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other in the Dominion which produced so much corn, as was testified by the census of 1871. The railway from Quebec to the Lake was necessary to the future prosperity of the Province of Quebec, as he could demonstrate were he permitted by the rules of the House. He protested against the injustice done his Province. The Lower Canadian Ministers who slept in their chairs, instead of watching the interests of the Province, were to be blamed for this injustice, for they seemed to have at heart everything but the interest of the Province. Better times would come. At present those on his side of the House could only protest. That is what he did, and what the people in

their turn would do at the next election.

not vote for any motion which could be interpreted as a motion of want of confidence, but he appealed to the fairness of the Government to do justice to Quebec. He appealed to the members of the other Provinces to grant the same justice to Quebec as this Province has rendered to the others. This was the only way to maintain harmony in this great Confederation.

Mr. GAUDET said that in looking at the Budget of this year, he was obliged to say the Government, like an individual after some years of extravagant expenditures, was now in a bad pecuniary position. It was really to be regretted that a larger sum was not this year appropriated for public works, for the people of this country Mr. BARTHE said there were many are in great misery, crying out for emthings pointed out by the hon. gentle- ployment. The City of Montreal man which really ought to receive the proved it in asking the Government to attention of the Government. The commence without delay the works on complaints, he understood, were not the Lachine Canal, in order that the new, and the grounds for them existed poor people could have some means of under the administration of the old gaining their subsistence. Quebec has Government. That they had so ex- also proved the same thing, for its isted he very greatly regretted, as he highest dignity, the Lieutenant Goveralso did that they should have been nor, instead of giving his annual ball, continued by the present occupants of sent the costs of it to a committee of the Treasury Benches. He had some relief to the poor. relief to the poor. This was a genertime ago heard the hon. member for ous and noble action which will pass Bagot make a speech, in which he to posterity, to his and their honour, threatened the Administration with and will show that this high dignitary the vengeance of the people of is not a Conservative as described by the Province of Quebec-in which, in- the member of Drummond and Arthadeed, he predicted that the Liberals baska, whose time was devoted to savwould be swept from the polls, and all ing his own soul and damning his neighwho supported the Government would bours', but a true Conservative doing be beaten. He did not believe that, good among the people. He thought but if anything would tend to defeat that his hon. friend from Chicoutimi supporters of the Government in Que- complained with good reason, regarding bec this would. The people of that the relative treatment of Ontario and Province paid a large share of the tax- | Quebec. He would draw attention to ation of the country, and the same another matter. One of the past cries justice should be done to them as to on the hustings in the Province of Quethe people of the other Provinces. He bec, among the Liberals, had been diunderstood the task of the Govern- rected against the extravagan e of the ment in this large Confederation was Conservative leaders, and about the a difficult one, but the rural districts alleged waste of the public moneys; of Quebec wanted but little and on.y but what proved to be the case when what was fair and just. Justice ought one glanced over the Estimates with to be rendered to them accordingly. regard to the boasted economy of the The Maritime Provinces Provinces had had present Administration? They found better terms and a large share of that the expenditure had been increasthe public money, and it ed in connection with the various Detime some attention was paid to partments in the following manner: the demands of Quebec. He would | In legislation, $92,345; contingent ex

was

penses of Senate and Commons, $23, 931; staff of the Sergeant at Arms $2,321; expenditures authorised by statutes, $5,000; Secretary of the Governor General, $2,198; Privy Council, $2,890; Department of Justice, $6,650; Department of Militia and Defence, $4,676; Secretary of State, $2,412.50; Secretary of the Provinces, $22,760; Receiver General, $3,472.50; Finance Department, $2,796; Customs, $2,665; Inland Revenue, $5,207,50; Public Works, $6,374; Postal Department $18,580; Marine and Fisheries Department, $3,805; Department of the Treasury, $150; and contingent expenses $25,000; total $273,231.50. had looked more in the two budgets, probably he would have found some things yet more extraordinary; but he thought he had said enough to

If he

call the attention of this House to this extravagant increase in the the Departmental expenditures. If this amount was to-day added to expenditure for public works, we could employ a large number of people and thus give them assistance. The decrease of expenditure for public works and the general misery prevailing, were the causes of the exodus of Canadians to the United States through the Province of Quebec; and surely, if a proper policy were pursued, the contrary would be the case.

SUPPLY.

The House then went into Committee of Supply, Mr. Scatcherd in the

chair.

On item 80, Intercolonial Railway Extension into Halifax, $175,000,

Mr. YOUNG asked if it was the intention of the Government to have a formal opening of the Intercolonial?

Mr. PICKARD suggested if there were such an opening, it should be deferred until July, when the snow might be off the ground.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE supposed if the hon. member for Halifax invited them they must go to that city. Seeing the hon. member for North Ontario in his place, in justice to the officers of the boundary survey he would take this opportunity of stating that he had received a letter from Edward Eeles denying that Sunday

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Mr. GORDON said he would have

been glad if this question had been set at rest by this letter. The writer had made statements directly at variance with his information, and he would require stronger proof before he receded from the position he himself assumed.

