1
THE LEADER.
REGINA N.W.T., THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 23, 1901.
5
THE LEADER, THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 13, 1901.
THE BUDGET.
[...]of the delay. He came now to a very
important question. Reference had
been made in regard to
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.
A resolution had been passed by the
House last session unanimously and he
thought the Government ought to have
taken some steps in regard to that
resolution. From the correspondence
laid on the table it seemed that the
Government had delayed the matter
so long that the Dominion Government
had not been able to deal with the
matter while the House of Commons
was in session. Had the question been
taken up earlier the Assembly might
have possibly been in a position to
have dealt with it during its present
session.
In this connection the commissioner
of public works had intimated that we
had not sufficient money to meet
various expenditures. These statements had been made for the last four
sessions, and yet the Government had
nothing to offer them. The commissioner of public works said it was not
within the powers of the Assembly to
announce a policy, its only duty was
to protect the interests of the Territories as far as it could. This, however,
was hardly in keeping with some
statements made by the leader of the
Government in former years. The
hon. leader had said he would be unwilling to agree to the same terms as
Manitoba, but in view of the statements made by the commissioner of
public works, he was willing to take
even worse than Manitoba took, if it
was offered. (Mr. Haultain: No , no.)
The late commissioner of public works
would not agree to terms unless we
received a million a year, but the present one would assent to $400,000.
Premier Haultain said that was not
the case. What Mr. Sifton had said
was that the worst treatment they
could expect on the basis of Manitoba
was $400,000.
Mr. D. H. McDonald continuing said
another question was the management
of the Ĺżands of this country. The
commissioner of public works was
willing to let the lands go for a consideration, whereas the leader of the
Government had said we had a right
to the lands and minerals, and that
the claim could be successfully prosecuted. There was evidently a division on the
point which ought to be
cleared up.
The hon. gentleman on resuming his
seat was cheered by his supporters.
(To be continued next week.)
1
THE LEADER.
REGINA, N.W.T., THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 20, 1901.
THE BUDGET DEBATE.
Financial Position Of the Territories and
Provincial Autonomy.
GOVERNMENT SYSTEM OF HAIL INSURANCE
Connell's Bill on Hire Receipts Killed at the Winning Post Reform of Educational System
—
Foreign Languagues May be Taught in
Schools — Religious Teaching —
Best Sugar Factories — Doukhobor Schools.
The following is a continuation of
the debate on the Budget. It will be
remembered that the last issue contained Mr. A. L. Sifton's speech in introducing
the estimates, and the reply of
Mr. H. McDonald, leader of the
Opposition.
Dr. Elliot was the next speaker.
He said that he had much pleasure in
congratulating the Territorial treasurer on the excellent impression his
speech had made upon the House and
would no doubt make upon the country. The whole matter had been merely touched with
the point of a pin by
the leader of the Opposition. The
criticisms had been of the two-penny- half-penny sort that did not commend
themselves even to the narrowest- minded people. If the Opposition
wished to gain the confidence and respect of the people of the Territories
they would have to indulge in a different class of criticism. Mr. McDonald
advocated decrease of salaries yet
he made no attempt to show incompetency on the part of officials, or
that others elsewhere were getting less.
The Opposition then charged that a
great deal of money was wasted on inspection, and then attempted to prove
that work was being done without
adequate inspection. That was not
very consistent. Everything they proposed relating to public works, education, public
health and asylums in
Manitoba, was for an increase, at the
same time they were crying out for a
decrease in expenditure. He congratulated the Government on their manly
stand in giving the people the benefit
of public works even beyond the revenues of the year, and he defended the
policy in regard to test wells, in buying machinery supposed to be adequate
and afterwards obtaining machines
which would go to greater distances to
complete the work. He argued that
the Red Deer bridge and the others
had been sufficient to stand under ordinary circumstances, but had been
destroyed by unprecedented floods.
It was unfortunate that the bridges
referred to should have been lost
at the time when money was
scarce; but of the 1,100 bridges
existing it would be strange if some
were not destroyed. Of the 300 bridges
constructed since the reorganisation of
the department only three had been
destroyed; could anybody want a
more favourable report? The C.P.R.
were continually losing bridges. He
believed that scarcely a year passed
but some were washed away. As to
works for which tenders had been asked, in almost all cases the tenders had
to be refused and in a few cases there
were no tenders. Work had been done
much better by day labor than by contract and that was generally the case.
The speeches about work done in
frozen ground would not make good
immigration literature. The complaints
had really nothing in them. In some
cases the ground was in fine condition
when the instructions were sent,
but was frozen afterwards. Last
night certain education resolutions
were proposed and the resolutions introduced a new system of distributing grants,
a system of equalising
burdens which endeavors to give poorer and weaker districts a little better
assistance than the stronger. He
supported the system, though it would
probably strike his own district as
severely as any in the Territories.
