made against him until he had proved his innocence ? Mr. FARROW He volunteered to prove his innocence. I will not take up the time of the House, but will move in amendment: That this item be not now concurred in but that a commissionbe appointed to investigate the charges against officers of the Hudson Bay Company of having encouraged the insurrection in the NorthWest. Mr. SPEAKER-I do not think I can put that amendment, as there are no charges before the House. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL-I think my hon. friend is rather injudicious in making that motion at the tail end of the session. If a Committee to investigate so important a matter as the charges referred to in the motion is to be appointed it ought to be appointed at an early period of the session. I suggest to my hon. friend that he withdraw his motion and make it again if he chooses when Parliament meets again. For my own part, as a member of the late Government I am prepared to support the vote asked for by the Government. Mr. FARROW-With the leave of the House I will withdraw the amendment. Amendment withdrawn and the item was concurred in on a division. On the next item, to pay the sum agreed to be paid to certain parties for services during the troubles in the North-West, $2,500, Mr. WHITE said I am glad to see this sum placed in the estimates. We have to-night seen the lion and the lamb lie down together; the member for South Bruce after all he has said on this subject throughout the country has to-night acknowledged that this payment to RIEL and LEPINE was right. He told a different story throughout the country, and when he comes again before the people he will be in a peculiar position. If the hon. gentleman had been on this side of the House this item would not have passed with so large a majority. It makes all the difference in the world which side the hon. gentleman is on. But we have succeeded in one thing; we have succeeded in forever closing the mouths of the Grits of Ontario on this subject. They got into power on the cry of the murder of THOMAS SCOTT, but once in power they take quite a different position. I was proud of the hon. member for South Bruce when as Hon. Mr. Blake. Premier of Ontario he offered a reward for the apprehension of those who took the life of THOMAS SCOTT ; but he has forgotten all that now and is willing to say that the member for Kingston is one of the most upright and conscientious men in the country. If it be true that coming events cast their shadows before, the first thing we know the member for Kingston and the member for South Bruce will be forming a new Administration, and the members of the present Government will have to give place to those gentlemen opposite who are so anxious for a seat in the Cabinet. If we are to judge from the remarks of the hon. member for South Bruce to-night we must come to the conclusion that something of this kind is to take place. I hope the hon. member for Selkirk will be able to give satisfactory explanations to this House, for certainly the question of the NorthWest troubles is not yet settled. I was pleased with the remarks of the member for Grenville, and I agree with him that if the payment of this money had been made an issue in the last election, that item would not have been placed in the estimates, or if placed it would not have been passed. The item was concurred in; as also items from 230 to 236 inclusive. On item 237, law books for the Supreme Court, $3,000, in answer to hon. Mr. BLAKE, Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said it was intended by this vote to supplement the law books in the Parliamentary Library. From all the information the Government had received from legal gentlemen the Library was singularly deficient in that respect. Item concurred in. between sixty and seventy vessels were saved from disaster by obtaining shelter in the harbor. The item was concurred in. Items from 254 to 266 inclusive, were also concurred in. PRIVATE BILLS. The Bill respecting the Montreal Northern Colonization Railway Company was read a third time and passed. The Bill to change the name of the MuThe Bill to change the name of the Mutual Insurance Company of Canada to "The Dominion Life Assurance Company," and to amend their Act of incorporation, was considered in Committee of the Whole, reported, read a third time, and passed. The House then adjourned at 1:20 A. M. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Friday, 2nd April, 1875. mentary printers, Messrs. MCLEAN, official translators were to be paid $1.25 Mr. ROSS said the official translators would get extra translators to do the work. The arrangement was made through them for the sake of convenience. Hon. Mr. POPE-As far as I can learn the French speeches will appear in the The SPEAKER took the chair at three English edition in French. o'clock. OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE DEBATES. Mr. ROSS (West Middlesex) moved the adoption of the report of the committee appointed to make arrangements for the reporting of the debates of the House for the next session. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE asked the hon. gentleman to explain the arrangements that had been made. Mr. ROSS said that the arrangements for reporting were based on the same principle as that adopted by the Committee of Internal Arrangements for the presént session. The present editor was engaged at the rate of $5,000 per session. His engagement for the present session was at the rate of $500 per week, and his contract was based on the expectation that the session would last ten weeks. The committee had made arrangements with him to prepare the reports next session for a lump sum, and had imposed upon him the additional duty of preparing a very careful index after the model of the index to the English Hansard, and also of revising the proofs. They had made arrangements for the printing, after having notified all the printers of the city that they would receive tenders, with the ParliaMr. McKay. Mr. ROSS-Yes. Hon. Mr. BLAKE said it was unfortunate that the English edition was not to be completely in English just as the French edition was to be completely in French. Sir JOHN MACDONALD quite agreed with that view. It seem to be absurd that one volume should be entirely in one language, and