ing that we must appeal directly to the French Government. He would read it for the benefit of hon. gentlemen opposite. aware MR. MACKENZIE: Dispense. MR. MASSON said he was that the hon. Premier would be glad to have many Quebec matters dispensed with. It was the time, however, for them to speak. When elections had been carried by putting forward a certain policy when the votes of electors were required, hon. members had the right to submit to the House that policy, which these hon. gentlemen now desired to forsake. The National went so far as to rail against our dependence on England and advocated independence, because the Canadian independence, because the Canadian Government was not allowed to apply to the French Government direct. That was a Quebec Liberal paper, which considered the question of great importance; yet the hon. the Minister of Inland Revenue, who owed his seat in this House to the constituency of Quebec East, declared it was not an important question in Quebec, and that only a few persons advocated its settlement in the manner indicated. If that were so, they in Montreal, and people throughout the country were very much mistaken, because they thought it was by the O'Donoghue amnesty and the shipping question that Quebec East was gained. MR. MACKENZIE said that, two years before the Quebec election took place, the Dominion Government had directed the attention of the English Government to that matter, and they received the reply of the French Government, through the English Government. He had stated at Quebec, what he stated now, and what hon. gentlemen knew, that it was impossible for the Canadian Government to approach the French Government themselves; they must do it in the one constitutional way, and, when the correspondence came down, it would be seen that they had adopted that mode. If any means that might be legitimately used could be adopted to influence the French Government, he had not the slightest objection to it; but to say that they could approach any foreign Government, except through the English Government was to assert what was entirely contrary to every well-known constitutional principle. MR. MASSON said that was not his point. MR. MACKENZIE said he did not know the hon. gentleman had any point. The only point he appeared to have was that a Liberal newspaper had made some remarks on the subject. MR. MASSON: The whole press had done so. MR. MACKENZIE said the hon. member for Terrebonne appeared to think that he (Mr. Mackenzie) had no right to say a word on the subject. Perhaps he would permit him, even though he were an intruder, to conclude his remarks. The Government, he repeated, had taken French Government, when the Duc care to bring the matter before the Decazes explained that the treaty did not cover any of the British Colonies, and that it had been made with the United Kingdom alone. It would be found, when the correspondence was submitted, that a further communication had been made to the English in which the matter stood, and he was Government, concerning the position unable to say, at present, how the matter stood. But it would be impossible for hon. gentlemen to have done more than the present Administration had done with regard to the matter. He took the view taken by his hon. friend from Yarmouth (Mr. Killam), that the most profitable method was to attempt to sail the ships rather than to sell them. It was not the duty levied in France or anywhere else which had first caused the decadence of the ship-building trade in the St. Lawrence, but it was the change to composite or iron vessels, and that would, no doubt, be found to prevail yet to a very large extent, because the trade in shipping had been entirely changed within the last fifteen twenty years. In considering what changes the Government should make in the tariff they must consider what effect it would have on all other trades and upon the revenue. proposal of the Government would be submitted to the House in due course, and it was absurd to try to get up Οι The political feeling, because, as a matter | purchase by the Government of that of of fact, action had been taken long before the election in Quebec East. MR. WOOD said hon. gentlemen from Lower Canada would seem to imagine that there was no part of the country which had an interest in this matter except Quebec. The quid pro quo would be a reduction the duty on wine, but, as a Protectionist, he had a hesitation in supporting that. They knew that in Western Canada there was a large section of grape-producing and wineproducing country, and they were interested in keeping the duty upon wine as it now stood. He did not see that the members from the Province of Quebec had any right to monopolise this question of the free importation of wine into Canada and ships into France, and he thought the people of Upper Canada would have something to say about the matter when it came before the House. Motion agreed to. FORT FRANCES LOCKS. MOTION FOR REPORT. MR. MASSON moved for a copy of the Report of the late Mr. Hazlewood, C.E., on the approximate cost of the Fort Frances Locks. Motion agreed to. W. B. O'DONOGHUE. MOTION FOR ORDERS IN COUNCIL. MR. MASSON moved for copies of all Orders or Minutes of Council and all correspondence between the Imperial and Canadian Governments, and other correspondence not already brought down, relating to any amnesty, partial or complete, to Mr. W. B. O'Donohgue. Motion agreed to. PURCHASE OF RIVIERE DU LOUP BRANCH. MOTION FOR CORRESPONDENCE. MR. FISET moved for copies of the correspondence, since the last Session of Parliament, between the Government and the Grand Trunk Railway Company, either on the subject of the part of the railway between Rivière du Loup and Pointe Lévis, or respecting the new arrangement entered into to allow the Intercolonial Railway cars to over that part of the railway belonging to the Grand Trunk Company. run MR. MACKENZIE said there was no correspondence on the subject moved upon by his hon. friend. The ordinary running arrangement had been made between the Government and the company, which they had given notice to terminate. That was the only