the same thing, even though our duties the language that had been used were higher than theirs, the United towards him, one of the responsible States would have no right to, and advisers of the Crown in this country. would not, complain; but, if such differ- It was all right, in the estimation of ential duties were imposed, then the these hon. gentlemen and of the United States would have a right to rank and fyle of the Conservative feel incensed, and have a pretext for party, that the hon. the leader retaliatory legislation in that respect. of the Opposition should go through He would ask hon. gentlemen, if the country and in public places, withretaliatory measures were adopted, out a particle of proof for, or any docuwhich country would suffer most- ments in support of, his assertionsCanada or the United States? The which the hon. the Finance Minister former undoubtedly would; and hence had-denounce the hon. gentleman the hon. gentleman's retaliatory policy (Mr. Cartwright) as a man who had and differential duties would not stand been corrupted and bought like a beast examination. He had no idea that the in the shambles. He asked whether hon. gentleman seriously meditated the public men of the country were to such a thing. It was a mere election- stand this system of perpetual villificaeering device, by means of which the tion at the hands of their opponents, hon. gentleman endeavoured to lead the which was continued without the propeople to think that he could maintain duction of any public documents to his claim and the claim of his party to substantiate such statements. He depre-eminence for loyalty over the plored as much as any man this perother party, and at the same time sonal villification of the public men of advocate duties which he (Mr. this country. He thought that he had Tupper) pretended were in the never made this mistake, and he trusted interests of this country. He would he never would, though human nature now refer for a moment to the hon. was terribly roused on such occasions; member for Cardwell (Mr. McCarthy), but if ever a man was justified in using who had addressed the House so elo- strong language, it was the hon. the quently. The hon. gentleman had read Finance Minister when his character some extracts from speeches delivered was attacked without a shadow of by the hon. the Finance Minister on reason to substantiate these calumnies. several occasions to the electors of this This was patent to the House and the country, in the course of which the people of this country. During the hon. the Finance Minister referred to past year or two the hon. gentleman certain hon. gentlemen in language (Mr. Cartwright) had risen in the which the hon. gentleman (Mr. Mc-esteem of the people and to the first Carthy) thought was too strong. He (Mr. Paterson) would not say that he would have used precisely the same language, nor did he believe that the hon. the Minister of Finance would have done so without any cause for provocation, and if he (Mr. Cartwright) had been the object of fair criticism himself; but it was possible for a man who had been smitten on one cheek, and one cheek, and who had turned to his assailants the other cheek, and had been smitten on that also, to think that, perhaps, he had fulfilled the Apostolic precept; and that he had then liberty to give back to these gentlemen some of their own change. If it was to be charged against the hon. the Minister of Finance that his language was strong on that occasion, it was to be borne in mind that such was also the nature of rank among our public men in their appreciation. One reason for the venom shown against the hon. gentleman was due to the fact that he (Mr. Cartwright) had at one time occupied a high position in the Conservative party, which he had left, not because there was any prospect of the Reformers or the then Opposition attaining to power, but because of the corrupt acts which the hon. gentleman had witnessed there. The hon. gentleman, however, now found himself in proper company, being associated with men who held principles in common with himself and which were as dear to him as to them. The charge of coalition made in this relation could never be sustained, for, admitting that the hon. gentleman had, after that time, given the late Government an independent support, he (Mr. Cartwright) had : always maintained the very principles which the Reform party upheld, and he had been instrumental in putting them on the Statute-book of the country, and, if there was one of these principles for which the hon. gentleman had counted, it was that grand principle that with efficiency in the public service they should have econory. He would point out to the population of this country that the hon. the Minister of Finance had, in the most fearless and undisguised manner, given effect to that fundamental principle; and it was only necessary for the people to know this, to disabuse their minds of the calumnies which had been heaped upon that hon. gentleman. Wherever the hon. gentleman had for the first time appeared, whether in the western or eastern parts of the country, before the people, and given them in his eloquent manner the plain straightforward statement of the affairs and finances of the country, and his reason for leaving the Conservative party, they saw the truth of his declarations beaming from evory line in his countenance; and they believed that the hon. gentleman was an honest and a capable man; and in the largest part of the Dominion of Canada no man was more honoured than the