The leader of the Opposition said
that some of the wealthier classes,
people who own large herds of cattle,
are escaping taxation through the
single tax system, but he did not tell
the committee that he himself would
probably, save $60 a year. The system
of direct taxation of lands would not
be the best system in every district of
the country, but it must be considered,
not from an individual point of view,
but from that of the interests of the
whole country. Though, it might be
detrimental to a few districts, in the
vast majority it would be of great
benefit. The Opposition said there
was no occasion to have a commissioner of agriculture, but he maintained that, there
was ample work for the
commissioner of agriculture and for
the other commissioners also. He congratulated the treasurer on the clear
and careful manner in which he had
dealt with the subject of the constitutional changes, not making a bombastic statement
but laying down some of
the grounds on which our claims should
be based. The commissioner had not
expressed satisfaction with the terms
given to Manitoba, as the leader of the
Opposition seemed to think, but had
said that even if that were the best
bargain we could get it would be a
great deal better than what we have
to-day. The hon. gentleman had said
the Government should have taken the
people into their confidence and told
them everything they were thinking
about the question. If he might judge
from the lamentable want of knowledge displayed by the leader of the
Opposition it would indeed have been
well that the Government should have
educated him at least.
It being 5:30 o''clock the Speaker left
the chair and resuming on Friday
morning,
PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY.
He reffered to the railway grants given
to specific railways and supported Mr.
A. L. Sifton's contention that the
Territories should receive compensation from such lands, given away largely, not for
the special benefit of, but to
the detriment of the North-West Territories; and for the benefit of the
Dominion at large. Dr. Elliot concluded by ridiculing the idea that the
system of taxation in the two classes
of local improvement districts were
drastic systems. They were such as
commended themselves to the majority
of the people. The large and the small
local improvement districts were an
excellent system. He also defended
the management of the official Gazette,
and the policy of the department of
agriculture in securing the return of
90 per cent. of estray animals to their
owners, as reflecting credit in the department.
Â
said the speech of the Territorial
Treasurer was a business-like statement and so far he could congratulate
him; but after all he was only making
the best he could of a very bad cause.
Any differences of opinion in that
House were as to the way the money
was expended. They had not yet anything to do with the revenue. Very
serious mistakes had been made. The
Government had no familiarised
themselves as they should have done
with the wants of the country, particularly in regard to public works. Although apparently
in a bankrupt state
the members of the Government were
not prepared to make any sacrifices,
but voted themselves $2,000 for "extraordinary services." The $13,000 increase
for civil service would have given a
good many school grants and built a
good many culverts and bridges. He
condemmed the increase in the number
of ministers and complained that re turns asked for had not been brought
down. He did not approve of the
voting of a bulk sum for the construction of roads as a system liable to
abuse. He thought the item should
have been voted in detail. The late
commissioner of public works has discussed the question of a province and
had shown the position the House
should take; he said there were still
85,000,000 acres of land of which the
Territories should have 50,000,000 acres.
That speech had the true ring and he
(Mr. McKay) had been very much surprised a the speech of the commisioner yesterday.
He believed the system
of land grants to railways had been
carried too far. The lands were not
alienated from the Government, but
only set aside. The policy might be
changed, as also that of free homesteading. This country would never
be prosperous untli the Government
owned the lands, and compensation
should not be accepted. He thought
the Government could refuse to
accept the terms, but there was a
disposition to compromise. If the Government should not be satisfied with
the terms offered, what was to prevent
them resigning. (Cheers). But leaders of both parites said lands of this
country had been bought by the
Dominion; people here were increasing the value of the lands for the federal authorities.
We could not, he held,
have control of immigration until we
had control of the land. Three hundred and forty-five thousand dollars
was given to govern this country;
while the Dominion Government was
spending a larger amount, $400,000 for
immigration to bring in people, leaving
us to look after them. The people
should have an oppotunity of pronouncing on the policy of going into a
full provincial establishment before
anything further was done in the
matter.
MR. G. W. BROWN,
in a speech that was frequently emphasised with sings of approval, joined
his congratulations with those of preceding speakers, to the new Territorial
treasurer for his able and lucid speech.
He complimented him on the straightforward, manly way and buisnesslike
manner in which he had placed the
financial condition before the House.
The Territories had reason to congratulate themselves on thier prosperity,
progress and growth of their institutions, political and otherwise. It
had been said that the financial statement made was without precedent in
anticipating revenue; but the very
same thing had been done in 1894-5-6.
