can see that in consequence of the general proscription that has taken place in the new German Empire, and especially in the Prussian States that the population is being rapidly depleted, and every attempt is made to throw obstacles in the way of their departure, and to retain what must be their main strength in the struggle that seems to be impending in Europe. I have no very sanguine hope, that if this address is adopted, as I fully expect it will be, as I no objection to it, that HER MAJESTY'S Government, no matter how it may be disposed, will be able to obtain a treaty with the Germans of the character asked for. However, there is no harm in trying. I think it is due to the Germans in this country to endeavor to satisfy their wishes and to show that everything we can do, we have done for the purpose of preventing their relatives in the country they have left from being annoyed or being interfered with in any way in consequence of their coming to this country, and not returning to do military duty in their native land. I presume my hon. friend at the head of the Government has seen that there is nothing in these resolutions contrary to the state of the law in the land. I have not, myself, looked into the exact position of the subject as it exists between Germany and England. I have not followed up the subject for a year or two, and do not know whether any new negotiations have been going on, and presume that the hon. gentleman is correct in what he has stated, that the Minister has seen that these resolutions do not in any way conflict with the present state of the law, and are not inconsistent with themselves. I see not only no objection, but think it is a very praisworthy attempt and I believe the resolutions should be adopted by the House. Mr. PLUMB-It is well known that the great accession to the population of the United States has been due very greatly to the facilities that have been given to emigration to that country and to the easy naturalization laws by which they become part of the community. It may not be known to the House that no attempt was made to protect emigrants who had acquired the right of citizenship in the United States for a great many years, in fact not until a very recent period. I think one of the very first occasions upon which the attention of the Government was called to Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald. the automaton condition in which these emigrants were placed in regard to the allegiance they owed to their Mother Country was in the case of one MARTIN KOSTER who was arrested for acts committed by him against the laws of Austria. The Secretary of State entered into a correspondence with the Austrian Government which resulted in attention being called to the peculiar position of such emigrants. That position became still more apparent when the Mayor of a city in Iowa went to his native land to engage some railway hands, and was held their to discharge military service. That brought up an investigation which resulted in a treaty being made between the American Government and the Prussian Government. I suppose that no matter what kind of laws may be passed by the Mother Country it will be necessary to make special treaties having reference to the peculiarities affecting emigrants to this country. In regard to the Menonites, I believe they would be held liable to military service by the laws of Russia in case they found it necessary to return to the land of their birth, unless the Government of England should enter into special negotiations in reference to this people in order to protect them. I am very glad this subject has been brought up here, and I consider the thanks of the House are due to the hon. member for South Waterloo for the manner in which he has laid the matter before us. I trust the question will be brought before the British Government and in such a way as to result in negotiations for a treaty to protect those who come from the European States to settle in this country. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE — I have looked into this matter since the hon. member introduced his resolutions, and at the same time have endeavored to ascertain whether any correspondence took place with the Imperial Government subsequent to that alluded to. There is nothing at all in these resolutions but a statement of facts and a statement of what would probably suit the requirements of those adopted citizens of ours in Canada. The object is undoubtedly a good one, and if Germany is willing to make a treaty with the United States in this matter, I have no doubt she would be equally willing to enter into a treaty with Great Britain. If this can be ob tained by the passage of these resolutions,, not see their way to undertake the I am sure we will all be gratified to do negotiation of the desired treaty; if so, we anything we can to forward them. There have at least done our duty to one of the is nothing in them to which the Govern- most deserving classes of the citizens of ment does not cheerfully agree. It is this country. quite possible that some feeling, such as that exhibited the year before last to the two Ontario Emigration Agents, may still exist, and cause some difficulty in the way of getting this treaty. Preparations seem to be made on a very extensive scale for possible complications again with some of the Powers of Europe, but we hope that will not interfere with the negotiating of a treaty such as has been referred to. There are a great many Germans in England as well as in Canada. Mr. YOUNG-It is barely possible that the feeling against encouraging emigration from Germany may interfere with the negotiation of a treaty at the present time. Still, I am sure the existence of such a treaty would not interfere with the intention of any one to leave Germany. At any rate it is our duty to make an attempt to have such a treaty negotiated. It is according to precedents which have worked well, and I have no doubt that if such a treaty was made between Great Britain and Germany it would be found to work satisfactorily, and would probably relieve both nations from some embarrassing questions that might arise. The hon. member for Niagara has alluded to the facts of these resolutions applying only to Germans and not to aliens of other nations. Mr. PLUMB explained that he alluded to aliens in general, including Russians. I Mr. YOUNG-I feel it would be rather too much to ask