paper of any kind which they possessed on the subject. withdrawn. Motion, with leave of the House, BRITISH COLUMBIA TERMINUS OF THE PACIFIC RAILWAY. MOTION FOR REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. MR. DECOSMOS moved for a copy of any reports in possession of the Government made in 1877 by Admiral De Horsey respecting the port or ports most suited for a terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia, with a copy of any correspondence respecting the same with the Imperial Government. He said he was aware that the Admiral in command of Her Majesty's squadron on the Pacific had been invited by the Admiralty, and he did not doubt by the Government of this Dominion, to make a personal enquiry as to the port or ports most suitable for the terminus of the Pacific Railway on the Pacific coast. He (Mr. DeCosmos) had given notice of his motion before the report of the hon. the Minister of Public Works was sent down to the House. He found that in that report no mention whatever was made of any report from Admiral De Horsey. He had reason to believe, before he left the Province of British Columbia, that a copy of that report had been forwarded to this Government. If they turned to the report of Mr. Fleming, Chief Engineer of the Canadian Pacific Railway, issued in the spring or summer of last year, they found that reports had been received and condensed from different officers of Her Majesty's Navy who had | upon to deal with the question of the been on duty on the North-West coast, route of the railway. but there was not a single mention made of any seaport on Vancouver Island as the terminus. Admiral de Horsey having communicated his report, as he (Mr. DeCosmos) was informed, to the Imperial Government, and to this Government also, he now asked that, before the great question of the Pacific Railway was taken up by this House, they should have laid before them a complete copy of this report, and not as they had last year, an emasculated report, or reports taken from the reports sent by Her Majesty's officers to the Admiralty, in England. The importance of selecting the best place on the Pacific coast was so great that the House required the very best information that MR. MACKENZIE said he was not aware at the moment of any further report until the Government received the complete report of Mr. Cambie, with the maps, etc., and he was not aware if that gentleman would have anything in addition to deal with. If there was anything further that it was possible to bring down, it would The paper to be brought down. DeCosmos) referred, had come in very which his hon. friend behind him (Mr. lately from England as a document it would be brought down as soon as communicated to the Government, and possible. Motion agreed to. MOTION FJK KETUrns. could be gathered on the subject, and PROJECTED HARBOUR NEAR MORPETH. if it were not so late, he would endeavour to occupy the attention of the House, for half an hour, in showing both the domestic commerce and the foreign commerce of the Pacific Ocean with the American States and territories contiguous to to the western terminus of the Central Pacific Railway. But he would reserve his remarks on that subject for a future day, when he hoped the House would have more opportunity to listen to statistical information, as to the transPacific and trans-continental trade which was now being done at San Francisco. MR. TUPPER said he would take the opportunity to ask the First Minister when the House might hope to receive the report of the Engineer on the Canadian Pacific Railway. MR. MACKENZIE said the hon. gentleman would find that there was a considerable report in the Report of the Public Works Department which had been presented to the House. The report of Mr. Cambie and the Report of Mr. Marcus Smith were there. Mr. Cambie was the officer charged with the survey in British Columbia during the year, and the report of Mr. Smith was a more general report. MR. TUPPER: Is it intended that we should not receive any further report on the subject before we are called MR. STEPHENSON moved for returns of all reports, surveys, maps, estimates, correspondence and other details in possession of the Government in connection with the projected harbour on Lake Erie, near the village of Morpeth, in the county of Kent, together with a detailed statement of the expenditure incurred on account of that proposed of that proposed work since 3rd April, 1876. Motion agreed to. RENEWAL OF THE RECIPROCITY MOTION FOR CORRESPONDENCE. MR. BOURASSA moved for copies of all correspondence and despatches between the Government of Canada and the Government of Great Britain, the English Ambassador at Washington, or any other person in the United States, since the 1st January, 1874, in relation to a renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty, together with copies of all Orders in Council in relation to the same subject. MR. MACKENZIE said there were no new papers. The date the hon. gentleman had given comprised the negotiations which were conducted in the winter of 1874, but there had been no fresh negotiations and no papers of any kind since then. That being the case, he asked his hon. friend to withdraw the motion. Motion, with leave of the House, withdrawn. TRADE AND COMMERCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. MOTION FOR RETURNS. MR. DECOSMOS moved for a return, showing the receipts for Customs and Excise in British Columbia for the six months ending on December 31st last; also, a return of the Customs and Excise collected on Stickine River for the same period; also, a return of the imports and exports of the said Province for the same period; also, a return showing the imports into the said Province of all merchandise, duty free or subject to Customs or Excise, from the other Provinces of the Dominion, from and including 1871 to 31st December, 1877, setting forth the respective quantities and values the production and growth of Canada. He said the first of these returns would no doubt be very brief, but it was desirable, in some respects, to have before the House. So far as returns in reference to the