There were public improvments
which were demanded, and this House
owed a duty to the people; if they did
anticipate the revenue, and if it was
impossible to recoup yet the people
would at any rate have the improvements a year sooner. He defended
the course of the Government in sinking test wells after the Dominion Government and
private enterprise had
failed. He replied to Mr. McDonald's
criticism of the system of taxation,
especially in reference to school districts, which exempted personal property. He
argued that if any men
should go free it was those who were
giving employment to others and
building up the country by making the
land held by others valuable. When
we have the power to tax the lands we
will have a big control, It did not
matter much who owned the lands if
we had the power to tax them. (Hear,
hear.) In regard to a mandate from
the people about provincial autonomy,
the people of the Territories were
already fully alive to the quesiton and
no appeal to them was necessary. Referring to the provincial question he
accused Mr. McKay of stealing his
powder from the speeches of Government members in the past. Mr. Haultain had explained
in the House in
times past what arragements ought
to be made with the federal government regarding this country. He also
stated that though the Premier had
shown the full and complete constitutional rights of this Government and
though the late Minister of Public
Works had discussed the quesiotn at
the last session, the Oppositon had sat
dumb as lobsters. He said that the
bargain the Government expected to
make was the one they were entitled
to. One member of the opposition
criticised the government for delaying
the matter until it was too late to act
this year, and another contended that
the people should have an opportunity
of expressing themselves. Good as the
governments east and west might be
the people were unanimously in favor of
preserving the Territories for the Territories, and remaining the most cheaply and
best governed part of the Dominion. Mr. Brown proceeded to discuss the increased necessities
of the
country and the greater expenditure
required; and claimed that economy
had been shown that could not be
criticized and would bear the light of
day. Speaking of the increase of
salaries of the members of the executive, he said no matter how poor the
country is, it does not want any individual to work for it for less than he
is worth. Surelt this country is as important as any wholesale house, yet
wholesale houses pay larger salaries to
their managers than were paid to the
executive. This House has all the
duties of an ordinary lesislature and
all the work of the municipalites in
other provinces. These combined took
all the time and services of the members of the executive, and he was quite
sure the work could not be efficiently
performed with less then three members.
THE INDEPENDENT MEMBER.
Mr. G. M. Annable said that he was
very much pleased with part of the
speech of the minister of public works.
He did not object to the increase of
salaries of the ministers; but if his
party were strong enough perhaps he
would move for a still further increase.
He hoped the salaries would be so high
that the ministers would be able to
stay at home and attend to buisness,
and not have to take little jobs from
the Dominion Governments to live on.
The majority of the House evidently
thought they were worth the money.
He would not say whether it was
wise or unwise to spend a
couple of hundred thousand
dollars more than the House has
got; but it was characteristic of the
country to be in debt. The Dominion
is dumping thousands of people into
the country and want us to educate
them and send them to lunatic asylums,
for which many of them were fit subjects before they came here. That was
not fair. In regard to provincial
autonomy he hoped we should get a
better deal than Manitoba got; and
perhaps we should if the Territories
were represented in the Dominion
House by ten or twelve members, He
could not agree with the Opposition in
everything they had done, nor did he
say they were all bad men; neither
did he agree in everything with the
Government or approve of all their
legislation. If we could not get
what we wanted when we were
making a provincial deal then it would
be the duty of the Government to resign and let the Dominion Government run the affairs.
He believed that the Opposition had a
good effect in causing the Government to bring down some good legislation. However,
he thought that some
of the legislation was not good. Regarding the public works department
he believed that a lot of work was
done. Some was done in his district
but he noticed in the past that it was
done chiefly every four years. Of
course he would not say that it was
done for elections purposes. Some of it
was well done and some of it was not.
Regarding his future course he said
that the next session might find him on
one side of the House or the other and
perhaps he might be as he was at that
moment—the leader of his own part.
(Laughter).
joined in the unanimous concourse of
congratulations to the hon, treasurer,
congratulating him also on his occupying his seat as commissioner of public
works. He thought it would be a good
thing for the west and the north
(laughter) for he had great knowledge
of those parts of the country and their
needs. He disagreed, however, with
him as to his manner of making estimates, voting $180,000 which they had
not got and perhaps never would get
unless the Government had greater
success than in the past. He protested
also against the voting of money in
bulk for public works. Details ought
to have been given. Replying to Mr.
Brown, who had said the Opposition
were silent as lobsters, he said a characteristic of the lobster was to go backwards;
he asked who had gone backwards except the Government. They
were changing their policy all the
time. Another kind of lobsters were
those who only opened their mouths to
cry "Agreed, agreed." The House
ought to have an explanation
of what was meant by provincial
autonomy,— but the Government
submitted no policy. He feared
that Northern Alberta would not
be properly represented by the
Government at the conference. (Oh,
oh.) That district was against centralisation and wanted two provinces, at
least. Everything now had to be done
by correspondence and on information
and advice of men residing sometimes
hundreds of miles from the work to
be done. He could assure the executive
that the Opposition would give all the
advice and assisstance they could to
have the best bargain possible made.
