December 9, 1867

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Hon. John Rose (Finance) delivered his financial statement in the House of Commons during a special sitting on Saturday, December 7. The basic statement of accounts is as follows:

YEAR-ENDING JUNE 30 1866

TOTAL INCOME
$12,672,880
Debentures
$800
ACTUAL INCOME
$12,672,480
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$12,418,105
Payments on debt
$335,979
ACTUAL EXPENDITURES
$12,082,126
SURPLUS
$590,354

YEAR-ENDING JUNE 30 1867

TOTAL INCOME
$16,400,139
Debentures
$3,986,900
ACTUAL INCOME
$12,412,239
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
$14,729,090
Payments on debt
$1,813,117
ACTUAL EXPENDITURES
$12,915,973
DEFICIT
$503,733

The Minister said that more than $2,000,000 of the expenditures for the previous year were of an exceptional nature, such as those for the Militia and Public Works, and were unlikely to occur again, leaving the Dominion’s finances in better shape than a strict reading of the balance sheet would indicate.

There are, however, new obligations the Dominion has taken on since Confederation as part of the terms of the Union Act. These include:

• $76,500,000 in debt accumulated by various provinces plus the interest payments on these debts
• to the provinces, $0.80 per head for those residing in each province as of July 1
• Lump sum payments of $80,000 to Ontario, $70,000 to Québec, $60,000 to Nova Scotia, and $103,000 to New Brunswick
• the salaries of all Dominion officers in the various provinces

Taking these into account, Hon. Mr. Rose reported that for the period from July 1 to November 30, 1867, expenditures for the Dominion were $7,427,615 and expenditures were $5,323,085, producing an apparent surplus of $2,104,530.

Despite this, Hon. Mr. Rose admitted that at the close of the fiscal year there would possibly be some deficit that would be met by increasing the debt.

CABINET PROCEEDINGS

The cabinet has reviewed three more clemency pleas from criminals who have been sentenced to death.

• Joseph Ackeridge, convicted of rape and sentenced to hang on December 27, 1867, has had his sentence respited until January 30, 1868, in order to allow for allegations of “certain matters” to be investigated by the Crown Attorney and reported back to the cabinet (1867-0159).
• George Johnson, convicted of the murder of a man named Paul, and sentenced to hang on December 24, 1867, has had his sentence converted to life imprisonment (1867-0167).
• Richard Currie, convicted of the murder of his wife, Isabella Currie, and sentenced to hang on December 30, 1867, has had his sentence converted to life imprisonment (1867-0168).

Meanwhile, the Kingston papers have said that some 1,500 people have signed a petition seeking clemency for the murderer Ethan Allan whose appeal was rejected by the cabinet and is scheduled to be executed on December 11. The Daily News of Kingston reports the prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald as stating that the Government was unable to interfere with Allan’s death sentence. The paper writes

There seems to be no possibility of the public being spared the awful spectacle of a fellow-being suddenly launched into eternity by the hands of the executioner on Wednesday next, the 11th inst.

RICHARDS ELECTED IN NIAGARA

Despite stories, some reported here, about the difficulty Hon. Stephen Richards (Crown Lands) was facing in his attempt to enter the Ontario Legislature through a by-election in Niagara, his opponent, Captain Geale, has retired from the race.

On the first day of voting just two electors turned out for Geale compared to 229 for Richards.

The entire Patent Combination will now be able to take seats within the Ontario legislature when it meets for the first time on December 27.