Stickine, were concerned, he thought it was important that the House should know something about them. He was not aware that they had anything about the trade of that river in the returns before the House. As to the last part of his motion, he thought it would be interesting to have something showing the Interprovincial trade beshowing the Interprovincial trade between British Columbia and the other Provinces of the Dominion, and he did not see that any objection could be offered by any member of the Government, or any member of the House. MR. BURPEE (St. John) said the first part of the return could be supplied to the hon. member quite readily, but he feared the last part could not. There had been no account kept between the different Provinces since Confederation, and there was nothing to show the trade between them. MR. DECOSMOS said he thought the hon. the Minister of Customs would be able to get the necessary information, from the fact that all mer | chandize was passed in bond over the Pacific Railway; therefore, the ports through which merchandize was passed to British Columbia would be able to supply the information. He hoped the Government would allow the motion to pass, because he thought it was a matter of great importance. MR. MACKENZIE: We will try. House adjourned at Six o'clock.. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Tuesday, 19th Feb., 1878. The Speaker took the Chair at Three o'clock. PRAYERS. RECEPTION OF PRIVATE BILLS. MOTION TO EXTEND TIME. MR. RYMAL moved that, as recommended by the Committee of Standing Orders, the time for receiving the petitions for Private Bills be extended for Private Bills for a like period. ten days, and the time for presenting Motion agreed to. SELECT STANDING COMMITTEES. LISTS CONCURRED IN. MR. MACKENZIE moved concurrence in the report of the Special Committee appointed to prepare and report the list of members to compose the Select Standing Committees of the House, so far as relates to the followElections; on Railways, Canals, and ing Committees:-On Privileges and Telegraph Lines; on Miscellaneous Private Bills; on Printing; on Public Accounts; on Banking and Commerce; and on Immigration and Colonization. Motion agreed to. PRINTING COMMITTEE. MESSAGE TO THE SENATE. MR. ROSS (West Middlesex) moved that a message be sent to the Senate requesting that their Honours will unite with this House in the formation of a Joint Committee of both Houses on the subject of the printing of Parliament, business very much in the long sittings and to inform their Honours that the to have the evidence taken down in members of the Select Standing Com-longhand and signed in the usual way, mittee on Printing-Messrs. Bourassa, and hence he proposed to introduce the Bowell, Charlton, Church, Delorme, stenographical system there as was Desjardins, DeVeber, Goudge, DeVeber, Goudge, Lan already the case in the Courts of the thier, Ross (Middlesex), Ross (Prince | country, Edward), Stephenson, Thompson (Haldimand), Trow and Wallace (Norfolk), will act as members of said Joint Committee on Printing. Motion agreed to. BILLS INTRODUCED. The following Bills were severally introduced and read the first time :— Bill (No. 6) To authorize and confirm the scheme of rangement of the Canada Southern Railway Company.-(Mr. Thomson, Welland.) Bill (No.7) Respecting the Ontario Express and Transportation Company.-(Mr. Oliver.) Bill (No. 8) To authorize the National Insurance Company to reduce its capital stock, aud for other purposes.—(Mr. Desjardins.) Bill (No. 9) To amend the Acts incorporating the Brockville and Ottawa Railway Company and the Canada Central Company, and to provide for the amalgamation of the said Companies.-(Mr. Galbraith.) Bill (No. 10) To authorize the Stadacona Fire and Life Insurance Company to reduce its capital stock, and for other purposes.(Mr. Casgrain.) Bill (No. 11) To reduce the capital stock of the Merchants' Bank of Canada.—(Mr. Jetté. Bill (No. 12) To incorporate the Société de Construction Mutuelle under the name of the Société de Prêts et Placements de Québec, and for other purposes.--(Mr. Malouin.) Bill (No. 15) To give jurisdiction to the PUBLIC WORKS ACT AMENDMENT BILL (Mr. Mackenzie.) FIRST READING. MR. MACKENZIE introduced a Bill (No. 13) Further to amend the Actrespecting the Public Works of Canada. He said the object of this small Bill was to enable the evidence to be taken by shorthand by the Dominion arbitrators. It had been found to delay the INDEPENDENCE OF PARLIAMENT BILL. (Mr. Laflamme.) FIRST READING. MR. LAFLAMME introduced a Bill (No. 14) Further securing the Independence of Parliament. He said the object of the Bill was to remedy the difficulties which were manifest from the applica tion of the former Bill, the clauses of which were to be somewhat extended by applying the disqualification clauses to those who were in public offices under the Provincial Legislatures or the Provincial Governments, and also to those who were in the receipt of retiring allowances. The clauses of the Independence of Parliament Act were also to be made to extend to Senators, who would not be allowed, any more than members of Parliament, to enter into contracts with the Government. These clauses and a better definition of the Independence of Parlia ment, as stated in the previous Act, comprised the principal features of the Bill that he introduced. THE CASE OF JUDGE LORANGER. REMARKS. MR. MASSON said it was his painful duty to draw the attention of the House to a matter which, in his mind, if it were true, seriously affected the position and standing, as members of the House, of two hon. members, one occupying a seat in the Cabinet, and another having occupied one a few days ago; moreover, implicating two members of the Senate; and, thirdly, implicating the Assistant Clerk of this House, in an unfortunate affir, the petition against Judge Loranger last year. There were many at that time who thought that there were not sufficient grounds for bringing on that question, and not sufficient grounds for allowing the Committee; and the Committee decided that there were no grounds against Judge Loranger at all. |