The members of the Government
should be accompanied by the members
who represent the North-West Territories at Ottawa. The Government
should appoint to go with them a member of the Catholic faith, and one
whose language is French. The members for Wolseley and North Regina
had reason to be satisfied with the
Government because their districts
were perfect; but Northern Alberta
and St. Albert districts were badly in
need of roads and other improvements.
in an effective little speech confined his
remarkschiefly to provincial autonomy.
He was pleased to hear the treasurer's
discussion of the subject and his comparisons with Manitoba. It was for
the Government not to lead the House
to expect too much. The Territories
should benefit by the mistakes of Manitoba. Conditions were now altogether
different; the land was now more
valuable, and the bargain made by
Manitoba would not be acceptable to
the Territories at present. At the conference in 1863, it was recognised that
these Territories would cut a great
figure in the development of Canada.
The financial question here was the
great one. The C.P.R. was a Dominion
undertaking, part of the bargain by
which British Columbia was brought
into the Dominion. We pay
our full share of the interest of
the debt of Canada that built
the railways. It was to be regretted
that this country would not
have a greater say than it has when
the question of provincial autonomy
comes before the Dominion parliament.
He was a little disappointed with the
position of the Opposition on the provincial autonomy question. The member for West
Calgary had cited Manitoba and some of the States: and he
thought this Territory as well able to
manage its affairs as any of the provinces. The railway question was not
likely to be the chief question, especially in the eastern district. He approved
of the policy of voting for public works
the money which was absolutely necessary, notwithstanding the money for
them was not in sight. In regard to
the commissioner of agriculture he
thought it would be just as ridiculous
to do away with the head of the agricultural department as it would be to
do away with the department. In regard to the salaries it was a cheap way
of getting praise for economy to vote
for reduction of salaries. He had no
desire to see this country, organized
into municipalities, and he believed in
centralization because it would prevent
this.
also congratulated the treasurer on the
comprehensive, manner in which he
had dealt with public questions, and
the manner in which he had handled
the legislation. He did this all the
more readily because he had not agreed
with all the legislation: he attributed
the "drastic legislation" to the deputy
of the department. He thought if the
connmissioner had had a little more
time to devote to its consideration, he
would not have introduced such drastic legislation. Speaking of water
supply, he suggested that the failures
in boring for water be paid for by the
Government and the successes by the
farmiers, as the uncertainty discouraged
private enterprise. Theoretically, he
believed the statements that the Government had nothing to do with the
provincial autonomy question was correct; but practically it was not. The
voice of the people would have to be
respected. It was not the duty of
Canada to deal with this question
without giving consideration to the
feelings and wishes of the people. The
people who had colonized these districts had done so with the understanding that they
should ultimately
become provinces, and they had the
right to insist upon this. He, however,
thought that the three organised districts were not too large for one province. If
there was one vote he had
given in the House which he regretted
it was that in favor of the claims made
to exercise local government rights in
4
THE LEADER, THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 20, 1901.
THE BUDGET DEBATE
Continued from Page 1.
the Yukon. The question of including
Athabasca or portions of it might be
considered in connection with the formation of a new province. But rather
than have any part added to any existing province he would favor two provinces with
portions of Athabasca
added. Geographically the portion of
the Territories north of Manitoba belongs to that province and he would be
willing to see it added, as this would
be a means of reopening there the
question of better terms. He suggested that the Territories should make
common cause with Manitoba. In reference to the conference, he asked
what constitutional remedy there
would be if a bill should be brought
down that was not acceptable. He
answered that the House should be
called together, and, in order that
this might be done the treasury should
not be left without a dollar in its coffers. He appreciated the need of public works,
but this would not be sufficient warrant for leaving an empty
treasury at what would be the most
critical period in the history of the
country. Money enough was wanted
to be left to call the House together to
protest if necessary, and to appeal to
the people at the polls. He wanted to
hear from the leader of the Government what means he would adopt in
that case, to give expression to the
opinions of the people. In days gone
by Premier Haultain had ever been the
champion if the rights of the people;
and it was regrettable to see him this
session abandoning that position, as
was evident from the legislation introduced. He (Dr. Patrick) had supported
the Premier because he championed
those rights, but if the hon. gentleman
were not willing to assert that the
rights of the people must be respected,
he could not continue the condifence
which he had in his Government in the
past.
A LONG SPEECH.
Mr. R. B. Bennett is an address that
started shortly after 4 p.m., lasted until
5:30; was resumed at 8 p.m. and continued to 9:30 p.m., added his congratulations
to the others at the able
speech of the Territorial Treasurer.
