirrlrti out 1n Caiii-dli loduy‘ ii privnir coulprniy constructing surh ll riiiiri would rccclvc u sub- sidy front Canada in‘ from; $3.200 to $6,400 pct mile and ivould then own lilo road. We got noth- iiiiz and grivc tho road away.

Claim No. 2—Damagi-s for Nun-fulfilincnt n1 iiii- Terms of Union Respecting "continuous Cnmiiiiiniratioii."

r W4- sold oui i1i~ (lunnipc- up to I

lirli. Sinci- that iiinc we have suffcriid scvcri-ly. Tnke for r-x- ample. In tho year 1002-1903

thi-ro ivcrc 45 clays 0:1 which tthcrc were no trips and 33 dais on which half trips only wcrc made by thr- Winter Boats. In 1904-5

thcre were 54 days with no trlpsl

and 19 with half trips, and the same fniltlrc is always staring us in the faco nnd pariilysing our incrgics. Mon in this Province ivcrc l'lllll(‘il by 1h so disastrous ycars and the gi-ncral losscs worn

vnormous in In» aggregate. Tho juslicc o.‘ this claim cannot bc questoincd.

Closely lnvulvcd with this‘ Claim

tlnn Rates. and "If! Remedy for all. No. 4. The Tunnel.

These questions ‘have been so- fully discussed and so much are,

nll parties in accord that, little further need noiv be said. , The thrae haul rate is one of our greatest minor grievances It is increased by the unfortunate ;and ruinous policy wructi is rirlv- ing our coasting vessels out of the trade and delivering: it, over to foreigners. Our coasters with fair play would live. increases itirivc. Their freight rates would ruse the present situation to the adva tage of the shippers and the -sh|p Ihiwners’ out it would appear as if the intention of "the pow-

head which would yield an increase of revenue of $100,000, sufficient to the railway and to have carried on

the This rate of laxnilon as we shall lee has since been increased by Can- reached of

seen that Canada cxcrciscd its taxing of $5.05 multiplied by 97,000 people

t0

more than the‘

——J

i

l

000 pcr nnuum and to pay us? l subsidies amounting, wlicn ad- l i justcd, 1.0 $19LO522O the ‘two '

HON. J. A. MATHIESON. K. C.

lers" was to k" off cur coasting .trridc and drive iis absoluivlj," tinto the thri-c haul rate system of transportation.

The Tunnel‘ I

have’

The great trope of this Pror- incc 1s the Tunucl. We should not rcsi or pause until the nholc question is inkcn t‘1 hriiid 1n dcridly- earnest. It 1t is priii-iical, and t-iic cviclcnce points irl-"sisi- iiily thift ivui". than we must have ii nnri we must have file mcii who trill get it.

It would til once doublo the value of cvcry acre of land l1‘ this Province. '

It would make of (ieorgetovivn one of hilt’ great winici" ports of Canada.

It would multiplwscvcrnl the-‘valilc of oui- Iisllcrics.

It would lead to lite establish- ment of many i11dli5lt‘i0S which our present isolation prevents. l It would bring us into vital con- nection with the miiin currents

fold

‘make it valuable.

l laliens and grafters I t l , l I

l l0 US.

iii‘

Against Ottaiii

mains along the northern viill assuredly follow the course until from

that land to call cur own.

given away -ln frantic haste

the semi-savage Europe is shown more’ favor than the sons of P. E. Island.

Without including the last two years we have contributed since

Confederation in money and land grants to railways, canals. migration and the other serviccs not beneficial to us $9,500,000 at the lowest estimate. This year yve bear our share of the thirty mil- lions being spent on the Grand Trunk Pacific. This will amount. to considerably ovcr half a mil- lion and it is not worth five cents We have a right to com- pensation on these grounds. Such n right was recognized by Canada twenty ycars ago when wc rc- ccived an increased subsidy of $20,000 per annum on the ground

~that we do not share to the sumo

extent as tho other Provinces in the benefits of railway construc- tion on the mainland.

It may be said that. this claim

is in part offset by the con- strucllon of railvmys and the Iflillsborn Bridge ivithin this

Province. but that i; not all for thr reason that the increase of the debt of'Ciini-ada since Con- federation together with tho lin- bllitlcs incurred in respect of the Grand Trunk Pacific imposes upon us a heavier burden than the cx- penditure by Canada upon thr- Islnnd works amount to.

Claim No. 5—-An equivalent for the Increased Subsidies Graiitr-d the LIIIKPI’ Provinces to meet the Incrcnscd cost of Education. Pub- lic Works, 0a.

