May 21,1873
COMMONS DEBATES 639
Hon. Mr. HOLTON said
the observations he had just heard
were very gratifying to him. Now they had the assurance of the
Government that they were going to adopt boldly the view which it
became his duty to express; and he had no doubt that the sum he
had indicated as the maximum sum for this service, to wit, half a
million dollars, would be found to be near the mark. He
affirmed
that the investigation regarding the administration of the Militia
Department had had the effect of bringing the Government to adopt
the policy which they had announced that day.
Mr. JONES repudiated
the idea that the West Point Military
School was superior to that of Sandhurst, England, and advocated
the expenditure of more money.
Mr. BOWELL was of
opinion that very little good resulted from
the annual camps, and referred to the reluctance with which
employers permitted employees to attend the camps. He also called
attention to the fact that in some of the companies there were four
men to each officer, while in one company there were two
officers
to one man. He hoped the Minister of Militia would consider well
before he gave his consent to the calling out of the men into camp,
for the present system of camp drill was an utter and useless waste
of money.
Mr. ROSS (Prince
Edward) did not approve of the camp
system of drill, and he thought if the men were called out it should
not be until September, for in the present condition of the labour
market, it would be a great hardship on the employers. He thought
the system which it was proposed to introduce next year would
prove to be the proper one.
Mr. BERGlN was also
of opinion that it would be criminal, in
the present state of the labour market to call out a large body of men
for camp drill.
Mr. BROWN expressed
views similar to those enunciated by the
previous speakers.
Afier some
further discussion the items were concurred in.
***
SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES
A message from His
Excellency was read recommending the
supplementary estimates of expenditure in connection with Prince
Edward Island.
Amongst other items
was one of $3,000 for expenses in
connection with the burial of the bodies recovered from the wreck
of the steamship Atlantic,
providing coffins, et cetera, and for
conferring rewards on the Rev. Mr. Ancient and other inhabitants in
the vicinity of Prospect Cape, who rescued and provided for
persons saved from the wreck. Also, $20,000 for improvements in
ventilation, lighting and heating of the Parliamentary building; also
$6,000 to provide for the expenses in connection with inspection
and classification of vessels by the Dominion Government.
SUPPLY
The House then went
into Committee of Supply and passed
supplementary estimates $57,300.
Some discussion arose
on the item of $4,000 to facilitate the
descent of timber on Fenelon River.
Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE
pointed out that this was purely a local
work, with which the Dominion had nothing to do.
The item was passed.
Mr. SNIDER referred
to the neglect of the Government to
improve the harbour at Owen Sound, and he hoped the Government
would vote a sum for the purpose, and remove from his mind the
impression that no member but a Government supporter could get
justice done to his constituency.
Hon. Mr. LANGEVlN
said they had expended so much money
this year that they could not vote any more. Next year he would see
what could be done.
The item of $6,000
for the establishment of a Canadian Lloyd's
was concurred in.
***
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
NEGOTIATIONS
The estimate of
$100,000 for carrying on the negotiations with
Prince Edward Island was passed without objection.
***
HON. SIR
GEORGE-ÉTIENNE CARTIER'S FUNERAL
Hon. Sir JOHN A.
MACDONALD gave notice that on Friday
he would move that an humble address be presented to His
Excellency, praying that His Excellency might be graciously
pleased to give directions that the remains of the Hon. Sir George
É. Cartier be interred at the public expense, and that a monument be
raised to his memory, and that this House assure His Excellency
that they will make good the expenditure attending the same.
* * *
ADJOURNMENT
In reply to Hon. Mr. Cauchon,
The House rose at
1.30
644 COMMONS DEBATES May 21, 1873
THE NORTHERN RAILWAY BILL
On motion of
Hon. Mr.
TILLEY, the order that the House go
into Committee to consider certain proposed resolutions with
respect to the acceptance of a sum of $500,000 from the Northern
Railway Company, on certain conditions, was discharged.
Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE
was surprised that the hon. gentleman
was unable to perpetrate this job.
Hon. Sir JOHN A.
MACDONALD said the hon. member
would have to account for having prevented Toronto being
connected with Lake Nipissing by his opposition to the bill.
It being six
o'clock the Speaker lefi the chair.
AFTER RECESS
THE GOLDSMITHS' BILL
Mr. WILKES moved the
second reading of the amendments
made by the Senate to the bill to incorporate the Goldsmiths'
Company of Canada.
Hon. Sir JOHN A.
MACDONALD said he had read assurances
from jewellers and others in all parts of Canada that the bill was
intended to create a monopoly, and he was assured that it was
simply a job. He therefore moved in amendment that the
amendments be read that day six months.
Mr. RYAN and other
members spoke of the strong opposition
offered to the bill by the jeweller trade in Montreal.
Mr. WILKES explained
the motive and object of the Bill and,
afier some remarks from Messrs. Mackenzie, Currier, Chisholm,
Carter, Young (Waterloo South), Ryan, Hon. Sir John A.
Macdonald, and Hon. Mr. Holton, the hour for Private Bills having
expired, the Bill was allowed to stand over till Friday.
* * *
PRINTING
Mr. STEPHENSON
presented the seventh report of the Printing
Committee, recommending that tenders be invited for the
Parliamentary printing
* * *
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ADMISSION BILL
Hon. Mr. TILLEY moved
the third reading of the bill respecting
the admission of Prince Edward Island as a Province of the
Dominion.
The Bill was read a
third time and passed.
INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY
The House went into
Committee on certain resolutions with
respect to the authorization of the payment of certain contractors for
sections No. 1 to 7 of the lntercolonial Railway.
Hon. Mr. TILLEY
stated that the resolutions were made in
accordance with the recommendations of the Commissioners and
the Engineer, and the amounts were calculated upon the papers he
had placed in the hands of the hon. member for Lambton (Hon.
Mr. Mackenzie).
Hon. Mr. HOLTON was
of the opinion that this matter ought to
be allowed to lie over until next session, when fuller information
could be obtained to enable them to come to a more deliberate and
accurate conclusion on so great a matter.
Hon. Mr. TUPPER said
it was admitted that these contracts
were of an exceptional character; and as the whole question had
come up before the Public Accounts Committee, and circumstances
were thus fully known, he did not think there would be any
objection to passing this measure.
Mr. JONES agreed with
the member for Châteauguay, and
thought the precedent a most dangerous one.
Mr. YOUNG (Waterloo
South) suggested that the motion
should be postponed, or the word "local" in
reference to claims
made by contractors be changed to "legal".
Mr. SCATCHERD thought
these claims were equally legal
whether made by the original contractor or by some one having
bought his claim, but he thought neither of these claims should be
given countenance to by this House.
Afier some
further discussion, in which
Messrs. Holton,
Wood
and
Wallace (Norfolk South), argued that, workmen once paid, the
surplus should be distributed proportionately among the other
creditors.
Hon. Mr. ANGLlN
thought the Government were doing the
correct thing this time in submitting the proposal to the House for
its approval or disapproval; but he did not know whether the
amounts to be paid were what they ought to be, and as this matter
had been lying over for settlement for the past three years, he
thought the final settlement should be left over
for another year.
Hon. Mr. HOLTON
enquired if there were any other claims of a
similar nature before the Government.
Hon. Mr. TUPPER said
there were not, that is to say, not of a
nature that would come before this House.
Hon. Mr. TILLEY
consented to the amendment proposed by
Mr. Young (Waterloo South).