fully required for the accommodation of the engineering staff of the Public Works Department. He remarked that a mistake had been made in laying out the interior of the Departmental Buildings from the beginning. The rooms were too small, and in most cases quite unfitted for the work to be done in them. There ought to have been several large rooms where the majority of the clerical work could be done, and where supervision would be much simpler and more complete. This had been attended to in the new wing. The item was agreed to. MILITIA ESTIMATES. Mr. IRVING suggested that some militia officers, young men not below the rank of captain, might have accompanied the Major-General in his trip across the country, and the cost of it would have been small in comparison to the advantage. The Major - General might at an early day go to some other quarter of the globe, and the information he had acquired would thus be lost. Instances of this kind happened already. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL desired some There from the Minister of Militia. could be no excuse for this, and he was sure if it had been inspected by Col. Walker Powell he would never have allowed such clothing to be taken from the hands of the contractor. There was no reason why cloth should be accepted that a single rain would change from scarlet to black, and reduce the caps to pulp. The Minister should explain who was the contractor, who was the inspector, and how such articles were allowed to pass. at Hon. Mr. VAIL said the object in the first place in getting the militia clothing made in this country was to give to Canada the benefit of the work. It originated before he came into office, and he was happy to endorse that policy. Tenders for cloth maufactured in Canada had been extensively advertised, tenders to be received by sample, the lowest had been accepted and the contract was carried out in good faith. It must be understood that Canadian manufacturers had not arrived the same degree of proficiency in making cloth as they had in England, especially scarlet cloth, which was the most difficult in the world to manufacture so as to stand the effects of sun and rain. The fact was the Canadian cloth had not come up to his expectations. As to the caps, they had been bought cheap as an experiment, as a substitute for the Glengarry caps which in hot weather exposed the men's necks and faces to the sun too much. Mr. MACDONALD (Toronto) ob information as to the expense of that trip, which the Minister of Militia said he would give, but it would not be injected to the statement of the Ministhe Public Accounts until next fiscal year. ter of Militia going abroad respecting Canadian cloth, as it would have a prejudicial effect. Canadian cloth was equal to cloth made in any part of the world. It was quite true that we had not arrived at the same proficiency in dying as they had attained in the old country, but it did not necessarily follow that because British soldiers wore scarlet uniforms that our militia men should be dressed in scarlet also. Why not dress our men in national grey cloth, that could be produced here most effectively. Give the manufacturers a chance and they would produce an article equal to anything manufactured in the world for durability and comfort. The item was carried. On motion of Mr. MILLS, the time for receiving reports of Committees on Private Bills was extended until the 8th of April. The House adjourned at Ten minutes past Six o'clock p.m. HOUSE OF COMMONS. MONDAY, April 3, 1876. The SPEAKER took the Chair at Three o'clock. INSOLVENT ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. CARON moved that the Bill to amend the Insolvent Act of 1875 be read the second time on Thursday next. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE questioned whether such motion was in order without due notice being placed on the paper, the Bill having been negatived on a previous occasion. After some discussion, Mr. SPEAKER not having had time to consult the authorities, was disposed to rule that the motion was in order. Hon. Mr. BLAKE then moved in amendment that all after the word "that" in the motion be struck out, and the words "three months" inserted instead thereof. Mr. CARON said non-traders were excluded from the operation of the Insolvent Law of 1875, and if it were decided that this provision must continue a portion of the Act, it was only fair that they should not be obliged to accept any compromise or composition which might be appor tioned to traders under that Act. If they could not avail themselves of the advantages of the Act, if advantages they were, they ought not to be subjected to its disadvantages. What would be the result if they were? The result would be that while a farmer was compelled to accept a compromise ---to accept a very small proportion of the debt due to him he was himself compelled to pay to the very same class of men one hundred cents on the dollar, and could be forced to pay whatever balance might be due at any time he could be got at. It was but right and just under the circumstances that a farmer should only be compelled Mr. MACDONALD. to accept a dividend upon an insolvent estate as part payment of the debt due to him, and that he should be entitled at any opportunity to claim payment in full. Mr. MACDONALD (Toronto) said it was very clear that the passage of this Bill would simply render the Insolvent Act utterly inoperative, and would prevent a merchant who had got into difficulties from getting a new start. A non-trader refusing to give discharge would prevent an insolvent trader from getting a settlement, and from beginning business again. He thought it a great pity that minor amendments should be forced upon the consideration of the House in regard to a law so recently passed. He had received many suggestions from his constituents the better course to take all these sugfor amendments, but he regarded it as gestions into consideration during the recess, and if