The hon. gentleman was one who had
has greatness thrust upon him. His
famous brother, the Minister of the
Interior, had been called the young
Napoleon of the west. Well it was a
case of history repeating itself. The
great Napoleon was always kind to his
brothers, putting one on one throne
and one on another and the young
Napoleon of the west had placed his
elder brother on the throne of the Territories. (Oh! oh!) Well it was very
strange that the same telegram that
brought the news from Ottawa that
Mr. Ross was going to the Yukon also
brought the news that Mr. A. L. Sifton
was to be commissioner of the public
works. It was from Ottawa the news
came, not Regina. It was the accident
of birth that had made the member
for Banff Territorial Treasurer and
minister of public works. Mr. Bennett
proceeded to criticise the budget speech,
characterising it as a speech of "ifs
and buts." "If they only had so-and- so, they would do this or that, "but"
they had not, so could not. The proposition before the House should be
considered as a business matter. He
asked whether the members would apply the same principles in their private
business. Every dollar of the $467,000
received last year had been expended;
and there were large outstanding liabilities. One item was $11,000, another
$30,000, in cannection with public
works. A liability of $47,00 in connection with school grants, which has
not yet been paid, making a total of
$88,000 of a deficit when the financial
statement for the year was received.
Another business question was what
revenue was expected to be received.
The answer was about $413,000. Deduct
the $88,000 and you have $325,000.
Now pay the local improvement grants,
$11,000, and $180,000 to schools, and
allowing for a deficit the same as last
year, there would remain $267,000.
Then it was proposed to anticipate
$180,000, there would be $447,000 to
meet an expenditure of $590,000.
Where will they be in 1902 unless
Providence comes to our aid, or we
receive a much larger grant from the
Dominion Government? Would a single business man discount the future
when he had no borrowing powers?
In times of financial stringency it is
customary to reduce expense. What
do we find here? You are asked to
say that last year we spent $73,000 for
civil government, legislation and administration of justice, or about 17 per
cent.; this year the percentage asked
was about 21 per cent., or $86,000, as
against $73,000. Would any shareholders adopt such a report from their
directors? The Opposition existed
because of public clamor and a desire
that the legislation should be impartially and intelligently criticised.
He thought there would have been no
difficulty if the Government had taken
this position towards the Dominion,
EITHER GIVE US MONEY,
or we will not provide roads, bridges
or schools for the immigrants you
send. If the executive had come to
the House and said, "They refuse us
our rights, and justice," and had appealed to the people they would have
been supported by all the members,
and by the country. He proceeded to
criticise the outcome of the policy of
centralisation, denying to some of the
people the right of self-government,
while others are entrusted with representatitve institutions. The deputy
commissioner of public works was an
able executive officer, but he should
not be entrusted with legislation; the
legislation to take away the rights of
the people to self-government was his
legislation. It had been said that the
policy of the administration was found
in the ordinances. The publication of
these had cost $20,000, but of what use
were they to the people or to the
magistrates? They were completely
changed every session. Again, a system
was needed to secure permanent roads
and improvement of the main lines
of communication and what had been
done? The minister had gone back to
the old system of district engineers
after it had been abandoned for a year.
He blamed the Government for inaction and inability, resulting in 2,000
unsettled cases of right of way claims
under the expropriation ordinance. A
section had given power to go to
the supreme court, but the Government
had not availed themselves of it.
Referring to what Dr. Elliott had
said about the Red Deer bridge he
(Mr. Bennett) stated on the authority
of men competent to judge that the
bridge was improperly built. He protested against estimates in bulk, as
used as an engine of oppression against
the people, and as a dangerous power
to give to one man to locate public
works, and to say to the electors, "If
you want schools, road or bridges, vote
for this man." Speaking of salaries,
he contended that every man should
be paid what he was worth: that it
pays to have a good men and pay them
good salaries. But was this the time
to increase salaries? In times of
financial stress it was customary to reduce salaries. The late treasurer
served the country well and received
$2,500. Was the present treasuerer's
services worth more? It ill became
him at such a time to make the first
break by increasing his salary. The
sacrifice should not all be borne by the
"moss back," a portion should be
borne by these gentlemen who are
living in luxury, devoting half their
time to the public service and the
other half to matters political in support of the Dominion Government.
The commissioner of public works had
left the impression that the lands of the
Territories were all alienated; but the
fact was that half the lands shown on
his colored map were homestead lands,
while only a small portion of the
others were really alienated. He quoted from
A SPEECH FROM MR. ROSS,
the late treasurer, last year, that there
were 50,000,00 acres still left over and
above those taken for railroad purposes, and 35,000,000 acres allowed for
cost of the administration. Turning to the
remedy, he said, after reading the
memorials that had been sent, he did
not wonder that nothing had been obtained. The government had not met
the difficulty as they should have done.