hon. the Minister of Finance, who had so ably a short time ago delivered the Budget speech of the Gov ernment. MR. WALLACE moved the adjournment of the debate. MR. MACKENZIE said it would be observed that he had given notice that the Government business should henceforward have precedence on Thursdays. He proposed to make this motion on the day following. MR. MASSON said that it was unprecedented for the Government to take Thursdays for that purpose at so early a period in the Session. Not one of the Government Bills had as yet been read the second time. MR. MACKENZIE said he would propose a compromise. The Government would take one-half of next Thursday and all the subsequent Thursdays. MR. KIRKPATRICK said the first Thursday in March last year was still a private day. MR. MACKENZIE: But we did not spend a week on the Address last year. MR. MITCHELL: You had some business to submit last year, but nothing at all this year as yet. MR. TUPPER said it was customary to give a little longer notice in this respect. This was quite unprecedented. MR. MACKENZIE: So was ten days' debate on the Address unprecedented. MR. TUPPER said that no measures were now pressing for public attention. If the hon. gentleman would consent to allow this matter to stand, say until after Friday, this would give them an opportunity of reaching all the notices of motion on the paper. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Wednesday, 27th Feb., 1878. The Speaker took the Chair at Three o'clock. PRAYERS. BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE, MOTION TO ADJOURN. MR. MACKENZIE: It is known that His Excellency the Governor-General is giving a very remarkable entertainment to-night; and I think it would be but courteous for the House to adjourn for the purpose of affording an opportunity to members to attend. I therefore move, seconded by Mr. Masson, that the House shall adjourn to-day at six o'clock. Motion agreed to. BILLS INTRODUCED. The following Bills were severally introduced and read the first time : Bill (No. 30) To grant certain powers to the Agricultural Mutual Insurance Asscciation of Canada, and to change its name. -(Mr. Macmillan.) Bill (No. 31) To amend the Act incorporating the Sydenham Harbour Company. -(Mr. Gibbs, South Ontario.) Bill (No. 33) To declare Life Assurance Policies non-forfeitable.-(Mr. Trow.) COLONIZATION RAILWAY BILL. (Mr. Mills.) FIRST READING. MR MILLS introduced a Bill (No. 32) To facilitate the colonization of Dominion lands by providing for the incorporation of railway companies and aiding the construction of railways traversing Dominion lands. He said it was provided in this Bill that any number of persons might form themselves into an association for the purpose of constructing railroads between the points designated; that on the payment of a certain sum of money, and the fyling of certain papers in the Department of the Interior, these persons would thereby become proprietors of such railways subject to the fulfilment of the conditions imposed; that at least 50 per cent. of | the capital required for the construction of such a railway should be subscribed, and that 10 per cent. of the amount so subscribed should be paid up; that a Board of Directors should be appointed, with power to pass bylaws for the management of the affairs of the railway company; that, the persons who were appointed directors should be at least shareholders to the extent of $5,000 each in the railway; that certain officers of these companies, the secretary and treasurer, should not be members of the Board of Directors; that any railway so voluntarily incorporated for the purpose of constructing railways in the territory of Canada, could receive aid by grant of public lands; that the Government should have power to appoint a director upon such Board of Directors in such company for the purpose of protecting the public interests; also that in the construction of a certain portion of the railway, they should receive a certain part of the lands to be granted along the line of these roads for the purpose of aiding to construct these roads; that the Governor in Council might, if they deemed it expedient, instead of granting land to such a company, pay over to it as the road was being constructed the pro ceeds derived from the sale of such lands, until the amount paid to such company did not exceed the sum of $10,000 per mile; that, before any arrangement to aid in the construction of railways through the agency of such companies should be binding, the contract or arrangement should be laid before the House of Commons, at least for one month, in the usual manner; that no company could be incorporated under this Act and receive aid for the construction of such a railway having the same general direction direction as the Canadian Canadian Pacific Railway within forty miles of such road; and, further, that the provisions of the General Railway Act of 1868, and the Acts amending the same, should, so far as they were not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, extend to companies incorporated under this Act. Those were the general features of the Bill, the principle of which would be described and discussed more fully when it was submitted for the second | the terms of the agreement with reading. MR. MILLS: I think so. MR. SPEAKER: It has become the practice to introduce them after the first reading. MR. BOWELL said he would like to ask whether the Bill fixed the price of land, which it was proposed to grant as a subsidy, and the number of acres per mile. He understood the hon. the Minister of the Interior to say that, in case the Governor in Council decided to retain the land under their own control, it would be disposed of, and the money paid to the parties who were constructing such a road, until it reached the sum of $10,000 per mile. In case land was given instead of money, was it proposed to fix the price of the land. British Columbia, and my recollection is that in the case of those gentlemen a particular stipulation was made that, if they received employment under the Crown, their pensions lapsed pro tempore. ST. JOHN HARBOUR COMMISSION. QUESTION. MR. DOMVILLE enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government to place the Harbour of St. John, N.B., under commission for the purpose of making the necessary improvements to faciliate commerce? MR. SMITH (Westmoreland): I may say, Mr. Speaker, to the hon. gentleman, that the Government has come to no conclusion in the matter at all; but I may say to him, further, that the Government are prepared to consider favourably any proposition that may be made them by those who are in terested in this matter. ISLE BRULÉE WHARF. QUESTION. MR. ROY enquired, Whether it is true that in the year 1877, and by order of the Government, instructions were given to Mr.Talbot, or any other person, authorizing an examination of locality and certain soundings in connection of a wharf at Isle Brulée, in the with the contemplated construction of a wharf at Isle Brulée, in the county of Kamouraska ? MR. MACKENZIE : I have not been able to ascertain that, and I would be glad if the hon. gentleman would repeat his question on a future day. BAY OF CHALEURS RAILWAY. QUESTION, MR. ROBITAILLE enquired, Whether the Government considered the Bay of Chaleurs Railway a feeder of the Intercolonial Railway, and whether it is the intention of the Government to aid in the construction of the said railway by the loan or gift of iron or steel rails, or in any other manner? MR. MACKENZIE: I am not aware what is known as the Bay of Chaleurs Railway. I have no knowledge of its location, or of where it begins, or where it ends; and it would be impossible for me, without such information, to answer the second part of the question. I would be very glad if the hon. gentleman would give me some information on that point, which he might do privately; and I would be afterwards prepared to answer his question. MIRAMICHI VALLEY RAILWAY. QUESTION. MR. MITCHELL enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government, in the distribution of iron rails to feeders of the Intercolonial Railway, to appropriate any and what quantity of old rails to aid in the construction of the Miramichi Valley Railroad—a road which will be one of the most important feeders which the Intercolonial can possibly have? MR. MACKENZIE: Well, I do not know that it is one of the most important feeders of the Intercolonial Railway; it may be so, and it may not. That is not a question. It is a matter open to debate. MR. SPEAKER: That part of the question is out of order. an MR. MITCHELL: He need not swer that part of the question. My object is gained. MR. MACKENZIE : Well, Mr. Speaker, the Government have no iron rails to dispose of, or that they intend to dispose of, and what they do not have would be of very little use. The Order in Council which was passed under the authority of a resolution of this House disposed of all the rails that the Railroad Superintendent said would be available; and, as I said in reply to a question put on another day by my hon. friend from Cape Breton (Mr.MacKay) if the roads which have had the rails assigned to them are not proceeded with, it would be then open for Parliament to make some other decision with respect to those rails that would not be used by the roads to which they were assigned. TELEGRAPH LINE FROM CHATHAM TO ESCUMINAC. QUESTION. MR. MITCHELL enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government to construct a line of telegraph from Chatham to Escuminac, in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee of the House last Session? MR. MACKENZIE: I have no recollection of the recommendation of any Committee on the subject; but the subject has not been discussed by the Government at all. MR. MITCHELL: I can tell the hon. gentleman that a Committee did recommend it. PASSENGER AND FREIGHT DEPOT AT ST. JOHN, N. B. QUESTION. MR. DOMVILLE enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government to purchase any land in the vicinity of the passenger and freight depot at St. John, N.B., with a view of erecting a new station-house for passengers; if such is the intention, what properties are proposed to be purchased? MR. MACKENZIE: The Government have ro intention of the kind at the present moment. The subject has been under discussion in the Department, because the hon. gentleman is aware that this passenger station is at least a very unsatisfactory one; and the Government have been considering what steps should be taken to effect some improvement there; but no decided action has been resolved upon with respect to any properties, or, indeed, as to the precise plans which may have to be adopted, only something will have to be done before long to remedy existing evils at this station. FOG-WHISTLE ON RACE ROCKS. QUESTION. MR. THOMPSON (Cariboo) enquired, Whether it is the intention of the Government to construct a fogwhistle on Race Rocks, in accordance with the recommendation of the Agent of the Department of Marine and Fisheries for British Columbia. |