The consideration of this claim takes isc back to thc Confcdcra- tion contract. What was tho in-

of Canada's commercial lifc.

We have already contributcd to Canada in excess of Canada's ox- penditure upon us an amount which would go very far in tlic construction of this great work and possibly equal or excccd it. What do wc pay to Canada in taxes? Arc wc bcing bled wliitc by tho Dominion?

No separate trade statistics of this Province are. kept! An ox- act calculation is therefore im- possible but. wc can approxim- ate closely enough for a fair un- derstanding of thc case.

We have sccn that at the in-l ception of Confederation the bal- ance was against us by $151,000

per nniium. In 1884 tlils liiid grown to] $200,385. What is ii now‘? Taking the tot-al rcvcuuo of:

Canada for 1hr‘ year ending 31st March 1908 at $05.500,000. n fifty- sccond part is $1,855,000.

W-hnt do wc receive in return?

Cash subsidies amounting t.o $272,181. Services which formerly; cost us $143,000 ive'11 allow duu-l ble or $286,000. Then allow for. winter services. deficit on P. E. I. R. and new serviccs Say $200,- 000, all togciticr amounting to 758.181. Till"l0S$ iii one your to, P. 1., is thcrcforc $l.096,8l0.

In »taxntion nlonc our contrihil- {tion would bc $1,400,000 in 1908

Tliesc computations 'nrc bascd on the assumption thni wi- priyl ‘In Canada taxes nnd other "oii-' iribuiions iii proportion in the .

_rcst of‘ Criiiiida.

' But this docs not pul ihc cnsic lfalrlyr for this Province as the use pcr capita by the peoplr- of! this Province of dullablc goodsi .115 pmbably much nbovc the river-

pga, Nor liavi» we tnkcn into iic-l mount the indirect burdcu we bcrir

in the purchase of Canndirinl goods of which tlio price is ln-l creased by reason of the Can-

‘adian tariff.

I Captain Road who speaks Wlilll ‘host. information from ihc Gov-

Icrnmcni. side of lhc House r-sii-| lnjflltfd twp yxinrs ago illlli iodill‘; iillf t

under thr- Domiiiioii tariff ‘the incrcasrd imports tho clii-l i-iviibio revenue front imports

alonc if we wi-re still indcpciui- r-nt of Canada. vrould bc over two millions of dollars pcr aiiiium." This rstimutc docs not include excise dutirs nur thc many ot-li- er coitti-ibillion-z rnarlr- by lhisl Iind to thi- Canadian rcvenlle.

i

Tlircc To (Inc

It is safe to say ilizit we con-t

tribute in all three dollars at ‘

lcnst for each dollar rcccivcd ‘

back. I Wiicrc has this excessive con-

tribution gone? I

It has partly bccn iiivcstod in_ i-hc public lands of Canada, pari-‘ ly in tIu- railways rind canals. int

promoting immigration and in‘ lather ways iioi profitable in us.‘ l From this condition iiriscs our‘

tcluim No. l5 for Compi-nsriiion to this Province in respect of lhc bllbliCJBHdKrli Canada which hnvc bccn lrzinsfcrrcd to that Iargci- Provinces without any con- sideration for the interest of this Province therein and in respect, of its contributions 1o the Brent‘ public works of Canada from, which this Island derives no ad- vantagc. Wo had a partnership; share in these lands. We bear, [upon our shoulders our propor- tion of the debt for their pur- chase.’ We helped to buiidpevdrv mile of railway and highway that. ran through thcm and of all tlie ‘cost to flt them for settlement. |When by these meansrtheir value!

and-had increased manifold they were;

carved in huge slices and given away to the iiirgc and wealthy provinces. When it becomes,’ valuable they give it away. tar-an- time it is our privilege to help;

n!’

| ward Island

, the same views.

icntion of the partics to this contract?

"Sir Wilfrid Laurie-r in intro- ducing the resolutions 1n 1907 providing for the increase of subsidies to the various prov-

inces makes this clear by refer- ence to the records of that time. Hc says: ‘This testimony is con- clusive. Lowcr Canada ivould not have entered ihc Confederation if as n consequence she had been obliged i0 resort to direct taxa- tion to levy the revr-nues ncccs- sary to carry on her domestic af-

fairs. What was trite of Lower Canada was equally true of the Maritime Provinces. Nova Sco-

tia, New Brunswick, Princc Ed- ivould not have ngrced to entci‘ Cflflifldflfllllflll if as a consequence direct taxation had to be rcsortcd to.‘