while he agreed to the expenditure of this sum of money on that or some other public work of national importance in that quarter, that he ought not to be called upon to agree to the expenditure of that amount of money on this public work, until there was a case before the Hons, on which Parliament could safely pronounce."

That was the statement upon which the hon. gentleman induced the Government to take a million dollars out of the estimates and vote $20,000 for the Hon. John Young and other gentlemen to enjoy a pleasant summer excursion, while they were destroying by unjust means the construction of the Baie Verte Canal. How did the Hon. Minister of Justice carry out h's pledge? The other day the member for Cape Breton brought up the question of the extension of the road from Canso to Louisburg, which would have the effect of bringing Montreal and New York very much nearer to Europe than was possible under any existing line. Did the Minister of Justice say he was prepared to sustain the Government in bringing forward a policy for the construction of this extension of the great railroad system of the country? No; not only did he say nothing in favour aiding that important national work, but he turned his back on all his pledges, and when he had an opportunity to do justice to that section of the country, instead of availing himself of it, he sustained the Minister of Public Works in cutting down the work on the St. Peter's Canal without asking the consent of this House. In the history of the Parliament of Canada, from the hour it was formed until now, he challenged the Minister of Justice to show an instance in which such an outrage was attempted in the interference with an appropriation passed upon by the House. The principle was the same as if it had been applied to the Welland Canal after Parliament had decided that it should be enlarged to a certain size and the Minister of Public Works should take it upon himself to give out tenders for an enlargement

on a smaller scale.

No Government had ever to face such a dereliction of duty and such contempt of Parliament, and it was no wonder that the hon. gentleman asked for the postponement of this question

until the engineer was present. But why did he want the engineer? That gentleman had staked his professional reputation on his report that the trade of the country required that the canal should be enlarged to a certain size. After taking nearly two years to consider the matter, the Government had adopted the report on the estimato submitted. These facts spoke for themselves. He did not think that there was an independent member on either side of the House who would sustain such a proceeding as this, and surrender the power entrusted to them by the people for the protection of the public interests. The history of the Parliament, and of the Governments of Canada, might be searched without finding a precedent for such a course as the Administration had adopted in this relation. He thought, as the Government had succeeded in having the plans and estimates for the enlargement of this canal amended, another year having passed without a blow being struck, it was due to the House and country that every effort should be made to obtain without delay the construction of this work according to the plans and specifications agreed upon by the House a year ago, but instead of that a contract had been made for this work on a reduced plan that will defeat the object and wasto the money expenditure.

On the suggestion of the Hon. Mr. Blake, the debate on this subjeet, was adjourned.

TRUST COMPANY OF CANADA. Mr. WORKMAN moved the second reading of the Bill, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Trust Company of Canada.

Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD begged to point out to his hon. friend, that, owing to the similarity of this title with the designation of the "Trust and Loan Company," which since 1844, great conhad existed since fusion and inconvenience would He hope that his hon. friend would result if no change was made. communicate this matter to the parties for whom he was acting.

Mr. WORKMAN replied, that he would take the earliest opportunity to do so.

and one that would prevent the continual recurrence of panics.

A bill founded on the resolution was then introduced.

COUNTY Court judGES IN NOVA

ECOTIA.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE moved the second reading of a Bill to provide for the salaries of County Court Judges in the Province of Nova Scotia, and for other purposes.

Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD asked for an explanation of the Bill.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE said it was the same Bill as that introduced by him last Session.

He thought his hon. friend would agree that it would hardly do to give County Court Judges enjoying a limited juris diction, with a comparatively small amount of work, a salary within one hundred dollars of that given to a Puisne Judgo of the Superior Court. He would say that he did not himself think that the judicial salaries in soveral parts of the Dominion were on a satisfactory footing. He would say at this juncture as he had said in reply to applications the Government had received from all parts of the Dominion on the subject, that it was his purpose to give a full and careful consideration to the position of all judicial salaries during the recess. As to what the result of that

consideration might be, or as to what he might suggest to his colleagues, or what their determination might be was Ho entirely a matter for the future. would say generally that this was not a time when it was very easy or pro

In

Hon. Mr. BLAKE said the House was, no doubt, aware of the circumstances under which the County Court Judgeships were established in Prince Edward Island. Prior to Confederation the salaries of the County Court Judges were raised to $2,000 a year, at a time when the Superior Court Judges were receiving only $1,900 a year. After Confederation, the salary of the Chief Justice was raised from $1,900 to $3,000 a year, and the salaries of the Puisne Judges were raised to $2,500. the same Act it was proposed to arrange the salaries of the County Court Judges so that they should not be less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 a year. He was informed that He was informed that the functions of County Court Judges were comparatively limited. In Prince Edward Island there was one County Court Judge to every 33,000 of the population, whereas in Nova Scotia there was only one to every 60,000 of the population. He merely made these observations to show that there were reasons why the rule of equality suggested by his hon. friend could not be applied in considering the salaries of the judges of any particular place.

increase salaries. Ile felt that the financial condition of the country was

not such as to enable them to do that which they otherwise might not be unwilling to do in this direction.

Hon. Mr. ROBITAILLE said he was

glad to hear that the salaries of the judges were to be considered, and called particula: attention to the judgeships of Saguenay, Gaspé and Bonaventure, the salaries of which required revision.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE-Can the hon. gentleman state whether they have an equal amount of work?

Hon. Mr. ROBITAILLE—The hon. gentleman is in a better position to know than I am.

The Bill then passed through Committee of the Whole (Mr. Scatcherd in the Chair), and was read the third time and passed.