alterations were necessary, to have them made after the law had been fairly tried. Hon. Mr. POPE was quite in favour of providing that the farmers should not be put in a position to become bankrupt, but he also thought they should not be obliged to accept as a final payment of a debt any compromise which might be offered by an insolvent trader. If the farmer was to be compelled to accept of such a dividend as final payment, he ought to himself have the benefit of the Insolvent Act. Mr. COLBY did not think the Insol vency Act was for the public benefit, but if we were to have it at all, it would be better not to engraft such an amendment as this upon it. With such a provision as this he could not conceive of a more mongrel law than the Insolvent Act would be. Mr. PALMER thought it would be a pity if such an arbitrary precedent as that which the motion of the Minister of Justice constituted were to be established. He, however, thought it a perfect monstrosity to pass such an amendment as this, and he was in favour of giving the farmer the benefit of the Act, if any benefit there were. Mr. POULIOT supported the Bill upon the ground that the farmer was at present placed in a very unfair and unjust position, and ought not to be compelled to accept a dividend of an insolvent trader as final. Mr. WOOD said this matter was referred to a Special Committee last year and received very careful consideration and the Bill as reported also received careful consideration by the House. He thought therefore it would be unwise to tamper with the measure now. If the law was changed as proposed they might as well sweep it off the Statute Book altogether. It would be a great calamity to allow any farmer to go into insolvency. The law should not be interfered with until after a proper trial as to its utility. Mr. WHITE saw no objection to the amendment, and indeed thought it would be in the interests of the agricultural community. It was only just that farmers should have the same rights and privileges as merchants, and he hoped the hon. Minister of Justice would allow the motion to carry. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD said during his long Parliamentary experience he had never heard a motion like that of his hon. friend for Quebec County objected to before. When the motion was placed on the Orders of the Day would have been the proper time to introduce the amendment. The course of the Minister of Justice might introduce an undesirable precedent. Hon. Mr. BLAKE thought the right hon. member for Kingston was scarcely correct in suggesting that the course was unprecedented, and gave two instances of similar motions. He quite agreed that they should not avail themselves of such an amendment unless the House had an opportunity of discussing the matter; but this bill had already been debated and decided adversely. There was another Bill in respect to the Insolvent Act which was now in Committee. The Government had deelared its policy in regard to this Act at an early stage in the Session, which was to allow it to operate for another year with only the slight amendments which it was generally necessary to incorporate into such measures. He thought the second reading of the Bill in question having been negatived, he was consulting the convenience of the House and country by proposing to reach a conclusion at once on the subject. Hon. Mr. TUPPER suggested that the motion should be allowed to go on the Notice Paper, when the principle for which the Hon. Minister of Justice was contending could be more properly discussed. Mr. GALBRAITH thought the farmers, who did not come within the provisions of the Act, had no right to suffer from its operation. Wholesale merchants in dealing with the agriculturists generally realised a large profit, but the latter made very little by these transactions, and he did not believe it was fair or right they should suffer. Mr. SPEAKER quoted from the English Hansard of 1864 with regard to the question of procedure, and ruled the present motion in order. Mr. SCATCHERD thought the question invoked by this Bill had received but little consideration; at any rate it had not been brought forcibly to his attention before. He did not understand the principle that one man should be discharged from his debts and another man should not have the same privilege. He was opposed to the Insolvent Law, which he did not think was required in this county, and as the motion was in the right direction and favoured the placing of the farmers on an equality with the mercantile community, he would vote against the amendment. Hon. Mr. BLAKE withdrew his amendment, and the motion was carried. SEWING MACHINE SHUTTLES. Mr. COLBY moved the second read ing of the Bill to enable Ozro Morrill to obtain a patent for certain inventions and improvements in sewing machine shuttles. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the Department would take means of satisfying itself that the improvements were of such a nature as might reasonably cause a doubt to be entertained as to whether the former patent did or did not cover the object sought by this measure. If not, the patent would be granted, but otherwise the present arrangement would not be in- | Federal Parliament dealing with the terfered with. The Committee rose and reported the Bill, and the third reading was fixed for to-morrow. ST. LAWRENCE BANK. The House went into Committee-Mr. Bowell in the chair-on the Bill to amend the charter of "The St. Lawrence Bank," and to change the name of the said bank to that of "The Standard Bank of Canada" (as amended by Standing Committe on Banking and Commerce). The Committe rose and reported the Bill, which was read the third time and passed. DIOCESE OF RUPERT'S Land. On item four being called, House in Committee on Bill (No. 71) ----An Act to incorporate the Synod of the Church of England, Diocese of Rupert's Land (as amended by Standing Committee on Private Bills,) subject. It was obvious that if this present