Mr. KIRKPATRICK asked if the item before the House included the purchase of the right of way?

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said that The work was had been paid over. mostly under contract.

Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN enquired if that sum would complete the work? Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said it would

complete all under contract.

Hon. Mr. TUPPER asked whether it was proposed to deal with the interests of the Halifax City Railway Company by referring their claim to arbitration?

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE was not aware that they had any claims; but if they had they must be dealt with according to law. A letter had been received from Mr. O'Brien complaining that certain rights would be violated by this extension; but no formal claim had been preferred.

Hon. Mr. TUPPER said he had received a communication from Mr. O'Brien stating that the company had certain rights under the Provincial Act with which this Act seemed to conflict.

Mr. JONES (Halifax) said Mr. O'Brien considered he had the right to the whole line of Water street, and that the Government had no right to intercept his track without offering compensation. He proposed to make The line not a claim for damages. yet having crossed the track of the company, he could understand why the Government had no formal intimation of their claim.

Hon. Mr. BLAKE pointed out that there was no special legislation with

reference to the Halifax Street Railway; the same general laws applied to that company as to others.

Hon. Mr. TUPPER said he would bring the matter up again on concur

rence.

The item was then adopted.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND RAILWAY.

| entirely blocked, and this winter it was only partially in operation. He hoped, however, when it was put in proper working order it would cover the working expenses, and after a few years might yield a small revenue. The Province was charged with the full amount for the construction of the road; whatever was gained by the

On item No. 82, appropriating $200,- building of the road being imperfect was by the contractors.

000 for the Prince Edward Island Railway,

Mr. McKAY (Colchester) asked why the Government had built houses for the trackmen employed on the railroad? It was not done on the Intercolonial.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the state of this railway when it came into the hands of the Government was most unsatisfactory. Messrs. Brydges and Ryder surveyed the road and reHon. Mr. MACKENZIE said it was ported that it would require at least an necessary to build them where there expenditure of $84,000 in order to put were no houses for them to live in. it in an efficient state of repair. After After There were several built by the Govsome negotiations with the Island Government on the Intercolonial Railroad.

ernment another examination of the road was made by well-known engiHon. Mr. MITCHELL said there neers who reported that $500 a mile were great complaints among respectwould be required to put it in a able people in the neighbourhood of proper condition, and $5,000 to do work | Bathurst at the manner in which waterthat the contractors were required to tanks and other works on the Interdo by their contract. The first winter colonial had been built. It was alleged the Dominion Government had the road that instead of calling for tenders and under control an extent of snow was giving them to the contractors who developed that was quite astounding. It offered to do them for the lowest price, made it utterly impossible to work on they were built by days' work and the road. During the present winter private jobbers. He merely mentioned great difficulties had been experienced, this to the Premier that he might and it had been necessary to have investigate the matter. snow protection in the shape of high Hon. Mr MACKENZIE said he had fences. New fences had been put up examined the buildings himself and along the road, but they had been found the cost of construction very found to be entirely useless, and they moderate indeed. With regard to the had to refence the entire line. The station at Campbellton, which was sum required would be expended as built of brick, the party who originally follows: high fencing for snow protec- took the contract failed, and the buildtion, $70,000; engine-house, Charlotte-ing was put up by days' labour at a town, $20,000; additional rolling stock, $75,000; trackmen's houses, $10,000; additions to stations and some new stations, $10,000; other improvements, $15,000. This expenditure was considered to be absolutely necessary in

order to work the road.

Mr. SINCLAIR said the Prince Edward Island Railroad had been taken off the contractor's hands in a bad condition. The rolling stock was inferior, and the engines were breaking down before they were three months working. The depth of the snow the first winter was so great the road was

lower price than the original contract. There might have been some irregularities, but if so he did not know of them. Some of the complaints referred to had reached him, and he had given strict injunctions to Mr. Schrieber, an able an honest engineer, not to give out any work whatever except by public tender.

Mr. DOMVILLE Who were the locomotives ordered from?

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Mr. DOMVILLE asked what was the policy of the Government in disposing of old material on those railroads? He asked this because there was a very large amount of iron that came off those roads, and the Premier had laid down as the policy of the Government that they would ask for tenders for the sale of such material. He (Mr. Domville) did not think that had been carried out, a very large amount of old stock in the shape of rails, wheels, &c., having been sold privately.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said his policy was not to sell any rails except such as were unfit for use. Those

the Government sold had brought about $20 a ton, but they proposed, in the course of a few days, to ask the sanction of Parliament to furnish such rails to the lines immediately connecting with the Intercolonial, which would be supposed to bring traffic.

Mr. DOMVILLE wished to know how the Government intended to dispose of such old material as could not be re-used. What was the policy of the Government?

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Our policy is to take the highest price we can get. tender or Mr. DOMVILLE-By tender otherwise?

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the price was originally fixed by tender. There were no rails sold that he was

aware of. The Government were using a good many of them for the Prince

Edward Island Railway.