The prescription by the Territorial
treasurer was provincial autonomy.
This was a very large question. He
had occupied an independent position
in reference to this question, and was
prepared to give hearty support to any
proposition or any set of men adequate
to meet the growing necessities of the
question. Should the House know
anything about the terms proposed or
not? Should they know whether
there was to be one province or two
provinces? Whether they were to
have the lands or compensation, and
whether they should have the minerals? Before the terms and conditions
were agreed upon this House should
have an opportunity of discussing
them. Why should the House not
have had some of these terms before
them this year? Next session the Bill
was to be brought down, the time
would not be adequate to consider
them. He suggested that after the
conference at Ottawa, immediately on
the proposals being known, let the
House be called together to discuss
them; and, if necessary, let there be a
dissolution, and let the people pronounce upon them. He held that this
country should have, if not all, the
major part of the lands, and also its
minerals. We demand these, they
will bring us revenue. If any servies
of his could assist the Attorney-General
they would be given. He would
never accept any terms as being
the same as were given to Manitoba
and he was sure of this that the people
would keep on demanding until their
grievances were removed.
replied to Mr. Bennett's remarks on
the ministers having taken part in
Dominion political matters, and he defended the local Government against
the charge that they had used unfair
influences in the election in Eastern
Assiniboia. He himself was a candidate and knew nothing of such influences. He did
not agree with the
doctrine that members of the House
should not take part in Dominion
political matters. He denied that the
supporters of the Government had
sneered and jeered at Mr. Bennett's
first speech; and said that the gentleman's undoubted ability as a speaker
made no impression because of his
rash statements.
who on rising was received with
applause said that he and the Government had been accused of telling the
old old story. If so one would have
thought they would have been met with
the old old criticism. That, however,
was not so and he had to object to and
protest against the style and scope of
the criticisms. The Opposition had
found that three bridges out of three
hundred had been swept away, and
two school districts had not been paid.
They had discovered things that everybody knew last year. The whole criticism had
been founded on misconception of the facts, figures and arguments
of the member for Banff. The House
had listened to a federal political harangue for the first time. The references
to the "Napoleon of the West" and the
insinuation as to influences brought to
bear on him (Mr. Haultain) with reference to a choice of a successor to Mr.
Ross were absolutely indecent; and
the statements of the hon. gentleman
were entirely untrue. He denied that
members of the Government or officials
had gone about influencing electors;
or that any bulk grants had been improperly used. Attacks had been made
on the deputy minister of public works
and a gentleman who had just joined
the service, both of them unwarrranted
and foundationless. There were a large
number of things in the hon. gentleman's address. The policy of the Government was
referred to as an experiment and they had been censured for
amending so many ordinances. For
his part he hoped that for many years
the policy, institutions and laws would
have to be changed every year. (Hear,
hear.) It had been suggested that if the
Dominion Government refused to treat
the Territories liberally the Assembly
should resign and leave the Federal
Government to carry on the business.
This would be to take the attitude of a
sulky boy. The first part of the speech
of the member for West Calgary had
been delivered before; and the second
ought to have been made a year ago.
He took exception to the statement
that the faith of Canada had been committed to three provinces. He pointed
out that the province of Quebec and
that of British Columbia were each
larger in area than the three districts.
of the Territories. The debate had at
any rate brought out the policy of the
Opposition. Their policy last year was
a reduction of $2,500 in general expenses, this year they had expanded a
little on the magnificent sum. They
protested against forced taxation without representation, yet they said they
supported large local improvement districts. He took as official the declaration
of the member for St. Albert that he
was opposed to centralization. The
only alternative to the system was a
municipal system. Another portion of
their policy was the statement of the
member for West Calgary that there
was no difference between a corpora
tion and a Government. There had
been corporation leanings on the other
side of the House. As explained by the
treasurer the increase in Civil Government had been about $6,000 not $13,000.
The Government accepted the offer of
help from the member of West Calgary
but it should have been offered last
year. There had been no change of
front no change of opnion on the part
of the Government. The treasurer had
said the change of their political status
would have to be justified; unless the
House could prove that they would be
better off the change would not be
justified. It was a simple fact that the
power of final settlement was with the
Dominion Government. This did
not mean that the Government
would acquiesce in any impossible
terms. He would be absolutely unwilling to have a province established
on the same terms as those given to
Manitoba. He did not admit that any
particular nationality or creed had a
claim to representation in the conference to discuss Territorial matters.
With regard to the time of negotiations
and the manner in which they had
been conducted. Immediately after
the raising of the Assembly the memorial had been sent. The federal ministers were
then going all over the
country looking after the Dominion
elections, and a conference was impossible. The minister of the interior had
taken action before the Territorial
treasurer had joined the Government.
