The report of the Commissioner of Schools shows also 27,327 students in private schools and 7,990 in universities and colleges.

Military. The total strength of the Ohio National Guard is 5,362, organized in 2 military brigades, comprising 6 regiments of infantry, 4 battalions of infantry, 1 battalion of engineers, 6 batteries of light artillery, and a cavalry troop. There is also a naval brigade of 2 battalions, with headquarters at Cleveland and Toledo.

State Institutions.-The State educational, benevolent, and penal institutions include the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio University at Athens, Miami University at Oxford, combined normal and industrial department of Wilberforce University, Ohio Institution for the Blind at Columbus, Ohio Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb at Columbus, Ohio Institution for the Education of Feeble-minded Youth at Columbus, Girls' Industrial Home at Rathbone, Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Sandusky, Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Xenia, Boys' Industrial School near Lancaster, Athens State Hospital, Cleveland State Hospital, Columbus State Hospital, Dayton State Hospital, Longview Hospital at Carthage, Massillon State Hospital, Ohio Hospital for Epileptics at Gallipolis, Toledo State Hospital, Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio State Reformatory at Mansfield.

Railroads. The railroad mileage in 1900 was 8,691, of which 8,132 miles were main line and 559 miles branches and spurs. The earnings, as reported to the Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs, were $86,049,117.88, being an increase of $13,679,269.20 on the previous year. The Ohio dividends reported aggregated $6,367,746.04, an increase of $983,417.39. There were 512 fatal accidents, an increase of 122 over 1899. Of the whole number killed 11 were passengers, 164 employees, 258 trespassers, and 79 travelers on the highway. Live Stock. The report of the Auditor, showing the number of domestic stock animals in the State, as returned by the several county auditors, with the changes from the returns of the preceding year, gives these figures: Horses, 711,146, increase 5,949; cattle, 1,427,661, increase 75,943; mules, 14,521, decrease 148; sheep, 2,544,070, increase 26,710; swine, 1,489,518, decrease 60,596.

Legislative Session. The seventy-fourth General Assembly organized Monday, Jan. 1, and adjourned Monday, April 16, after enacting into laws 556 bills. Among those of general interest were the following.

Putting foreign stockholders in Ohio concerns under the double-liability law.

Relieving Ohio holders of stock in foreign corporations from double taxation.

Permitting the consolidation of lighting companies.

Requiring all private banking institutions to list their property for taxation in the same manner as incorporated and national banks.

Requiring all insurance companies formed on the stock plan to have a capital stock of not less than $100,000.

Providing that no part of a fire risk shall be renewed in a company not authorized to do business in Ohio.

Supplementing the anti-compact law so as to prevent insurance companies combining for the purpose of controlling agents' rates.

Requiring steam railways to construct suitable waiting rooms at all stations.

Providing for an eight-hour working day. Creating a State Board of Examiners of Engineers.

Permitting controlling political committees to purchase voting machines when a majority of the electors voting are in favor.

Granting two hours to factory and mill hands on Election Day to go to the polls.

Regulating the practice of medicine. Amending the game laws so as to make the open season from Nov. 10 to Dec. 1, and requir ing a written permission from the owner of the property.

Providing for the appointment of county game wardens, vested with police powers.

The political complexion of the Legislature was: Senate Republicans 19, Democrats 11, Independent Republícan 1; House-Republicans 62, Democrats 48.

Political. The Republican State Convention was held at Columbus, April 24 and 25, and the following ticket was nominated: For Secretary of State, Lewis C. Laylin; Supreme Court Judge, John A. Shauck; Member of Board of Public Works, Charles A. Goddard; School Commissioner, Lewis D. Bonebrake; Dairy and Food Commissioner, Joseph E. Blackburn. With the exception of the head of the ticket all these were renominations. The convention also named for State presidential electors Myron T. Herrick and W. P. Orr, and for delegates-at-large to the National Republican Convention, Joseph B. Foraker, Charles Dick, George K. Nash, Charles H. Grosvenor. The platform commended the administration of President McKinley, and declared that:

"It has met an unavoidable war for humanity with unequaled vigor and success, has crowned the matchless triumph of our arms on sea and land with the courageous acceptance of its high and solemn obligations, has faithfully studied and sought equally the true honor of the nation and the greatest good of the peoples who have come under our flag, and has, through the wise use of expanded opportunity, led our country on pathways of greatness and renown.