Mr. DOMVILLE said he wanted to know whether the employés and officials under the Premier had a right to dispose of old material by private sale? He (Mr. Domville) was credibly informed that a large amount of these rails had been sold without being offered to public competition, no proper valuation having been arrived at. He wished to know the policy of the Government on this point.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-My policy is to get the biggest possible price. If we can get a larger sum by selling to an individual than by public competition, we will take it. The price has been $20 per ton, and I happen to know that is what the Grand Trunk Railroad

Company have been selling their rails at.

Mr. DOMVILLE said he had private information which he believed would be sustained by the papers which the Government would bring down shortly, that a small amount of rails was put up to public competition and a certain price having been obtained for them the remainder were sold at the same rate. At Halifax the same pernicious system was carried out in procuring supplies, and in the purchase of the iron roof for the station at that city.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the iron roof was bought for $12,800; it was 400 x 80 feet span. The reason why no tenders was asked for was that it could not be purchased in Canada, and the Philadelphia firm from whom it was obtained had the patterns that suited the Government.

Mr. JONES (Leeds) said it was desirable that old stock should be sold by public tender, as was the case with private railroad companies in Ontario. With regard to the iron roof, he agreed with the Premier, there was no chance of getting it in Canada, for the iron used in such a work as the Chaudiere Bridge at Ottawa was taken from this and very section, sent to Cleveland brought back in a manufactured state. Without protection there would be no such industries in Canada.

Mr. JONES (Halifax) said he knew heen disposed of at Halifax last year that a large amount of old stock had by public auction. With regard to supplies he also happened to know that down to the smallest article contracted for, public tenders were invited. The complaint was that all this business went to St. John, although tenders were asked for at Halifax.

Hon. Mr. MITCHELL said it did not follow because there was Canada that no establishment in manufactured iron roofs, that tenders should not be invited. There was sharp competition in that business in the United States. With regard to old rails, he had stated the other day that he entirely approved of the Government policy with regard to the disposal of them. It was a mistake to sell old rails that would answer branch roads, which would be feeders of the Inter

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Mr. DOMVILLE said he made no charge against Mr. Fairweather of buying rails at improper or low prices. Furthermore, he would state that Mr. Fairweather never bought one ton of rails, and the hon. gentleman knew it.

colonial. The correspondent of a newspaper in St. John, who misrepresented almost everything he said, had stated he (Mr. Mitchell) was opposed to the Richibucto branch of the Intercolonial getting the old rails for the completion of its track. He wished it to be disHon. Mr. MACKENZIE said the tinctly understood that he had never hon. member for King's County, N.B., said anything of the kind, but, on the first made a charge in blank. If his contrary, was in favor of this important charge related to Mr. Fairweather, he feeder getting the old rails. It was a could say that that gentleman's commatter deeply to be regretted that the pany obtained a small quantity of rails. road did not pass nearer to Richfbucto. They asked first if they could obtain a Mr. DOMVILLE said one company loan of the rails, and this he declined. had owed for rails 12 months. These He enquired several times about paysales should be by public tender, soment, and then directed Mr. Brydges that there would be no chance of buy- to enter suit unless the an.ount was ing rails in this fashion. He was sure paid immediately. That was some the Premier did not endorse the trans- months ago, and he believed the money was paid.

action.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said he did not know of any private sale.

Mr. DOMVILLE said he was prepared to prove, from public documents,

Mr. DOMVILLE-Then the hon. that that gentleman never got one ton gentleman ought to know.

of rails, and the hon. Minister knew it.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said he had Mr. Fairweather's letters on the sub

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Does the hon. gentleman think he can stand there and make every sort of insinua- | ject. tion without any definite charge?

Mr. DOMVILLE—I charge now.

make the

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Let the hon. gentleman move for his papers. These continual insinuations are improper and intolerable.

not

Mr. DOMVILLE-I am not prepared to be brow-beaten. I am able to make a charge as well as any other man, and I make the charge that a quantity of old rails were paid for for 12 months. Furthermore, I make the statement that they were not paid for 30 days ago. The hon. gentleman had no right to say I made an unfair charge; I did not wish to make one; but I now place that charge flatly before the House.

Hon. Mr. BURPEE supposed the hon. gentleman meant 100 tons which were bought by Mr. Fairweather. The rails were sold by public auction at $26.26 per ton, and not the slightest advantage was given the purchaser. With reference to the iron rail matter, Mr. Shanly said the contract had been fulfilled. If they desired to change the grades, covers, &c., it was their own fault.

Mr. DOMVILLE said the railway that got the rails was the River du Loup.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Well, he was the party who applied for them.

Mr. DOMVILLE said there was no item in the Public Accounts to show that Mr. Fairweather bought the rails.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-They are charged to the company.

Mr. DOMVILLE-He is not the company.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-He is the President of the company.

Mr. DOMVILLE-He is not the President.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE—At any rate he acted as business man for the company, and communicated with the Government. The hon. gentleman might quibble out his point until he was tired, that fact remained.

Mr. DOMVILLE said he had been accused of making vague charges, but he should be backed up when he stated fact. He asked the Eon. Minister to confine himself to the letter. There could be no harm done; he merely asked that the Government should

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