THE SUPREME COURT.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE moved the second reading of the Bill to make further provision in regard to the Supreme Court and Exchequer Court of Canada. He said he did not intend to ask to have it referred to Committee of the Whole on this occasion. He proposed to introduce some additional amendments, and with a view to giving the

The Bill was read the second time.

THE SUPERANNUATION ACT.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE moved that the House go into Committee to consider the following resolution:-That it is expedient to provide that the provisions of the Canada Civil Service Act, 1868, and any Acts amending the same, and of the "Act for better ensuring the efficiency of the Civil Service of Canada, by providing for the superannuation of persons employed therein in certain cases," and any Acts amending the same, shall extend and apply

to the officers. clerks and servants of the Supreme Court of Canada and of the Exchequer Court of Canada, at the scat of Government.-Carried.

The House went into Committee,Mr. Scatcherd in the Chair.

Hon. Mr. TUPPER wished to know whether the public officers from whose salaries the Government deducted a certain per centage on account of the superannuation fund, were entitled on having their offices abolished or their services dispensed with in any other way than by dismissal, to an allowance.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE said the law on

that subject was on the statute book. There was a special provision in case of the abolition of their offices. It was permissive, not imperative.

Hon. Mr. TUPPER said he wished to take this opportunity to draw attention to cases of great hardship.

Hon. Mr. CARTWRIGIIT suggested that it would be better to do so in the discussion on the estimates.

The resolution was reported without amendment and referred to the Committee on Bill No. 22.

EXTENSION OF ACTS TO PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

The House went into Committee to sider the following resolution :-That it is expedieut to extend the Act 33 Victoria, chapter 47, respecting weights and measures, and the Act 38 Victoria, chapter 36 respecting the marking of casks containing merchantable liquids with their respective capacity,. and the Act 36 Victoria,

tion of gas and gas meters, to the Province of Prince Edward Island, including in such extension the powers. given to the Governor in Council to make tariffs of fees for services performed in carrying the said Acts into effect; and to repeal such Acts of the Legislature of the said Province as may be inconsistent with the said Acts.

The resolution was reported without amendment.

Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD wished to know why all the Dominion laws were not extended to Prince Edward Island as to the other provinces. It was desirable that there should be uni

formity in this respect.

Hon. Mr. LAIRD replied it was not well to make too sudden changes. These laws should be extended gradually to the Province. He introduced a bill founded on the resolution.

The bill was read the first time.

THE GRANT TO MANITOBA. Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE moved that the House go into Committee to con sider the following resolution :---That under the circumstances appearing in the Minute of Council of 25th October, 1875, upon the finances of the Province of Manitoba, laid before the House, it is expedient that Canada should pay as a temporary annual grant to that Province the sum of $2,745.96 yearly by semi-annual instalmeuts, being the amount necessary in order to raise its revenue derivable from Canada to $90,000. Such grant to commenco from the 1st day of July, 1875, and to continue until the close of the year 1881.

Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD suggested as this was an important measure, it should be allowed to stand

over.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the resolution could be adopted, and the discussion could take place on the second reading of the Bill.

The House then went into Committee on the Bill, which was reported and the report concurred in.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE introduced a Bill founded on the resolution, which was read the first time.

The House adjourned at Eleven o'clock, p. m.

The motion was carried.

The House then went into Committee of the Whole on the Bill, Mr. Scatcherd in the Chair.

The first section was agreed to.
Upon the second section

Hon.Mr.TUPPER said that the practical operation of this Act had been that so soon as the sitting member was willing to give up his seat the proceedings necessarily terminated, because there was no one to carry them on against. It appeared to him that there ought, in the first instance, to be some means provided for an investigation in cases where the Judge believed corruption had prevailed extensively, even if the sitting member abandoned his seat, with a view of preventing an enquiry into the circumstances of the election.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE said there were

inconveniences and difficulties on both hands. It was not until within the last two or three years that any writ could issue except by order of the House. Complaints were made from the benches opposite as to the practical operation of the present law. It was pointed out the public were interested in having a searching investigation into electoral corruption. He had

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never denied the justice of this observation, at the same time that he had expressed the opinion it was impossible to compel petitioners to proceed if they did not wish to, and even if they could be compelled it would be unlikely to do good, while it would involve large expense private individuals for a public end. If this was regarded as impracticable or impolitic, some other means must be adopted, and the only way was by some such proceeding as he proposed in this Bill. There was another alternative—instead of adopting the English rule it could be made the duty of the Governor in Council, upon such reports, to at once issue a commission of enquiry. It might be more expeditiously done in that way; but looking at the comparatively short time between the general election as a rule, and the meeting of the House, there was no necessity for it. Very soon after the first meeting of Parliament the question would be considered. It might, if expedient, stay the issue of the writ or not until an investigation was had. He thought it was of high importance there should be some means of pointing out to a whole constituency, where extensive corruption was practiced, that it must suffer. This was not new-it was an old and wholesome law. He submitted these clauses to the House, and would accept any suggestions to improve them, in the spirit they were made.

Hon. Mr. TUPPER said this clause would leave them in a worse position than before they had the Controverted Elections Act. Prior to that a sworn tribunal, drawn by ballot to avoid party predominance the Committee, tried the case. That was found

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it

because unsatisfactory was impossible to divest members, sitting in antagonism to each other, from being influenced by party feeling. This proposition would lead to something a thousand times worse. It threw back into this House the question, to be decided by an unsworn tribunal, whether a writ should issue.

Hon. Mr.BLAKE would be very sorry indeed to be the introducer of the system of trying controverted elections by this House. The suggestion of the