"We reaffirm the principles in which the Republican party had its birth and on which Abraham Lincoln was elected President, that the representatives of the people have full power over territory belonging to the United States, in harmony with and subject to the fundamental safeguards of our free institutions for liberty, justice, and personal rights. We sustain the President and Congress in exercising this power with due regard for the safety and welfare of the Union, and with the most just, generous, humane, and fraternal consideration for those over whom the authority of the nation is extended. We advocate for them free schools, full security for life, liberty, and property, the most liberal measures for the development of their agriculture and industry, and the largest degree of local self-rule for which they are fitted.

"We recognize in George K. Nash a Governor worthy of our highest confidence and unqualified support. The administration of our State affairs by him and his official associates has been clean, efficient, and commendable, and its policy tending to good government, economy, and wisdom."

The Democratic State Convention was held at Columbus, June 12 and 13, and the following ticket was nominated: For Secretary of State, Henry H. McFadden; Supreme Court Judge, Allen Smalley; Member of Board of Public Works, Peter W. Brown; School Commissioner, Joshua D. Simp

kins; Dairy and Food Commissioner, Ballard B. Yates. The convention also named for State presidential electors Isaac R. Sherwood and A. J. Warner, and for delegates at large to the National Democratic Convention James Kilbourne, Abraham W. Patrick, William S. Thomas, and Horace L. Chapman. The platform declared: "We enter our protest against the doctrine that the President or Congress can govern acquired territory outside and independently of the Constitution of the United States, as a doctrine utterly subversive of every foundation principle of our Government. The Declaration of Independence, the flag, and the Constitution must everywhere stand together as emblems of human liberty and equal rights for all, and where one goes all go. We therefore denounce imperialism under any pretense as necessarily leading to militarism, and as wholly foreign to our system of government.

"We denounce the currency law passed by the present Congress, which transfers to the banks the entire control of the paper currency, thus laying the foundation for a money trust. We demand that the General Government shall not only coin the metals, but shall issue and regulate the volume of paper currency also in the interests of all the people.

"We express our deepest sympathies for the Boers of South Africa, who, against such fearful odds, are heroically struggling for that same liberty for which our fathers fought a century and a quarter ago, and which at so much sacrifice they gained and handed down to us.

"We demand also that the unrighteous, unnecessary, and unjust war now being waged for conquest against the Filipinos, who ask only for the right of self-government, be brought to a speedy close by a peace honorable to us and just to them, and in accordance with the principles of the American Declaration of Independence.

"We favor an unfaltering adherence to the Monroe doctrine and oppose entangling alliances, secret or open, with any foreign powers.

"We favor the construction and control by the United States alone of an interocean canal as a commercial highway for all nations.

"We favor the election of the President, the Vice-President, and United States Senators by the direct vote of the people.

"We affirm anew our undiminished faith in the acknowledged leader of our party, William J. Bryan, and demand his nomination at Kansas City for President of the United States, and the delegates elected by this convention are instructed to so cast their votes."

The Socialist-Labor party held no convention, but nominated a full ticket by the referendum, votes having been sent in from more than 50 sections of the party in the State. The ticket was announced by the Executive Committee of the party at Columbus, May 5, as follows: For Secretary of State, Samuel Borton; Supreme Court Judge, Daniel W. Wallace; Member of Board of Public Works, David F. Cronin; School Commissioner, William Garrity; Dairy and Food Commissioner, Otto Steinhoff.

The Prohibition State Convention was held at Columbus, May 25, and put in nomination the following ticket: For Secretary of State, J. Knox Montgomery; Supreme Court Judge, E. Jay Pinney; Member of Board of Public Works, Enos H. Brosius; School Commissioner, Samuel A. Gillett; Dairy and Food Commissioner, Joseph M. Scott. The platform reaffirmed the position of the party against the liquor traffic, and also indorsed woman suffrage.

