Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 30, 1875, Winnipeg, Manitoba Guihn thursday dec. 30, 1875. The Pacific railway. A minute of Council published in another column which has been forwarded to British Columbia regarding the Pacific railway is of grave importance. For some time past the inspired newspapers of the Eastern provinces have been speaking in a tone thai indicated a desire on the part of the Domin Ion government to be freed of any time limitation for the construction of the Pacific railway that this meant something is Ren dered evident by the text of the minute of Council referred to. It proposes new terms to British Columbia in this connection of Fering that province for the construction of local Public works of the Dominion government being held to certain conditions in connection with the Pacific railway. The ambiguity of the minute is such that the cursory Reader might be in doubt whether the government ask to be freed of obligations in regard to the Van Couver Island railway Only or the limitation of time for construction of the Pacific railway. We accept the latter interpretation which perhaps includes the former. As we take it British Columbia by accepting the will forego the Carnarvon arrangement entirely which was the completion of the railway by 1890. We rather doubt whether British Columbia will sell her claim even for the considerable sum offered. But if the Canadian government Are Bent upon not being bound by the former terms it is difficult to imagine what British Columbia can do to. Avert such an situated As Manitoba is we cannot but take a deep interest in this affair. But however anxious we May be with the combined weight of the Eastern provinces against us we May As Well accept the situation for aught contrary conduct will Avail. Still we shall very Likely have something to say it. New terms with iritis i Colum Bia. Our British Columbia exchanges contain the following despatches the under Secretary of state to the Lieut governor s Ottawa 10th nov 1875. Directed to transmit to you for the information of your government a copy of an order of his excellency the adminis Trator of the government in Council on the subject of the difficulties existing Between the government of the. Dominion and that of British Columbia arising out of the agree ment 187.1, for the construction of the Canadian Pacific railway i beg to express my regret at the delay which has occurred in forwarding this Docu ment. It arose from the fact that the officer whose duty it was to furnish a copy of tie order in Council to this department for transmission to your government having inadvertently omitted to do so. 1 have Etc edouard j Laxo Evix under Secretary of state. Copy of a report of a committee of the honourable the privy Council approved by his excellency of the government in the 20th of sep tember 1875. The committee of Council have had under consideration the difficulties arising out of the agreement made in 1871 for the construction of the Canadian Pacific railway i Edgar s Mission to British Columbia last year was based upon the View that the conditions of that agreement were quite impracticable of fulfilment. The proposals submitted by him to the British Columbia government were briefly that the limitation of time be Given up Canada should under take that one million and a half of dollars should to expended upon construction with in that province in each year after location and that a Waggon Road along the line of the proposed railway construction should pre cede actual railway construction. It was further proposed to build a railway on Vancouver Island from Esquimalt to Nanaimo. Tho propositions were either not consid ered by the government of British Colum Bia or if considered they were rejected by them and they subsequently appealed to the Imperial government invoking their intervention. The result of this Appeal was an offer from the right. Honorable lord. Car Narvon Secretary of state for the colonies Lor his Good offices to promote a Settle ment. Priv a Council in their minute of. The 23rd july 1874, advised that lord Carnar yen be informed they would gladly submit the question to him for his decision As to whether the exertions of the government the Diligence shown and the offers made have or have not been fair and just in co dance with the spirit of the in his esp atom of August s upon this minute and upon on the of British Columbia ins decision made certain sue the most important were that of yearly expenditure Iron me after location than must be borne in mind that every step in the negotiations was necessarily predicated upon and subject to the conditions o the Resolution of the House of commons passed in 1871, the the terms of Union with British subsequently Ona noted in the Ca Nadian Pacific railway act of 1872, and sub sequently re enact and altar a Large addition had been made to the rate of taxation in the Canadian Pacific railway act of 1874 that the Public Aid to be Given to secure the accomplishment of the undertaking should consist of such Liberal Grants o land and. Such subsidy in Money or othe Aid not increasing the then existing rate o taxation As the parliament of Canada should thereafter this determination not to involve the country in a hopeless Burden of debt is Stis sustained by Public opinion everywhere throughout the Dominion and must o necessity control the action of the govern ment and it cannot be too clearly under stood that any agreements As to yearly expenditure and is to completion by a fixed time must be subject to the condition thrice repeated in the journals of Parlia ment that no further increase in the rate of taxation sly ill be required in order to their fulfilment. The Sanction of parliament to the con Start action of the proposed railway from Esquimalt to Nanaimo was necessarily a condition precedent to the commencement o the work. The other important feature of the arrangement namely the limitation of time for the completion of a certain portion and the specification of a yearly expenditure was deemed to be within the meaning o the Pacific railway act 1874, subject of course to the condition already mentioned and which was referred to in the minute of Council of december 18th, 1874, when the government expressed a willingness to make those further concessions rather than forego an immediate settlement of so irritating a question As the Concession suggested might be made without involving the violation of the spirit of any parliamentary Resolution or the letter of any tee proposed railway from Esquimalt to Nanaimo does not form a portion of the Canadian Pacific railway As defined by the act it was intended to Benefit local inter ests and was proposed As compensation for the disappointment experienced by the Una voidable delay in constructing the railway across the continent. The work is essentially a local one and there Are obvious reasons against the Canadian government under Ordinary circumstances Linde taking the construction of such works and in favor of their being built if at All by the virtue of provincial action. The Bill government introduced into the House of commons to provide for building this railway evoked a consider Able degree of opposition in that House and in the country and although passed by the House of commons it was afterwards rejected in the Senate and thus there is imposed upon the government the duty of consid ering some other method of meeting All just expectations of the people o f British Colum Bia whose government has not suggested to this government any solution of the difficulty. It would seem reasonable that the people of British Columbia should construct this work themselves or if they think other local Public works More advantageous should in lieu of this themselves undertake such other local Public works and that the compensation to be Given them by Canada for any delays which May take place in the construction of the Pacific railway should be in the form of a Cash be applied towards the local railway or such other local works As the legislature of British Columbia May undertake Canada also surrendering any claim to lands which May have been reserved in Vancouver Island rail Way purposes. The sum of would appear to the committee to be a Liberal the committee advise that the govern ment of British Columbia be informed that this government is prepared to propose to parliament at is next session the legislation necessary to carry out the views contained in this minute As to the construction of the Pacific railway and the compensation to be Given to British Columbia for delays in such construction. The committee further advise that a copy of this minute be transmitted to the Rurh t honorable tiie Secretary of state for the colonies. Certified signed w. A. Himsworth clerk privy Council Canada. By of bankrupt Stock. Totice. To Auchu Riecl exp Fqy Frt i at r. y Jear 18jo As it two All persons desirous of Sec inf the crack in the Market humbling Are requested to come on or by lore the first Day of january 1870. It is the intention of Trio contractor to clone it on new year s any. A Ninnin Lryni will be on hand for the Benefit of those with imperfect set the. W. H. Contractor. Re mrs Moir s ladies school will re open on g fire meeting of the brigade for the elec _ ear win held tuesday evening 4th january at o clock. Mem Hay Ward Secretary n j s Lodge. A. P. No.4, communal wednesday january Brethren. Are summoned to attend invited. By Cordoro Tnew-51. U30j5 ancient Lodge a. F. A. Tin. No. 3, g.k.5i ?0isprfllt Felting on wednesday 32 00 to o a. O 3" n 3 it o o of c o 9 a. O o fit 3 a ;