mass of the people; but, in so doing, they cannot avoid, apparently, trampling upon some interests which they have no desire to treat in this manner. And if commercial men at present imagine that we have wantonly neglected their interests, and wantonly avoided giving them any relief in our power, I have only to state that it was impossible for any Government to give a more earnest, serious, dispassionate and prolonged consideration to their interests than they have done. many steps further from it than they were before; and if they attempt in this country to act in the interests of a class instead of in the interests of the whole people, the whole people will not, Sir, sustain those who support a partial principle. Mr. MACDONALD (Centre Toronto)---I think I must, in justice to myself, detain the House for two or three minutes before a vote is taken. The resolution of the hon. gentleman from West Montreal is so worded that it must succeed in securing the votes of those who have the most opposite opinions. It propounds a principle without defining a rate, and therefore those hon. gentlemen who have the most op The hon. gentlemen opposite say that the course we have taken has placed them many years nearer to power than they were three weeks ago; and this expression seemed to give the hon. gentleman infinite pleasure, judg-posite views may equally vote for it. I ing from the gusto with which he delivered it. Well, Sir, it was not necessary to affirm anything of that sort to keep up appearances; and I do not grudge the hon. gentleman any little satisfaction he may obtain by expressing such an opinion. Sir, I do not care if in the exercise of our duty to the country-for I believe that the Government ought to act in the interests of the great mass-this course brings the hon. gentleman nearer to power or not I do not want to retain power at the expense of principle. And if it be the only object of an Opposition or a political party to get several steps nearer to power, why, Sir, the hon. gentleman knows that some of us might have occupied such a position many years ago. I believe that we are firmer now than on the day when the Finance Minister announced the policy of the Government. The course we have pursued dissatisfies some of our own political friends in the House, whom I grieve to say are opposed to our policy; bat nevertheless, although it may have alienated them in this or in anything else, we have pursued the only course open to us as a Government under the peculiar circumstances in which we were placed. I believe that it will commend itself to the House and country; and instead of bringing my hon. friends opposite several steps nearer to power-to that power for which they long so much, and which is ever on their lips -I am conscious that it removes them a great Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE. * nounce announced that the may state, however, that this junc- I languishing industries, so have gentlemen on the Treasury Benches. I have taken down for example the words of the Finance Minister on the subject, and before recording my vote I wish to ask him what he means by the following:-"I "I do not wish to lose sight of the fair play due to our manufactures." I wish to ask the Minister of Finance if by these words he understands that if new dangers should arise to our industries, no our industries, no remedies are to be provided for those dangers? I wish to ask if, in the everchanging phases of trade, manufactures languish, there are no remedies to be found. I wish to know if there is such an undue desire to provide for the nineteen-twentieths there is no determination shown to make provision for the other twentieth The Minister of Finance said that he was not prepared to legislate for one-twentieth part of the population to the exclusion of nineteen-twentieths; but I ask whether if the latter have rights, the former do not also possess them? If the hon. gentleman would pause for a moment, he would have thought that the class which has invested eighty millions in plant and in the development of the industries of this country, annually expending forty millons of dollars and employing two hundred thousand persons were entitled to consideration. If three pensions are allowed to each of the 200,000, which would be a fair allowance for each family, it would give a total of 600,000, equal to more than oneeighth of our population; and if you add those who are dependant for support upon other industries, you have as many more, or fully one-fourth of our entire population interested in manufactures. He will agree with me that this is something more than onetwentieth. I will simply ask in conclusion, whether the Finance Minister will announce to this House--because I hold that a hasty adjustment of the tariff would be a dangerous experiment--whether after he has patiently investigated and looked into the claims of these languishing industries, he will provide such measures as will save them from destruction. It is due to me that this question should be answered before I record my vote. Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGHT-I do not propose at this hour to enter on my reply to the right hon. member for Kingston, or to make any reference to matters that have arisen in this debate, I merely rise to answer the question of the hon. member for Centre Toronto. Undoubtedly circumstances may arise -we have never denied that they might arise-which will require further action at our hands. Our position is simply that we see no occasion at present for taking further action. The members were then called in,and a division was taken with the following result : De St. Georges, Short, De Veber, Sinclair, Dymond, Skinner, Ferris, Smith (Peel), St. Jean, Smith (Selkirk), Smith (Westmoreland), Snider, Stirton, Taschereau, Thibaudeau, Hon. Mr. TUPPER-I invite an explanation of the object of the Bill. + Mr. TASCHEREAU-It is intended to amend section 102 of the Dominion Elections Act of 1874. Hon. Mr. TUPPER-How does the hon. gentleman propose to deal with cases in which the judges have declared parties disqualified under the Thompson (Haldimand) law, who after such disqualification Thomson (Welland), Tremaine, Trow, Vail, Wallace (Albert), The amendment was then declared resolved in the negative; majority, 55. The following gentlemen paired upon the question :----Mr. Rochester for the amendment, with Mr. Blackburn against; Mr. Currier for, with Mr. Power against; Mr. Ouimet for, with Mr. against. The House then went into Committee of the Whole, Mr, Scatcherd in the Chair. The item $9,550 for Administration of Justice was passed, and the Committee rose and reported progress. The House adjourned at Twenty minutes past One a.m. HOUSE OF COMMONS. WEDNESDAY, March 8, 1876. The SPEAKER took the Chair at ten minutes past Three o'clock. have been whitewashed through a Bill introduced into a Local Legislature for the purpose of destroying the decision of the judge. This House has not adopted such a policy, and I trust that it never will. I hope that having adopted the system of trial of controverted elections by judges, their decisions when rendered will be respected by this Parliament. As the hon. gentleman has introduced a Bill, which is to cause action to be taken in this House upon disqualifications in connection with the Local Legislatures, I trust that he will provide that this Parliament will only regard the judicial decision, and not any act of any Local Legislature by which contempt is thrown upon these judgments. Mr.TASCHEREAU-I will take the suggestion of the hon. member into consideration. Mr. OLIVER- To empower the Canada Southern Railway Company to issue preferential stock. INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I beg leave to introduce a Bill entitled an Act respecting the Intercolonial Railway. This is simply intended to remove all doubts as to the power of the Government to act under a former statute regarding the Halifax extension. TRANSLATION OF THE DEBATES. Hon. Mr. BLANCHET-I ask for information concerning the translation of the debates. We have received only a small portion as yet in French, and I would like to know what progress is being made. Mr. BOWELL—The Chairman is not here, and I am unable to give any information. The Committee has not been called together, and I have no knowledge whatever of what has been done. The whole matter is in the hands of the Chairman of the Committee, who has apparently assumed all responsibility. QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS-HALIFAX STATION. Mr. DOMVILLE Was the iron station now at Halifax awaiting erection purchased privately or by public tender, and from whom? Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-I have already stated that the iron roof was not obtained by tender, but purchased from Clarke, Reeves & Co., of Philadelphia, at a cost of $12,800. THE DECK-LOADS' LAW. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL Whether any report has been made by the Port Warden of Quebec to the Collector of that Port, or to the Department of Marine and Fisheries, in relation to a violation during the season of 1875 of a Act intituled "An Act respecting Deck-Loads," 36 Victoria, Cap. 56 by the barque N. Churchill; or whether such violation of said law has been brought to the notice of said department in any other way; also whether such vessel before clearance by the Customs Department, had the certificates required by sections 5, 6 and 7 of said Act, and whether any prosecution. has been taken against the master of said vessel for violations of the Provisions of said Act for the penaltics provided under sections 8, 9 and 10 of said Act or the punishment of imprisonment to which the master of said vessel is liable? Hon. Mr. SMITH--Some correspondence in this connection is now before the House, and I presume that my hon. friend has seen it. Steps have been instituted to prosecute, but the vessel in question has never returned. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL―The captain and vessel have been in the country all winter. I am glad to learn that my hon. friend has taken steps in the matter,and this is quite satisfactory to me. My hon. friend has not, however, stated toms Department, the vessels had the whether before clearance by the Cuscertificates required by sec. 5, 6, and 7. Hon. Mr. SMITH-My hon. friend will see by the correspondence, that there has not been so great a violation of the law, as he anticipated the correspondence would show. The Government will prosecute if the law has been violated. PORTAGE ISLAND. Hon. Mr. MITCHELL-Whether the arrangements and negociations carried on in 1872 and 1873, between the Canadian Government and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, for the transfer of Portage Island in the Bay of Miramichi to the Canadian Government, have resulted in the title of such Island being vested in the Government of Canada? Hon. Mr. SMITH-I believe that the title is not complete. I am not aware of the existence of any return in this regard. JUDGE AT SOREL. Mr. GILL-Is it the intention of the Government to take the necessary measures to have a resident Judge at Sorel during the leave of absence granted to the Honorable Mr. Justice Loranger? Hon. Mr. BLAKE-The Government have taken steps to supply his place during his term of absence. Some correspondence which has passed on the subject is at the disposal of the House, if the hon. member will move for it. CHENAL ECARTÉ. Mr. STEPHENSON ---Will any sum be put into the Supplementary Estimates, or be otherwise provided this year for the purpose of prosecuting the work already begun for the improvement of the navigation of the Chenal Ecarté at its confluence with Lake St. Clair ? Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-It is not the intention of the Government to touch that channel this year. INLAND REVENUE. Mr. BECHARD-Is it the intention of the Government to have published Mr. OLIVER said he was confident this information would be acceptable to the House and country if it could be furnished in the future. The motion was dropped. GLACE BAY HARBOUR MASter. Mr. McDONALD (Cape Breton) moved for a return of moneys paid to Mr. Henry Mitchell, Harbour Master of the Port of Glace Bay, in Cape Breton. Mr. McDonald said it was claimed that this harbour was private property. The apMcDonald said it was claimed that this and Orders in Council affecting the pointment was very unpopular and altoInland Revenue of Canada, 1875,"gether unnecessary in the public inteInland Revenue of Canada, 1875," rest. The appointment was not asked for which the Department of Inland Rev- by any one interested in the matter, and enue has just published? in French the book intituled "Laws Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE--Yes. THE SUPREME COURT. Hon. Mr. BLANCHET moved for a return of the number of suits instituted before the Supreme Court, and of the number of judgments recorded. Hon. Mr. BLAKE said the Supreme Court was one of appeal, and suits were not instituted there, but brought from other Courts. The Government had no power to ascertain what decisions had been rendered, but he would take steps to communicate with the officers of the Court, and obtain a return, which he had reason to believe would not be voluminous. The motion was carried. THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE. Mr. OLIVER moved for a statement of loss to the Post Office Department by the sending of certain papers and documents free of postage during the last Session of the Ontario and Quebec Legislatures. Hon. Mr. HUNTINGTON said the Post Office Department was not in a position to give the information_desired. It was provided by the Post Office Act that certain documents and other matters mentioned therein might be sent free of postage. There had been no record kept, and therefore no return could be furnished. The motion of the hon. gentleman, however, would place the Government in such a position as to be able to furnish the information next year. he understood a few months after it was made the official was asked to resign. The impression at the place was that the appointment was made for the political services of the official. He (Mr. McDonald) wished to see the correspondence to ascertain whether such was the case or not, and that the public might know the facts. Hon. Mr. SMITH said he was not aware that this gentleman was a friend of the Government. He (Mr. Smith) could furnish the information off hand if it would satisfy his hon. friend, but was quite willing to bring down the papers if he desired it. Mr. MACKAY (Cape Breton) thought the hon. gentleman was a little astray in supposing that the harbour is private property. If the hon. gentleman took the trouble to look into the subject he would find that under the rules and regulations of the Government of Nova Scotia, the Governor in Council before Confederation had power to make the appointment. The samo power that then was given to the Governor in Council was now vested in the Marine and Fisheries Department. There was another reason why the appointment of harbour master at the Port of Glace Bay was necessary, and that was that the Dominion Act gave certain powers to the harbour master whereby he could compel obedience to any orders he gave in connection with tle safety of the harbour. This harbour being located almost immediately on the Atlantic ocean, required a good deal of supervision to prevent masters of vessels from throwing ballast or |