Great Britain to negotiate treaties with all the nations, some of whose inhabitants may come to Canada ; but the Germans constitute a very large portion of our population, and therefore, I think we may fairly ask the Imperial Government to negotiate a treaty with Germany. would point out to the right hon. member for Kingston, that there is no fresh ground taken in the resolutions for the Address, further than we assure the Imperial Government that the objections stated by Earl GRANVILLE would not be considered very serious here, and that we are heartily willing to accept a treaty even with the conditions referred to. The present Government in England may Hon. Mr. Mackenzie LLL The committee reported the resolutions, after which a Select Committee, consisting of Messrs. SCATCHERD, ARCHIBALD, GILLIES, BOWELL and YOUNG, present the draft of an Address to HER MAJESTY, founded on the resolutions, which was ordered to be engrossed. An Address to HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR GENERAL, praying him to lay the Address to HER MAJESTY at the foot of the Throne, was also adopted. SUPPLY. On motion of Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT the Supply Bill was read the third time and passed. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE moved the adjournment of the Honse. The House adjourned at 5 p. m. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Tuesday April 6th, 1875. The SPEAKER took the chair at three o'clock. WAY OFFICES. Hon. Mr. TUPPER asked the Postmaster General what the policy of the Government was with regard to Way Offices. He understood that they did not intend to establish any more such offices except where it was necessary to have Post Offices. In Nova Scotia there were a great many Way Offices in sparsely settled parts of the country. Hon. D. A. MACDONALD replied that it was found very difficult to manage the Way Offices in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and it was the intention of the Government not to do away with them but to establish no new ones. When Prince Edward Island came into the Union, the Way Offices in that Province were done away with altogether by his predecessor. The Department was making the Way Offices in New Bruns wick and Nova Scotia, Post Offices as fast as possible. This policy had been adopted during the last six months, and did not involve any increased cost. The Department was working them in as rapidly as possible without at all diminishing the number of offices, and consequently without subjecting the public to any inconvenience thereby. Hon. Mr. TUPPER said he was afraid that to establish Post Offices instead of Way Offices, would have entailed a much heavier expenditure of the public money. Hon. D. A. MACDONALD assured the hon. member for Cumberland that the change would be carried out in such a manner as not to annoy the people of those Provinces. Mr. SCHULTZ hoped the Government would allow two motions that stood in his name, to be passed without discussion, in order that the returns asked for might be submitted to the House at as early a date as possible. The first of those motions was for a return of receipts from the sale of land in Manitoba, from 1st January to 31st December, 1874. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said that if the motion was adopted the hon. member could not expect to receive the returns this session; and when it was prepared it would be simply to put away in a pigeonhole. No useful purpose would be served by moving the motion. Mr. SCHULTZ remarked that it was generally thought that the Senate would occupy another week in its deliberations, and as the return would be a brief one, he thought it might possibly be brought down. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE in reply stated that the returns already asked for would occupy more than a week in their preparation, and they would take precedence over that moved by the hon. member for Lisgar. Mr. SCHULTZ said the second motion which he desired the Government to allow to be passed was for a return of papers connected with the trial of AMBROSE LEPINE. A considerable portion of the papers had already been published, and with a slight addition would afford a valuable historical record of the events connected with the North-West; and as matters connected with the insurrection there had occupied considerable attention in the House during the last few days, it was desirable that the whole of the papers should be printed, especially as important evidence would be derived from the docuHon. D. A. Macdonald. ments of the LEPINE trial which would bear out certain statements he was called upon to make in connection with that insurrection. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said that the documents were embraced in the last rereturn, which had not, however, yet been printed. Mr. SCHULTZ said all the papers with the exception of one or two were there. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said that if the hon. member wonld inform him what papers he desired added to the return, perhaps he could arrange for the addition to be made. Mr. SCHULTZ thanked the hon., the Premier, for that intimation. NOTICES OF MOTION. He Sir JOHN MACDONALD desired to take that opportunity of giving notice that at the next session he would feel it his duty to insist on the Rules of the House being strictly carried into force, and that when the Orders of the Day were called the several items should either be moved or dropped. The practice of allowing motions to stand over from day to day was a very inconvenient one. would also give notice that he would move next session, as had been done in England last session, that no new business should be taken up after 12.30 p. m. While the hon., the Premier, in the Imperial Parliament had declined to accept a motion to that effect, he stated that as a general rule the Government would meet the wishes of the House, and it would be understood that new business should be introduced after that hour. DUTY ON TEA. Hon. Mr. TUPPER said he had observed in a newspaper that a deputation had waited on the hon. the Minister of Finance regarding the question of tea and coffee duties. He would be gratified if the hon. the Minister would state to the House the answer he gave to the deputation, as it had been found on various occasions that the reports in the press could not be depended upon. Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT—The subject of the deputation to which the hon. member refers was the question of the tea duties. The answer made by me on that occasion was this: I held out no hope to those gentlemen of any alteration in the policy of the Government, although I promised to submit all their statements, as my duty was, to my colleagues; but I stated then that as regards cases of individual hardship, these might be dealt with by the Government under the existing laws, according to their respective merits. The motion for adjournment was then carried, it being understood that the House would re-assemble at 9 p. m. AFTER RECESS, The SPEAKER took the chair at 9:15 p.m. DUTY ON FISH. state in what way the Government intended to deal with special cases as they arose in order that the parties interested would know how to make their application. Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT said the Government did not propose to invite parties to make such applications, but they had power under the existing law to deal with special cases of hardship. He could not answer the enquiry with sufficient definiteness to meet the object which the hon. member for Northumberland desired to attain. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said he had received a letter from a merchant in New Brunswick stating that it was reported in that Province that the United States Gov-quired to be presented in order tha ernment had imposed a duty of 1 cts. per lb. on fresh salmon imported from Canada. He wished to know from the First Minister if he was aware that any such change had Hon. Mr. MITCHELL did not suppose that politics would enter into the considhad asked whether or not any re eration of such cases; but several of duties would be made, for, if sc might be some particular points w been made in the tariff. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I think there must be some mistake about it. It must be the duty of 1 per cts. can on canned lobsters. I am not aware that any such change has been referred to has been made in the tariff of the United States. THE INSOLVENCY BILL. A message was received from the Senate notifying the House of Commons that they had passed the Act respecting Insolvency with certain amendments. Hon. Mr. FOURNIER moved that the amendment to the 84th clause be not concurred in as being contrary to the spirit of the Act in its other parts.-Carried. Hon. M. FOURNIER moved that the amendment to the 120th clause disqualify ing assignees from acting when related by blood or marriage to a creditor, be not concurred in on the ground that the assignee has now no judicial authority and also that it would be exceedingly inconvenient to carry out such a provision. Carried. The other amendments to the Bill were concurred in. TEA DUTIES. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL, referring to a reply given by the hon. Minister of Finance to an enquir noon session by the h berland, asked the hon Hon. Mr. Cartwright. might receive favorable considerati Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT : could not venture to lay down rules for deciding the cases, THE GASPE ELECTION. Mr. TASCHEREAU asked w Case had not yet been sent in. report of the Gaspe Controverted F well know that the judgment was early in January unseating the n for that constituency. He had ap from the decision and his appeal ha then been withdrawn, but no repo been made to the House. Mr. SPEAKER-I have not re any report. Hon. Mr. FOURNIER said h just been informed that the appeal by the late sitting member had be missed. That was the cause why no had yet reached Mr. SPEAKER. Aft member for Gaspe had been unseat took an appeal. That might be cons a sham appeal because it was not fol up and no doubt the Judge would send his final report without any del THE MIRAMICHI BRIDGES. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL asked the mers plying on the river where ESQUIMAULT AND NANAIMO RAILWAY. Mr. DECOSMOS-Mr. SPEAKER, a statement appears in one of the city papers to-day to the effect that a Bill which passed this House providing for the construction of a railway between Esquimault and Nanaimo has been thrown out by the Senate. If such be the case, I desire to know from the Government what course they intend to adopt; whether they intend to proceed with the construction of that railway during the coming year in accordance with the views of this branch of the Legislature, or whether they do not intend to proceed with its construction. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I have no answer to give: I cannot tell what the Government would do under any particular circumstances. AFTER RECESS. Hon. Mr. VAIL brought down the appendices to the annual report of the Militia Department. At six o'clock the House rose for recess. The SPEAKER took the chair at 9.20 P. M. Several amendments made by the Senate to Bills from the House of Commons were concurred in. The House adjourned at 9,35 P. M. till to-morrow at 2 o'clock, HOUSE OF COMMONS, Thursday, April 8th, 1875. The SPEAKER took the chair at two o'clock. THE HALF-BREED LANDS. Mr. SMITH (Selkirk) asked the Minister of the Interior, in view of the legislation that had taken place this session and deal with certain matters in connection the powers taken by the Government to with the North-West the half-breed claims, the allotment of scrip to the heads of half-breed families, and to the Scotch settlers he would like to know within what time a settlement of these questions might be expected. He wished to know when the distribution of lands would take place, when the scrip would be allotted, as well as within what time those having a right to the outer two miles might expect to have it opened for settlement. The Hon. Mr. LAIRD said with respect to the half-breed lands, the delay had taken place last season, owing to the fact that some of those claims in dispute had been referred to the Minister of Justice. opinion had been obtained that some of those claims would probably have to be recognized. In view of this fact the Government had sent instructions to their agent at Winnipeg to make a return of all those claims to the department, in order that they might be withdrawn from the half-breed lands. As soon as th a return was received, the drawing of the half-breed lands would be proceeded with. Commissioners would be appointed as soon as possible to investigate the claims of |