The Union Reform party placed the following VOL. XL.-35 A

ticket in nomination: For Secretary of State, Frank Frankenberg; Supreme Court Judge, Lambertis B. Logan; Member of Board of Public Works, Rei Rathbun; School Commissioner, William J. Seelye; Dairy and Food Commissioner, William F. Barr.

There was also a Socialist-Democratic ticket, as follows: For Secretary of State, Louis F. Hemse; Supreme Court Judge, Albert Corbin; Member of Board of Public Works, William C. Edwards; School Commissioner, Harry D. Thomas; Dairy and Food Commissioner, William H. Patterson.

The election, Nov. 6, resulted in the success of the entire Republican, State ticket, the vote on Secretary of State being as follows: L. C. Laylin, Republican, 543,389; H. H. McFadden, Democrat, 474,078; J. Knox Montgomery, Populist, 9,983; Louis F. Hemse, Socialist-Democrat, 4,650; Frank Frankenberg, Union Reform, 4,647; Samuel Borton, Socialist-Labor, 1,707.

In the presidential election, McKinley received 543,918 votes; Bryan, 474,882; Woolley, 10,203; Debs, 4,847; Ellis, 4,284; Malloney, 1,688; Barker, 251.

OKLAHOMA, a Territory of the United States, organized in 1890; area, 38,715 square miles. The population in 1890 was 61,834; in 1900 it was 398,245. Capital, Guthrie.

Government.-The following were the Territorial officers in 1900: Governor, Cassius M. Barnes; Secretary, William M. Jenkins; Treasurer, Frank M. Thompson; Attorney-General, Harper S. Cunningham, succeeded in March by J. C. Strang; Superintendent of Instruction and Auditor, Stuart N. Hopkins; Adjutant General, Bert C. Orner; Bank Commissioner, John M. Pugh (resigned in July, succeeded by W. S. Search); Superintendent of Public Health, L. H. Buxton; School Land Commissioner, Charles H. Filson; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, J. H. Burford; Associate Justices, B. F. Burwell, B. T. Hainer, John L. McAtee, and C. F. Irwin. All are Republicans except Judge McAtee, who is a Gold Democrat.

Population.-The Federal census of 1890, giving Oklahoma a population of 61,834, included 12,041 Indians. Add to the figures above given for 1900, embracing only the white population, the 13,873 Indians also returned, and the total population of the Territory is seen to be 412,118. The number of Indians not taxed in 1900 was 5,927. The population of Guthrie in 1900 was 9,981; that of Oklahoma City, 9.976. The other cities having a population of more than 2,000 were: Shawnee, 3,462; Enid, 3,444; El Reno, 3,383; Perry, 3,351; Ponca City, 2,528; Stillwater, 2,431; Kingfisher, 2,301; Blackwell, 2,293; Norman, 2,225.

Finances. The fifth biennial report of the Territorial Treasurer shows the financial transactions of Oklahoma for the period beginning Dec. 1, 1898, and ending Nov. 30, 1900. The receipts of the treasury for this period were $1,075,387.01; expenditures, $726,493.92; leaving a balance on hand, Nov. 30, 1900, of $348,893.09, as against a balance, Nov. 30, 1898, of $66,110.79. The delinquent taxes were: 1898, $26,548.86; 1899, $29,434.52. Balances from the counties on account of unpaid taxes, Nov. 30, 1900, aggregated $174,167.65; tax levies for all Territorial purposes for 1900 still to be collected, $254,094.23.

The assessed valuation of the property of the Territory for 1900 was $49,338,661. The Territorial tax was 5.15 mills. The bonded debt of the Territory was $48,000, and the general warranty indebtedness $379,054.18.

The proceeds from the lease of school lands since the organization of the Territory aggregate

Education. The last school enumeration was 114,736; number in actual attendance, 85,635; number of teachers in service, 2,191; school districts, 2,000. The tax collected for schools amounted almost to $750,000.

The total attendance in 1900 at the five Territorial institutions of learning the University, Normal School, Northwestern Normal School, Agricultural and Mechanical College, and Colored Agricultural and Normal University-was about 1,700. The attendance at the 18 Indian schools conducted by the Government was 2,100.

The enrollment at the university in all depart ments was 295. The number graduated in 1900 was 14.

At the Agricultural and Mechanical College the enrollment in September had reached 366. The college has two new buildings-a library and a chemical building.

The graduating class of 1900 at the Territorial Normal School numbered 20.

At the Northwestern Normal School the enrollment in September rose to 353. The dedication of the new building of this school, March 8, was marked by elaborate ceremonies.

Additional purchase of land adjoining the tract of the Langston University made that institution in 1900 the possessor of 160 acres of rich tillable soil. The equipment of the farm with machinery, etc., has kept pace with this expansion of its workable area.

Penitentiary. The Penitentiary contract for Oklahoma with Kansas remained the same in 1900 as in 1899. The report of the warden at Lansing, Kan., to Gov. Barnes gives these details regarding Oklahoma convicts there confined: Number of prisoners on hand, Jan. 1, 1900, 176; number re ceived to Dec. 1, 1900, 109; number discharged to Dec. 1, 1900, 64; number on hand, Dec. 1, 1900, 223; number remanded for new trial, 2; number pardoned, 10; number died, 2.

Social and Religious Conditions.-This topic is treated by the Governor in his annual report as follows: " There are in the Territory about 900 church organizations, with a membership of 70,000, and owning church property valued at $500,000. There are about 600 fraternal organizations, with a membership of about 25,000. The deafmutes and insane of the Territory are cared for in private institutions by contract. There are 50 in attendance at the deaf-mute institution and 283 in the insane asylum. The cost of caring for the insane for the past year was $67,429.03. During the past year 603,527 acres of Government land were filed on in the Territory by homestead settlers. There are still vacant 5,733,385 acres of Government land. Most of this vacant land is in the western part of the Territory, and adapted more generally to stock raising, although some good agricultural land is still vacant."

Free Homes. One of the most important events of 1900 to the people of Oklahoma was the passage in Congress of the free homes bill, which passed the Senate May 14, having already been passed in the House. This bill provides for free homesteads on the public lands for actual and bona fide settlers, and reserves the public lands for that purpose. The news of its passage was received in the Territory with great rejoicing. It saves about $16,000,000 to the people of Oklahoma. Banks. In 1900 there were 79 Territorial and 11 National banks in operation in Oklahoma. There had been no bank failure in three years. The resources of the Territorial banks aggregated $5,147,181.51. Of this, $2,409,262.85 represented

hand. The capital stock of the Territorial banks was $744,588.66; the surplus and profits, $483,970.73; deposits, $3,918,622.12. They had a reserve of 60 per cent. and had gained $2,419,472.43 in deposits in three years. The national banks had $1,336,965.34 in loans and discounts, and $363,300 in Government bonds, their aggregate resources being $3,098,377.47. Liabilities included $525 in capital stock; $40,800 in surplus; $82,837.08 in undivided profits; $2,042,295.15 in deposits; $74,902.13 in United States deposits.

Building and Loan Associations.-There are 6 building and loan associations in the Territory, with an aggregate amount of $60,000 invested in real estate securities, and paying dividends to their stockholders of from 12 to 20 per cent. per

annum.

Insurance. Forty-six insurance companies do business in the Territory, the aggregate amount of fire insurance written in the year being $15,274,519.14; premium collected, $255,425.41; losses incurred, $62,026.36; losses paid, $49,663.45. The 15 life insurance companies doing business in the Territory wrote $4,634,227 of insurance, collected $102,396.86 premium, and paid $39,873 in losses. There are 8 bond and surety and casualty companies doing business in the Territory, who collected $7,748.26 premium on $1,229,434.65 business in the year, and paid $643.15 in losses.

Railroads. There are about 1,000 miles of main-track railway in the Territory, 200 miles having been built during the year. Every county but two is reached by rail. The lines operating in the Territory are the Santa Fé, Rock Island, 'Frisco, and Choctaw. Much new construction is projected for the near future, 18 railway companies, aggregating $44,270,000 of capital stock, having been chartered in 1900. The Oklahoma and Southern Railroad Company filed its charter with the Territorial Secretary. The length of this railway is estimated at 400 miles. It will begin at Kiowa, Kan., and pass through Woods, Garfield, Blaine, Kingfisher, Logan, Canadian, Oklahoma, Payne, and Lincoln.

Militia. In 1900 the Territorial militia greatly improved in strength and organization. For the first time the Oklahoma National Guard grew to a full regiment, well equipped and trained.

Productions.-The wheat crop of 1900 was about 25,000,000 bushels, and the average yield per acre about 19 bushels, while the highest was 50 bushels. Oklahoma, according to the report of the Agricultural Department at Washington, leads all the States and Territories in the estimated yield of cotton to the acre by more than 100 pounds. The estimate for Oklahoma in pounds of lint per acre-is 381, Indian Territory ranking next with 280, while Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas follow in order. The Oklahoma cotton crop of 1900 was 125,000 bales. The yield of oats is estimated at 12,000,000 bushels, the peach and apple crops at about 500,000 bushels each.

Bulletin 45 of the Agricultural and Mechanical College names nearly 750 native plants of Oklahoma.

The number of horses listed for taxation was 243,203; mules, 49,525; cattle, 990,524; sheep, 43,475; swine, 245,431.

There are in the Territory 117 grain elevators, with an aggregate capacity of 1,860,000 bushels.

The geological survey of Oklahoma was begun in 1900, and indications were revealed of mineral wealth in salt, coal, oil, gas, limestone, copper, etc.

Anti-horse-thief Association. This organization has 199 subordinate lodges and 5,000 members in Oklahoma, reaching into every county.

Political. The People's party held its Territorial convention in Enid, April 10. A determined bolt divided the convention, and each faction nominated national committeemen and ten delegates the "regulars" to the Sioux Falls National Convention and the bolters to that at Cincinnati. The resolutions of the "regulars" recognized the call for a national convention at Sioux Falls, S. D., May 9; favored union of all the elements opposed to trusts, imperialism, and monopoly in the interest of the reform candidates in the presidential election and of those in the Territorial elections; reaffirmed adherence to the St. Louis platform of 1896; declared for the initiative and referendum, and for public ownership of public utilities; denounced the Republican party for placing the public money in the hands of banking corporations; regretted the evidence of the Republican administration's sympathy with England in her efforts to crush the Boer republics; deplored the administration's conduct of insular affairs; and pledged loyal support to William J. Bryan.

The Territorial convention of the Republican party was held in Enid, May 10, and transacted its business promptly and without unusual incident. Resolutions were adopted declaring belief in all the principles of the Republican party, approving the national administration, favoring expansion, commending Delegate Flynn and the freehomes measure, and demanding statehood, the creation of a county out of Osage and Kaw Reservations, and the allotment and opening of all the Indian reservations to settlement.

The Democratic Territorial Convention met in El Reno, June 5. This convention resulted in a split, two sets of resolutions and of delegates to the national convention being the outcome. Both factions declared in favor of the nomination of William J. Bryan for the presidency. The platform of the "regular" wing denounced the administration of President McKinley, imperialism, plutocracy, and trusts. It demanded statehood for Oklahoma, and favored the organization of the Osage and Kaw Reservations into one county, to be called Osage County.

At the joint congressional convention of the Democratic and People's parties, which met in Oklahoma City, July 31, Robert A. Neff was nominated for Delegate to Congress. In the platform, anti-imperialism and hostility to trusts were among the most prominent features, the currency legislation of the last Congress was denounced, and free coinage of silver at 16 to 1 demanded.

The Republican Congressional Convention assembled at Guthrie, Aug. 8, and renominated D. T. Flynn for Delegate to Congress. The resolutions approved the Philadelphia platform of 1900; declared that every pledge of the Republican party in 1896 had been fulfilled; congratulated Oklahoma on her prosperity, and especially on the extension of the free-homes policy to the Indian lands; extolled the services of Delegate Flynn; pledged the party to strive for the earliest possible statehood of Oklahoma; declared in favor of standing for all the results of the Spanish War, and of expansion "externally and internally"; commended the appropriation by Congress of $5,000,000 for the St. Louis exposition; denounced the disfranchisement of citizens in North Carolina in violation of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the United States Constitution; and favored the extension of county rights and government to

