The Speaker took the chair at 3:30.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Mr. Mackenzie asked if the Civil Service
Commission was still in existence, and if the
Commissioners had sent down any other report
than the two published during the last Session
of Parliament?
Hon. Sir George-É. Cartier said that the
reports were complete with regard to the
Department at Ottawa; but with regard to outside offices, the Post Office, Customs,
etc.,
there was something yet to be done.
Hon. Mr. Tilley said, with the exception of
some branches of Inland Revenue and Fisheries, the outside service had been attended
to.
Mr. Mackenzie asked the Government if
they thought that was consistent with a promise that no action should be taken on
the
reports of that Commission until they were
submitted to the House. They had been told
that they were complete, but now, accidentally,
they learned that a third report had been made
which involved expenditure; and not only had
it been acted upon but had been kept secret. He
thought that course was altogether consistent
with the course of the Government during the
whole session.
Hon. Mr. Holton asked if the recommendations of the Board with respect to outside service were still
in an inchoate condition?
Hon. Mr. Tilley understood his hon. friend's
question was whether the vote that was passed
was calculated to cover that.
1401
[...] blamed for bringing down that imperfect information, and neglecting wholly to
act upon the
request of the House some weeks ago to bring
down the entire correspondence.
Hon. Mr. Holton—Then why this pretence
of bringing down this information to the utter
neglect of the motion?
Hon. Sir George-É. Cartier said Government
were anxious to place the message at once
before the House, and did not wish to wait for
the preparation of the other correspondence
before doing so.
The subject then dropped.
ILLNESS OF SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD
In reply to Mr. Mackenzie,
Hon. Sir George-É. Cartier said the reason
why the Government had not gone on with the
Manitoba Bill was the sudden illness of the
Minister of Justice, who had been seized, he
regretted to say, with spasms as he was preparing to come down to the House. If he
(Sir
George-É. Cartier) had taken the floor to make
that regretful announcement, he would have
been obliged to ask the House to postpone
taking up the Bill until his colleague should be
in his seat. They were desirous that the measure, which was one in which the Minister
of
Justice took great interest, should be held over,
for Sir John A. Macdonald would like to be in
his seat while the measure was going through
the most difficult ordeal through which a Bill
could pass in Parliament. There was no likelihood that the hon. member could attend
in his
place that evening, but if hon. gentlemen opposite insisted on taking up the measure
at 7:30
the Government were ready.
Mr. Mackenzie could only express his regret
at the illness of the Premier, and say that so far
as he was personally concerned, he would not
insist on taking up the measure during the
absence of the Minister of Justice.
Hon. Sir George-É. Cartier expressed his
thanks on behalf of the members of the Government and their friends for the sympathy
and assistance of his hon. friend opposite.
The House rose for recess.
After recess,
1410 COMMONS DEBATES May 6, 1870
"An Act respecting the Naturalization of certain Aliens."
"An Act respecting the Marking of timber."
(This Bill was read a third time.)
"An Act to amend the Insolvency Act of
1869."
Mr. Keeler said he had agreed to strike out
the 1st and 4th clauses after consideration with
the Minister of Justice.
"An Act respecting Official Assignees
appointed under the Insolvency Act of 1864",
from the Senate.
"An Act to amend the Law relating to the
inspection of Raw Hides and Leather." (This
Bill was read a third time and passed.)
"An Act to amend Section 142 of the Insolvency Act of 1869."
THE MANITOBA BILL—THE PREMIER'S
ILLNESS
In reply to Mr. Mackenzie,
Hon. Sir George-É. Cartier said that owing
to the illness of his worthy colleague, the Minister of Justice, the Manitoba Bill
had not been
taken up to-day, but he hoped the Premier
would be well enough to-morrow (this day) to
take his seat in the House. If not, the Bill
would be taken up to-morrow.
Hon. Mr. Holton—Has the hon. gentleman
no authentic information as to the real condition of the Premier? We would like to
know, as
there is a good deal of anxiety felt as to his
condition.
The House adjourned at 11:30 p.m.
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