the other a polyglot. The additional expense would be very insignificant. Mr. ROSS said the committee would be happy to adopt the view suggested, but there had been such an outcry on account of the expense that they were very anxious to economize as much as possible. Mr. YOUNG regretted very much that the original proposition had not been adopted of having the speeches reported and published in the language in which they were uttered on the floor of the House. He was afraid that a departure from that economical system would lead to a large additional expenditure. The House was aware that heretofore the great obstacle in the way of establishing a Hansard was the expense of having the speeches reported in both languages, and as a compromise the plan of this session was adopted. He wished to add that he was sure the House would agree with him * that the Hansard this session had been | next, as may be agreed upon, at the rates found to be of great service, and he believed it would contribute very much to the use. fulness of the debates. He was very glad to hear the Chairman state that the whole expense would not exceed $9,000. Mr. MILLS said that the proposition of the committee was a very great improvement upon the present plan. They could all understand how very anxious hon. gentlemen who spoke in the French language were to be fairly reported, and on that account they were obliged in many instances to speak in English, when they could speak with more facility in their own language. He did not think the present arrangement was a fair one, as French members were obliged to send to their constituents reports of the debates, printed in a language which many of them did not understand. One great advantage of a Hansard, in addition to its being a correct record of the debates, was that it would relieve members from absolute dependence upon the newspaper reports. He was sorry that the committee had not gone one step further, and provided for a complete English edition, as well as a French one. The cost of the Hansard was, he believed, money well expended. Hon. Mr. POPE approved of the suggestion, that the English edition should contain a report of all the speeches in English, just as the French edition would contain a report of all the speeches in French. Mr. ROSS said he was quite willing to act on this suggestion. The report was then adopted. THE POSTAL SERVICE. Hon. D. A. MACDONALD said the House would remember that the provisions of the Act to regulate the Postal Service, relating to newspapers would not go into operation until the 1st of October next. He had received communications from several newspaper publishers asking that they might be enabled to take advantage of the new system at once. With the permission of the House, he would therefore move an address to His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR GENERAL praying that he will be pleased to authorize the Postmaster General to make arrangements with all proprietors of newspapers and periodicals published in Canada, who may apply for the transmission thereof by Post, during such period prior to the 1st of October Mr. Ross. of postage and on the conditions, at and on which, under the Bill in that behalf now awaiting HIS EXCELLENCY's sanction, they will be transmissable on and after the said 1st day of October next; assuring HIS EXCELLENCY that this House will concur in any measure that may be requisite for making good any expenditure or loss of revenue involved in such arrangements. The motion was carried. THE RAILWAY ACT. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE moved the third reading of Bill further to amend the general Act respecting railways. Mr. BLAIN said he had given notice that he would move an amendment to this Bill, but at this late hour in the session he would not press this motion unless the Government were willing to accept it. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE thought it would be inconvenient to attach the amendment to this Bill, as there was nothing in the latter affecting passengers or the rates to be charged. It would be much better that any legislation of this kind should be brought up in a distinct and definite shape next session. Mr. BLAIN withdrew his amendment. The Bill was read a third time and passed. THE NORTH-WEST GOVERNMENT. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE moved the third reading of Bill to amend and consolidate the laws respecting the North-West Territories. Sir JOHN MACDONALD said he did not object to the third reading and passage of this Bill, but he would again impress upon the leader of the Government the expediency, from an economical point of view, of governing the North-West Territories from Fort Garry. A commission could be issued to the Lieut. Governor of Manitoba to act for the present as Lieut. Governor of the North-West. He had plenty of time on his hands, and there was no reason in the world why he should not direct his attention to the government of the whole of the North-West for the present. The objection of the hon. Premier that the North-West Council had proved a failure, because none of its members residing west of Manitoba was fully answered by the hon. member for Selkirk who stated that at least six of these gentlemen were | If such a law had been in operation in scattered through the territory and knew all about it. England some of the most conspicuous men in its history would have come within Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE received the its provisions, including Sir GEORGE suggestion of the hon. member, in the NAPIER, Lord BYRON and others. The spirit in which it was offered, but could whole of the officers serving, during the not adopt it. If he had not regarded this Peninsula War, by the consent of the measure as a necessity he would not have Sovereign, with the Portugese army, introduced it. The Lieut. Governor, as although they were auxiliaries of England, one of the commissioners who accom- would have come within the scope of such panied the Minister of the Interior to an act, had it been in force in England, negotiate a treaty with the Indians, and they would have been liable to be although only absent three weeks from treated as criminals. The Bill submitted Manitoba and distant about 250 miles by the Government went too far, and from that Province was, obliged to issue a would introduce into our legislation as a commission to the Chief Justice to act as crime that which was allowed by England Lieut. Governor of Manitoba in his and all other nations. The men who left absence. That was, to say the least, incon- | England to fight in the cause of liberty venient, and the inconvenience would be under GARIBALDI, and the Papal Zouaves, increased, of course, in proportion to the who went to fight for what they conlength of absence required in administrat- considered the holiest of all causes-that ing the affairs in the North-West. of the Pope, when he was a temporal Prince-would all be liable to be indicted for misdemeanor on their return. would never prevent a single man joining such expeditions, because only earnest men would join them; but it would have prevented them returning. The order was discharged. The Bill was read a third time and passed. FOREIGN ENLISTMENT. On the order being called for the third reading of the Bill to prevent enlistment in the service of any foreign State, in certain cases not provided for by the Foreign Enlistment Act. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE stated that in the absence of the hon. Minister of Justice, who was detained at his office, he would beg to announce to the House that it was not the intention of the Government to proceed with the measure during the present session. Whilst they adhered to the general provisions of the Bill, they admitted that it was perhaps not very urgently required at the present moment, and as some of its provisions appeared to some hon. members to conflict with the Imperial Act published in our Statutes of 1872, they had decided to drop the Bill for the present, and consider the objections which had been made to it during the coming recess. He moved that the order be discharged. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD said he was very glad that the Government had decided to adopt that course. If the Act had been in force at the time the war was going on between the North and South, every man who went from Canada to fight for the Northern cause-and they went by tens of thousands-would have been liable to have been marked as criminals. Hon. Sir John Macdonald. SUPPLY. It DUTIES ON OAK LOGS AND STAVE-BOLTS. On motion of Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT, the Bill to amend the Act 31 Vict., chap. 44, was read the second time. The House then went into committee on the Bill. (Mr. BROUSE in the chair). Mr. McCALLUM regretted the Govern ment did not see their way clear to removing export duties altogether, although at the same time he was no opposed to the Bill. He was opposed, however, to the principle of export duties, believing that the people should be allowed to go free to the markets of the world with their products, whether of the mine, sea, or forest. If the arguments in favor of export duties had any force, an export duty should be levied on wheat, and it was useless to levy such duty on timber exported from Canada, when we had such extensive forests in the country. If the export duty was removed only from oak logs and stave-bolts it would practically be class legislation. The retention of the duty resulted in a very small revenue to the country. The amount received last year, when oak-logs and stave-bolts were excluded, was only $11,545. Believing that the duty should be removed from all classes of timber, he moved in amendment "That all the words after bolts be struck out and the following substituted: saw-logs and all kinds of timber cut on private property other than the Government limits of the several Provinces of the Dominion. The amendment was lost, and the committee rose and reported the Bill, which was read a third time and passed. CONTINUATION OF ACTS. The Bill to continue for a limited time the Acts therein mentioned, was read a second time, and referred to the Committee of the Whole forthwith Mr. KIRKPATRICK in the chair. The committee rose and reported the Bill, which was read a third time and passed. LARCENY. The Bill to amend the Act, 33 Vic., cap. 21, respecting larceny and other similar offences, was read a second time, and referred to the Committee of the Whole forthwith (Mr. PALMER in the chair.) The committee rose and reported the Bill, which was read a third time and passed. DISCHARGED ORDERS. The following orders were discharged:Receiving report of Committee of Whole on certain resolutions to increase the salaries of the Civil Service of Canada, as provided in the Act respecting the Civil Service of Canada. Second Reading Bill (No. 74) An Act respecting the Civil Service of Canada. House in Committee on Bill (No. 20) An Act to amend the law relating to Criminal Procedure. PACIFIC RAILWAY TELEGRAPH. The order was called for the further con sideration of the proposed motion of Mr. TUPPER, for an Address to HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR GENERAL, for copies of all specifications and contracts for the construction of any portion of a Canadian Pacific Railway Telegraph, with all correspondence relating thereto; and the motion of Mr. BOWELL in amendment to the same. Mr. KIRKPATRICK said the motion and amendment did not go far enough. These contracts were clearly given out contrary to the statute, and therefore this House should state that fact as the ground for their refusing to approve of these contracts. The statute provided that Government should not have authority to let contracts for building a telegraph line in advance of the location of the line of rail way. Now, it was evident from the reports laid before the House that the line of railway had not been located as far as the contracts, for the telegraph had been He therefore moved to add to given out. the amendment the following words :Contrary to the statute authorizing the construction of the said telegraph line, and said contracts.” therefore this House does not approve of preven Hurteau, Jones (Leeds), Lanthier, Kirkpatrick, Little, Further consideration of the proposed motion of Mr. ORTON for the appointment of a Special Committee on the Agricultural interests of the Dominion. Second reading of Bill for the tion of accidents entailing loss of life in Breweries and Distilleries. Stephenson, Rouleau, Ryan, Thompson (Cariboo), Mr. McCallum. |