the Indian reservations of the Territory and the early opening of all the reservations to settlement. The antifusion wing of the People's party held their congressional convention in Oklahoma City, Sept. 1, and nominated J. S. Allan for Delegate to Congress. The resolutions affirmed unshaken belief in the cardinal tenets of the People's party as set forth in the Cincinnati platform; approved the nominations of Barker and Donnelly for President and Vice-President; denounced the Republican and Democratic parties as tools of plutocracy, and opposed all entangling alliances with them; favored single statehood for Oklahoma and Indian Territory, and the speedy allotment and opening to settlement of all the Indian reservations in Oklahoma; and opposed any legislation looking toward the sale of the school lands of the Territory.

At the election, Nov. 6, the vote for Delegate to Congress gave Flynn, Republican, 38,253; Neff, Fusionist, 33,539; Tucker, Social-Democrat, 780; Allan, Middle-of-the-Road Populist, 780. Flynn's plurality, 4,714.

To the Council of the Territorial Legislature were elected 7 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 1 Populist; to the House, 16 Republicans and 10 Fusionists.

OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH. The twentieth Old Catholic Synod of Austria met in Vienna, Sept. 8 and 9. Sixty members and a representative of the Government were present. The number of members was returned as 16,885, against 6,113 in 1882. The accessions since 1898 had been 3,620, of which 1,183 had accrued in the first seven months of 1900. Four new congregations had been organized and four churches built during the year. The moderator spoke of growing friendship between Old Catholics and Protestants. It was represented that the Old Catholic movement was gaining ground in Bohemia, where 17 priests and 2,500 people were ready to join it.

ONTARIO, a province of the Dominion of Canada; area, 222,000 square miles; population in 1891, 2,214,321.

Politics and Government.-The early part of 1900 saw the new Ross Government installed in office. It was composed of the following members: Premier and Treasurer, G. W. Ross; AttorneyGeneral, J. M. Gibson; Commissioner of Crown Lands, E. J. Davies; Commissioner of Public Works, F. R. Latchford; Secretary and Registrar, J. R. Stratton; Minister of Education, R. Harcourt; Minister of Agriculture, J. Dryden; ministers without portfolio, W. Harty and J. T. Garrow. As a reorganization of the previous Hardy Government, which in turn had been a reorganization of the Liberal Government of Sir Oliver Mowat, in power since 1872, it had certain elements of weakness which made the session of 1900 very active. The majority was small, and the Conservative Opposition, under the provincial leadership of Mr. J. P. Whitney, had come very near to success in the elections of 1898. By-elections had gone only slightly with the Government, and Messrs. Latchford, Dryden, Stratton, and Preston were elected, against Brower, McDiarmid, and Robson. The House of Assembly was opened on Feb. 13 by Lieut.-Gov. Sir Oliver Mowat, with a speech from the throne, in which he said:

"The lumbering industry of the province is in a flourishing condition. The legislation of 1898 requiring all pine logs cut under license to be manufactured in Canada took effect first in the season of 1898-'99. The practical operation of this legislation has proved wise and timely. While the quantity of pine timber cut last season showed little if any diminution, compared with previous

years, the sawmilling business of the province, on the other hand, has received a powerful stimulus. Many existing mills have been enlarged, idle ones have resumed work, and new mills have been built and equipped to meet the demand for sawed lumber. In pursuance of the policy of encouraging the development of industries for which the circumstances of the province are specially adapted, an order in Council has been passed that pulp wood cut on Crown lands should be manufactured in Canada. A measure confirming this order in Council will be laid before you.

"The desirability of preserving the forests in districts not adapted for agriculture, so as to constitute a permanent source of timber supply, has been fully recognized in connection with the administration of the Crown domain; accordingly, districts capable of being reforested are being set apart as forest reserves.

"The healthy condition of the mining industry is shown by the growth of revenue from sales and rents of mining lands, the increase of investments in mining enterprises, and a larger output from mines and mining works.

"The agricultural condition of the province is much more favorable than it has been for many years. The great improvement in the quality of all dairy produce has increased the popularity of our butter and cheese in the British market, and has consequently stimulated this branch of industry. Our fruit interests are also increasing in importance and value, as the exports of our orchards for the last year make manifest. The attendance at the Agricultural College has reached the highest limit yet attained, and it will be necessary to provide additional accommodation if the attendance continues to increase as it has during the last few years.

"It is to be noted with regret that the increasing numbers of insane tax the accommodation of our asylums beyond their capacity. Notwithstand ing the liberal provision already made and the large expenditure incurred in carrying on these services, it becomes imperative that increased accommodation be provided.

"Measures will be submitted for the improvement of public highways, the drainage of swamp lands, the encouragement of cold-storage stations in rural districts, and the colonization of those portions of northern Ontario best adapted for agricultural purposes. Your attention will be invited to bills respecting the revenue, elections, education, and mining, and also to a measure for a comprehensive exploration of the district between the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Hudson's Bay, in order that more accurate information may be obtained as to its timber and its suitability for farming.

"Your attention is invited to the present relative jurisdiction of the courts of the province and of their respective judges, and to the suggestions of experience for further promoting the efficient, prompt, and inexpensive administration of justice throughout the province."

On Feb. 19 Mr. Whitney led in an onslaught upon the Government, which may be summarized in the following words, giving the Conservative platform as well as denouncing the Government policy:

"The Government has confessed itself unable to deal with financial questions when it appointed a commission to investigate the financial condition of the province. The Government acted indecently in appointing John Hoskin, a Government official, to the commission.

"If the Government is saving money, why not apply it to the removal of the direct taxation

under which the artisan, laborer, and farmer are living?

Cold storage and transportation are subjects which should properly be considered by the Dominion Government.

"The Government regulations on nickel will discourage the development of that metal, and will make the monopoly of the Canadian Copper Company still more powerful.

No grant should be given to any railroad company without a provision that in the future, when the company arrived at a paying basis, the grant should be returned.

"The question of the Government ownership of public franchises should be carefully considered. "A member of the Government should not be at the head of corporations which will gain or lose by Government action, and members of Parliament should be debarred.

"A consultative committee should be appointed to assist the Minister of Education, such committee to be chosen from high school, public school, and separate school teachers.

"The University of Toronto should practically be divorced from the province.

"The pulp-wood policy will strangle the pulpwood industry.

"The West Elgin Commission is a farce. The people demanded a judicial committee to inquire into the irregularities in all the constituencies. "Let the Premier dissolve the house and go to the country for a decision."

Mr. Ross, in his reply, defended the appointment of a finance commission, on the ground that the worst should be known, and declared that Mr. Hoskin's appointment was admirable despite the fact of his being a Liberal in politics; declared that under existing conditions of export many of the small products of the farmer went to waste or yielded hardly any profit, while butter and cheese were often spoiled for lack of cold-storage facilities, which he proposed to provide upon a pattern that had proved successful in Australia and New Zealand. Regarding nickel, he declared the policy of the Government to be one of encouraging the local manufacture of the raw material. Large areas of valuable nickel still remained despite the grants to the Canada Copper Company. "Ontario's products for Ontario's sons will be our policy," said the Premier, as he promised a rebate or bounty on every pound of ore refined in the province. In regard to railways, he purposed to introduce legislation by which settlers on the colonization lands of Ontario, as well as their stock and effects, should be carried free. He denied to a great extent the party corruption alleged by his opponents, deprecated the charges made against the Education Department, and opposed the plans proposed by Mr. Whitney. The two speeches which followed may be summarized as including the whole political discussion on both sides during the succeeding session. The first was deliv ered by Mr. G. F. Marter, a leader of the Opposition, and included the following proposals and remarks:

"The Opposition is willing to co-operate with the Government in an effort to stamp out bribery. The election law should have the following provisions: (a) Deputy returning officers and poll clerks must live in divisions for which they act: (b) deputy returning officers should announce on nomination day the deputies; (c) deputy returning officers and clerks should be in attendance half an hour before the polls, to count and examine the blank ballots; (d) deputies should be forced to issue warrants when called by agents, and constables should detain such men until warrants