unsatisfactory condition of affairs continued, the difficulties surrounding such legislation would become greater, year after year, as those applications would become more numerous and the demands with reference to land holding, &c., would become more exacting. The Government proposed, during the recess, to look into the question of constitutionality, and to obtain an opinion on the subject from the Judges. If it were determined that Parliament had the right to grant the powers asked by this and other Bills, a general law dealing with the ques tion would be introduced. To attempt to pass an Act this Session would, in a measure, defeat the end of carefully considering the subject, and would leave the door open for injurious con sequences. Hon. Mr. CAMERON (Cardwell) said he would not press the measure in the face of the objections raised by his hon. friend the Minister of Justice. He, however, remarked that this Bill really provided for nothing which was not contained in the Bill for the union of the Synod for the Lower Provinces with that of the Upper Provinces, which had been agreed to in this Parliament. He moved that the order be discharged. Mr. MILLS said, with the amendments proposed, he had supported the measure in the Private Bills Committee, but the hon. member for Cardwell would remember that he had already expressed an opinion adverse to it on the constitutional point. The order was then discharged: MISCELLANEOUS PRIVATE BILLS. The House then went into Com Hon. Mr. BLAKE said this Bill, with measures of a similar character, had been under the consideration of the Government, and he would suggest to his hon. friend from Cardwell the expediency of not proceeding further this Session. It would be within the recollection of the House that a year since a measure was passed to incorpo-mittee of the Whole on the Bill to inrate the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, giving them power to hold lands throughout the Dominion, and to carry on their operations. Another measure was introduced at an earlier period, containing similar provisions. These measures were not much debated at the time, but there was cousiderable doubt on the part of the legal members as to the constitutionality of the corporate the National Loan and Life Assurance Company of Canada-Mr. Blain in the Chair. The various clauses of the Bill were agreed to, and reported with some verbal amendments. The Bill was then read the third time, the name having been changed to the Union Assurance Company of Canada. The Bill to incorporate the Canada Assurance Corporation also passed through Committee of the Whole, was read the third time and passed; as were the Bill to incorporate the Chartered Bank of London and British America, and the Bill respecting Loans by the British American Land Com pany. BRAS D'OR LAKE LIGHT-House. Mr. TREMAINE enquired whether it is the intention of the Government to build a dwelling for the keeper of MacKenzie's Point Light House, north side Bras d'Or Lake, County of Victoria, N. S., and if so, when? Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-It is the intention. VETERANS OF 1812. Mr. BARTHE enquired why the Government have refused to pay to the Veterans of 1812, who reside temporarily in the United States, their share of the bonus voted in 1875, the Act making no distinction? Why the Government have refused to pay to Michael Heroux, of the Parish of St. Robert, County of Richelieu, the amount of his claim? Hon. Mr. VAIL-I stated some time ago in answer to a question, that we found the English practice is not to make payments in cases of this nature, and I fancy the same principle will and I fancy the same principle will apply with propriety in Canada. QUEBEC POST OFFICE. Mr. CARON enquired why, and in accordance with what instructions does the Postmaster of Quebec refuse to sell postage stamps at the said office, contrary to the Act regulating the Postal Service? Also, whether it is the intention of the Government to provide a remedy for this breach of the law? Hon. Mr. HUNTINGTON—The Government is under the impression that the Postmaster of Quebec is acting according to his instructions. MINERAL RESOURCES OF CAPE BRETON. Mr. TREMAINE enquired whether it is the intention of the Government to send a geologist to Cape Breton to report upon the mineral resources of the Island. Hon. Mr. LAIRD-The Department has had a geologist in Cape Breton for the last two years, and it is probable there will be one there for a short time this season also. DUTY ON BRITISH COLUMBIA FISH. Mr. DECOSMOS enquired whether negotiations are now pending or do the Government intend to open negotiations with the United States with the object of extending the Troaty of Washington to British Columbia, in order that the fish and fish oils of that Province may be admitted into the United States, duty free? Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE---There are no negotiations pending at the present time with that object. Very recently it was decided by the United States Government that the Columbia fish could not be admitted to their markets under the Washington Treaty, which opinion was coincided in by the Imperial Government. I may add, however, that we will be very glad to do anything we can to have the privilege extended to British Columbia also. ST. OUR'S LOCKS TOLLS. Mr. CHEVAL enquired whether it is the intention of the Government to continue in force the unjust law regulating the amount which each steamboat has to pay in order to pass through the St. Our's Lock, under which two steamboats of the same size pay, the one 32 cents and the other $1.95 ? Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE----The intention of the Government is, of course, to conform to the law. As I understand it, some of the vessels have been measured under different Statutes, and in this way an apparent injustice arises. The matter has been under the consideration of the Fishery Department and the Department of Justice. |