If made a province without proper
terms they would go on kicking and
continue kicking until they got them.
Extra representation at Ottawa based
on the census would be urged. He
would demand more than this,
viz, the representation to be based
on more than prospective population. With regard to negotiations, Mr. Haultain assured
the
House that the Government would
continue to urge the claims which they
had advocated.
said that the Opposition were not here to
propound a policy, but when they
reached the treasury benches they
would have a progressive policy. He
advocated a Territorial Government
and Opposition; coalition governments
were dangerous, and he wanted a Grit
or Conservative Government on Territorial lines. He objected to the minister
of agriculture receiving a salary from
this country and lowering himself to
be a scrutineer in an election. He proceeded to read several letters to show
that the minister of agriculture had
used his influence in the last election.
He thought the civil servants were
poorly paid but there were too many
of them. The Government were not
doing enough to secure water for the
people. It was not true that private
enterprise and Dominion Government
enterprise had failed in this. He gave
instances of public works that had been
badly constructed. There must be
something radically wrong in the school
system where there were children thirteen years of age who had never been
at school. The House should endeavor
to be unanimous in the matter of provincial organization.
expressed congratulations that so competent a man had succeed the late
Territorial treasurer, as shown in the
budget speech. He was pleased to see
an Opposition in the House, and a division on Territorial lines. Speaking of
the civil service grant, he was entirely
in accord with the increase of the ministers' salaries. The department of
agriculture was of such importance
that it could not be done without. The
question of water supply was one of
the most important and difficult; but
the efforts put forth were meeting with
approval. He was in full accord with
the leader of the House in regard to
provincial autonomy.
extended his quota of congratulation
to the commissioner of public works
and to the members of the Opposition.
The policy of the Government was
national and also rational. The criticisms offered by some of the members
of the Opposition did not appear to him
to have much solidity. Ten thousand
political souls like those could find
ample waltzing room on the point of a
cambric needle.
replied to the statements of the member for south Regina. He was prepared
to show all the corrrespondence in connection with the letters read, and
denied that he had any intention of
influencing the young man's vote in
the election. He was not aware that
there was anything disreputable in
acting as scrutineer in an election; if
there was then the hon, member who
had spoken probably knew more about
it, as he had been one himself.
announced himself as a supporter of
the Government's policy. He thought
the French Catholics would be well represented in the conference by Sir
Wilfrid Laurier. Oppositions to Governments had always cried extravagance, but the
Government had acted
as wisely as possible under the circumstances. He expressed unbounded
confidence in the Federal Government
and in the Territorial Government as
representing the Territories.
referred to the shortage of $180,000,
and in connection with this the increased salaries to the ministers. He did
not object to this, but was sorry to
notice that the deputy ministers had
no increase. If the 2,000 cases about
the right of the way should be satisfactorily
settled he would support the policy.
as an independent, said he had voted
with the Government on some matters
and against them on others. He
thought any one capable of performing the duties of members of the
Government should receive the
increased salary voted. He did not
think the commissioner of public
works would be influenced by the fact
of his being a brother of the minster
of the interior. He would not say at
present whether he was in favor of one
province, or two, or three, but would
await the announcement of the proposals.
on rising to close the debate was loudly applauded and delivered a dashing
and masterly reply. He said the debate had assumed a more important
form than a mere discussion of the details of the estimates. It was with a
feeling of satisfaction he had listened
to the discussions, and had been pleased with the flattering expressions towards himself
that had been uttered.
The criticisms of the disposition of the
funds had been rather small. The
amount available for roads, drainage
and bridges was $102,000 for the whole
of the Territories. Of this $65,000 had
been asked for by the constituencies
represented by ten gentlemen, and the
remaining $35,000 by 21 gentlemen.
He didn't think that the feelings expressed by the member for West
Prince Albert as to the increase of
salaries were shared by the members
of the House. In 1892 for sometime
the present Premier was the only paid
member of the Government. In September, that year, in the middle of the
year, two members were provided for
with one-third of the present population and the amount voted for salaries
was $4,500. He did not, therefore,
think there was much to complain
about. In regard to well boring, he admitted there were farmers who would
like wells on their farms; but the
wester portion of the Territories required exceptional treatment in the
matter of bridges, and the eastern in
regard to water supply. The policy of
the Government was to put no well
on private property. It was unfortunate that the member for West Calgary
should waste his talents in insinuations
against the honor of some one in or
out of the House. The Government
had two engineers in its employ who
were equal to any in this country.
He had written to an engineer in reference to the bridge at Red Deer, and
received his opinion that it would have
stood in an ordinary year.
When Mr. Sifton had concluded the
motion was put and carried and the
House went into committee of supply,
Deputy Speaker Gillis in the chair.
After a few minutes' consideration of
the first resolution in reference to the
estimate for civil service (executive
council), Mr. Bennett moved an
amendment for which only five members voted, to reduce the item by $4,500, including
the salary increases.
The committee rose and reported progress at 1:30 a.m.
1
THE LEADER.
REGINA, N.W.T., THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 27, 1901.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The speaker took the chair at 2:30.
BENNETT'S LONG RESOLUTION.
Mr. R. B. Bennett moved a very
long resolution. It pointed out that
the speech from the throne set forth
that the Dominion Government had
not given any indications of its inten-Â
tions in regard to the representations
made to them on the inadequacy of the
revenue of the Territories. The resolution went on to state that the liabilities
incurred by the Legislature in 1899 and
1900 much exceeded the resources in
each of those years; and that a similar
state of affairs characterised 1901. The
resolution concluded with expressing
the opinion that the Government
ought to have placed before the members of the Legislature the fullest in;
formation of the Territorial financial
position before the prorogation of the
Dominion Parliauient; and deemed it
inexpedient and unjust that the
salaries of the executive should have
been increased; and other expenditures incurred in view of impending
constitutional changes, which it re
4
THE LEADER, THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 27, 1901.
CLOSE OF ASSEMBLY
Continued from Page 1.
regarding as a menance to our rights and
detrimental to the interests and future
of the Territories.
He said that his object in proposing
the resolution was to place on record the
views of the Opposition. The House,
he contended, should have been taken
into the confidence of the Government,
but the estimates had not been brought
down until after the Dominion House
had prorogued. It was a very serious
condition of affairs that, while the
revenue amounted to only $413,000,
there were obligations of over $647,000.
This discounting the future was overstepping their consitutional powers,
as they had no power to borrow money
on the public credit. He deemed it his
bounden duty to place on record his
strong protest against the expediency,
unfairness and injustice of increasing
the cost of executive government.
Mr. A. L. Sifton replied that the
greater part of the resolution was
taken from his address in explanation
of the public accounts; the only part
in addition to this was the clause stating that the hon. gentlemen had no
confidence in the manner in which the
Government had prepared and the
House had passed the estimates. He
was quite within his privilege to secure
a setting forth of his views, though it
was questionable whether it would
not have been better to do this in
another way, pointing out specific
items. It was also within the rights
of the House to refuse to pass the
motion.
Dr. Patrick would have supported
the resolution but for the assurances
which the Government had given that
the people, through their representatives, and perhaps by appeal to themselves, would
have opportunity of pronouncing on the terms offered by the
Dominion Government. He had confidence to believe that if the Dominion
Government should be bent upon a
course that would interfere with the
wishes of the people of Eastern
Assiniboia, the government here would
call the House together, and there
would be a sufficient proportion of the
revenue left unexpended to provide for
taking an expression of the wishes of
the people if necessary.
Mr. R. S. Lake asked whether the
total suppression of public works
would be endorsed by the opposition.
Mr. R. B. Bennett replied that it was
not the duty of the opposition to point
out where particular items of reduction should be made, but they contended that, in
view of the statements
in the speech from the throne, it was
the imperative duty of the government
to place before every member of the
House the fullest possible information
in order that there might be no lack of
efficiency in the public service. The
member for the Grenfell must be well
aware that the opposition did not ask
that all public works should be stopped,
but they believed the demands for increase of subsidy were just and would
have been received if the House had
been taken into consultation before
the Dominion parliament was prorogued:
The motion was lost on the following
division:
For—McDonald, Bennett, Villeneuve,
McKay and McLeod.—5.
Against—Haultain, Sifton, Bulyea,
Brown, Meyers, Elliot, Cross, Greeley,
Rosenroll, Lake, Smith, Patrick, Connell, McCauley, Simpson, Wallace, Gillis, Shera.—18.
PROROGATION
At 4 p.m. His Honor the Lieutenant
Governor entered the House and gave
assent to thirty-four bills, which with
the eight previously assented to makes
forty-two all told. It was a rainy,
dirty, slushy, muddy day, and the function was performed without ceremony.
In proroguing the House His Honor
spoke as follows:—
In bringing this session of the legislative assembly to a close, I have to express
mt satifaction at the industry and zeal which—extended
over a longer period than usual—you have devoted to the many and important measures
to
which your attention had been directed.
I have to express my regret that the efforts made by my government to induce the federal
authorities to grant sufficiently ample financial
assistence to the Territories did not meet with
that measure of success the importance of the
requirements and neccessities of the Territories
demand.
I thank you for the liberal provision which
you have made for the services of the current
year.
Gentlemen of the Lesislative Assembly:
In relieving you from further attendence at this session. I venture to express the
hope that
the prospects of continuing prosperity will be
amply realized
This individual participated in:
