Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 27, 1876, Winnipeg, Manitoba Jul thursday Jais 27, 1876. Ims pitted land intelligence comes from Ottawa that la. Governor Morris has been appointed a com missioner to investigate and report upon the disputed titles to lands within the settlement Belt in Manitoba. This information will we Are sure to very satisfactory to a j great Many people in this country who have been kept so Long in suspense upon the question which is Iio to be settled. It will to satisfactory for two reasons first that the matter is to to disposed of and secondly because they will have All Confidence that Tho commissioner will act dispassionately in the premises. Manitoba a Ift Hlat u us. January 25. session. The speaker took the chair at 8 Hoh. My. Royal moved the second read ing of the Bill respecting the Organ fixation of Tho department of Public works and briefly explained its provisions. The first part relates to the duties of the superintendent Tho second part alludes to the Drain ago of land and the the a to Tho duties and Powers of arbitrators. The House wont into committee of the or Cirard in the chair. Two or three clauses having been read or. Dick complained that so important a measure had not been placed in the Mem Bers hands previously and would like time to look it Over he suggested that the com Mittee Vise and report and ask leave to had been said about the Bill that it was not necessary for him to make lengthy remarks lie did not like being called upon by the do minion government to Amend the Constitution in this Way. If this House looked at the Manitoba act they would find that they have the Power to abolish the legislative Council and he would admit that it was necessary to make the change lie believed the time had come to make that change and Felt sure it would be done by the unanimous vote of the House. He did not look upon the legislative Council As a democratic institution and although to was a conservative yet he had always worked for the people. It was the first duty of the upper House to look after the interests of the Crown but those interests were sufficiently protected in this province without an up per House. He believed it would be against the interests of the people to refuse to Abol ish that House. There were other reasons which would induce him to vote for the Bill. The great fact was that it was burdensome to the country and had proved no chock whatever to Hasty legislation lie had not found that the legislative Council was any guarantee to the minority. If there was any guarantee he would oppose the abolition. When he saw the Way that seven Mem Bers Defeated the legislation of Tho Twenty four members of this looked at it As a disgrace. Tho labors of this House had been often rendered of no Avail by the Mere whim of some members of the legislative it Only required four members of again to Morrow. Or. Luxton and or. Cowan supported or. H Dick s suggestion. The committee Rose. Hox. My. Royal moved the second read ing of the Bill respecting the registration of mortgages to be Given by parties obtaining assistance from the Central Relief commit tee and said this Bill was brought Forward at the request of the Dominion government. The Bill provides that mortgages to be Given by various parties to whom advances of seed Grain etc., Are made shall be registered in the Dominion lands office Winnipeg and in the Case of Chattle mortgages with the prothonotary of the court of Queen s Bench and these registrations Are to be made with out charge. Or. Cowan would have liked to have seen these registrations made in the different registry offices in the counties or the differ ent land offices. The House went into committee of the Murray in the chair. Considerable discussion arose As to the place of registration. The Bill was however re ported without amendment. Third Reading to Morrow. Hour. My. Hoyat moved the second read ing of Tho Bill concerning the opening of certain Public roads and said that it was Tho intention of the government to refer this to a special committee. The object of the Bill is to empower the government to enter upon and take Possession of lands for Road purposes. The government have Only now Power where the lands have been deeded. He held that it was the duty of the Dominion government to provide roads for the settlers of outlying districts but not withstanding the representations made by the delegation to Ottawa the minister of Tho Interior would not accede to this just request. The Bill provides that on the be the lieutenant governor in Council of at least 30 voters and actual residents in a township or municipality certain Steps shall be taken for the opening of such Road and of the whole Cost of such the petitioners shall pay two thirds and the balance shall be taken from a fund for such purposes. The value of lands so taken was to be ascertained by arbitration and the Mode of appointing arbitrators is also provided. The Bill also gives the lieutenant governor in Council Power to a Poliuc two or More competent to act As Road inspectors through out the province. My. Dick was not much in favor of the principle of the Bill. To did not think it right that two thirds of the amount should be paid by the petitioners or by the municipalities and spoke strongly of the great in Justice that would be done to his con Titu Cipov if Tho Bill were passed. Lie did not apr Avo of the Mode of appointing arbitrators and thought one of them should be appointed by the petitioners. The second Reading tvs then carried and Tho Bill was referred to a committee consist ing of Hon. Messes. Royal Norquay Llovy Iii and messes. Dick Lux ton Brown Gunn Mck in and Cli Enior. On motion of the Hon. Or. Norquay the Bill respecting the legislative Assembly was read a third Leno passed and sent to the legislative Council for concurrence. . Or. Davi m wed the third Reading of an act to provide for the appointment of a Tiro commissioner for the cities and towns in Manitoba and to define his Powers and duties. Viox. My. Girard asked that it be referred Back to Tho committee of the whole in or Der to insert a clause providing for investigation of Prairie fires under the same pro visions As other fires. I of. My. Davis agreed with Tho Sugges Tion and the Bill was referred Back and a clause to that effect added. The Bill was then Road a third time passed and sent to the legislative Council for concurrence. Hox. Or. Royal s Bill concerning the prac Tice in the courts was read a third time passed and sent to the legislative Council for concurrence. Hon. My. Davis Laid on the table the Public accounts for the fiscal year 1875. On motion of or. Luxton messes Brown and Lemay Weie added to the committee on redistribution. The House then adjourned at till 3 . Wednesday. Wednesday Jan 26th. The speaker took the chair at 3 . . My. Royal from the special commit tee to whom was referred the Bill respecting Tho opening of Public roads reported that the committee had met and in ado certain amendments which they submitted for Tho consideration of the House. The second Reading of the Bill to take place at the evening sitting. The debate on the second Reading of the Biu to abolish the legislative Council was Towli resumed. . My. thought that so m Ich Council. Tho upper House to carry a majority and with certain influences that majority could easily be secured. He had had something to do with the appointment of the members of the legislative Council and had tried to have appointed the Best men possible but after All they were men who were liable to be influenced. This House had no control Over the legislative Council and yet had to sit Buffer the consequences of their acts. He could see no analogy Between this province and England with its House of lords and Canada with its Senate. He referred to the Powers and organization of second Chambers in those countries and their necessity and argued that the legislative Council Here could not be made Large enough to be of any service. He Felt uneasy to a certain extent at the position to stood in he regretted the necessity of putting Tho hand to the Constitution but he believed that by doing away with the legislative Council Tho Best interests of the people would be served. He would like if it were possible that a Board could to formed to look at the acts intended to be brought Forward by the govern ment at each session and thought in this country that duty could be done by the judge who had plenty of time to assist in preparing measures lie referred to certain complaints which had been made of the interference of some of the judges with some of the members he thought it very wrong for judges to interfere to change the views of any member. He Felt uneasiness at the condition attached by the Dominion government to the better terms and thought if this province was entitled to better permit should have them As a matter of Justice. But he did not look upon it As a condition. The Dominion government had a right to suggest but no right to say what we should do in the matter of legislation. And it was on this consideration that to would regard it and give his vote for Tho second Reading of the Bill. Hont. My. Royal said that Tho question now before the House was one of the great est importance. They were going to place their hands upon that which was always considered a sacred tiling. This House was called upon to pronounce upon the Constitution whether the provisions therein contained shall be changed or not whether the legislative Council Given to the coun try on its organization As a province shall be abolished or not whether this province shall walk in Tho same Road and fight Over for themselves the constitutional Battles that had been fought in the other provinces and in other countries or not. In Europe there is no country where constitutional Battles have not been fought and of Continos gained Only by blood. In England again and again on bloody Fields has the Light been won or lost but for Many years the people of England had gained constitutional Privi Leges without a revolution and changes had Roeii gradually made until now the Power has passed from the King and just now they saw that the great Power was with the commons who Are tie representatives of the people. In Canada blood had also been shed for but the great change of confederation had been accomplished peacefully. A there As in eng land tiie three Powers wore the King or the King s representative the lords and Tho commons which was Only another name for the people Foar provinces who entered confederation had an upper chamber. It had taken Many years to from the Crown the Powers and privileges there pos tossed by the people s representatives. In confederation a great mistake had been made there was no provisions made for the admission of new provinces when this pro Vince was to be annexed to Canada the government had no doubt tried to give it irs perfect a Constitution As they could with the knowledge they possessed but after a trial of live tin s House in a few minutes will vote to Amend was Tho Best then done which could have been done. He thought not. They had Given to the boy the garments of a Man and it wonder the did not lit. He did not say the then Dominion government Hud intended to do wrong Only that they had not Lone wisely in giving this province the same cumbersome and expensive machinery which had been Given to populous and wealthy provinces. In England the upper chamber was com posed of the lords who had been trained to that position All their lives. In Canada the Senate was composed of men of Long stand ing and who had great experience in Trade in Commerce etc., to men who had fought the Battles of life and who were in every Way fitted to weigh calmly and dispassionately All matters brought before them and who were not susceptible to government or other Only aim being the Good of the country but Here the charge was too great. Here there were no men to appoint who had any experience whatever in a legislative men was had been trained in constitutional usages and the re sult had certainly not been to the credit or advantage of the province. Transition is the natural Law and must be gradual. No provisions were made in organizing confederation for the annexing of new provinces. After confederation the first province admitted was British Columbia which he believed had entered without a legislative Council. Ontario asked for and received but a single chamber and he believed that checks and guarantees Lay just As much nay far More in Public opinion than in an upper chamber. In Ontario there were families of Long standing men whose fathers had taken part in Many of its Constitution Al was almost Universal papers of ability which were read throughout the Community no one then who would do anything detrimental to the whole position was one of such counterpoise that no checks or guarantees were necessary. In Quebec there Are two Peoples and it was thought test that there should be two Chambers in order to pre serve the interests of the minority. But he had come into Contact with men of High standing both English and French Strong liberals and Strong conservatives and Thoy were unanimous in saying that the Legisla Tive Council would be done away with before Long. He had told the government that these two Chambers had been Given us without any provisions for carrying on such cumbersome machinery. We were now called upon to take a step which was a very grave one and which would have a grave effect upon the province. It might have taken some time to take this step which we Are strongly advised to take by the do minion government but we do it for the Good of the province leaving the consequences to rest upon those who urged do so. He believed there were sufficient chocks and guarantees in the b. N. A. Act As All acts of this House affecting the Constitution must after being assented to by the lt.-gov., to sent to Ottawa and receive the assent of the governor general. And with these two checks and these two guarantees we have everything that is required. But there was something else for himself which had not been guaranteed by any act he found it yesterday in the remarks of the lion. Messes Davis and Norquay in the applause Given by or Brown to the sentiments by or. Luxton and in the expressions of or. Cornish. This was the proper Check this was the proper guarantee. We can have no Law that will stand against Public fundamental principle of All legislation. We can have no Power in this House Able to withstand that. He did not with to speak disrespectfully of the upper House which was now passing away but to would say that if they had Given any proof of honesty if instead of being a scandal they had been an ornament there would have been not so much necessity for this Meas ure. He did not wish to include All the Hon members in these remarks to referred to one particularly whose false la lubrication had done so much injury to this and upon that person rested the responsibility. When the delegation were in Ottawa. They were forced to acknowledge with shame that such a Man was unworthy of the Trust reposed in him. And the greater share of the responsibility o doing away with the legislative Council rested upon the Man who had disgraced it it rested upon him in the minds of this house1, and it will rest upon him in history with regard to Tho abolition of the French language to hoped it would to Long Long before he had to lift his voice in that House to express his opinion. If they wanted to teach Tho people of this province let them have the Laws to read in their own language for it was Only in Reading these books Thoj could be trained to constitutional usages with regard to the courts there was some thing higher there than political considerations it was the right of every Man to be tried by his Peers by men who understand his language. He did not think men who had defended this country against indians who had made it what it is should be placet upon the same level with Tho men who to Ter Day were foreigners. It was his desk to soc the whole House stand up and a their vote comply with the request of the Dominion government and say Here w Are you take the responsibility War willing to make Tho sacrifice 1 should vote As one Man let us Lay aside All narrow ideas and Shew that we can do anything Foi the Prosperity of the whole Dominion Whei we Are called upon to do so. In. Lemay said that to voted last year against the measure but this j car he would vote in favor of it. The legislative Council had become a Public nuisance and he be the opposition which was directed the delegation to Ottawa and from myrties who should Havo known belter. He very much pleased to hear the generous and just remarks of the Hon. Premier the Ion. Prov. Secretary and also that of 1he Ion. Member for hoc Wood which gave the vote on this Bill would express the Security Hoy Felt in the hands of that majority. To was somewhat surprised to hear the re Narks of the Hon. Member for Poplar Point Vith regard to who the majority were in this Louse. He saw by looking among the Mem ners that the canadians predominate which in considered As great Confidence and pen Rosity on Tho part of the native population which he hoped and trusted would not be in Trayce by the now settlers. While speak Ogof generosity he regretted very much to co some Hon. Members of the House so very ungenerous toward the Hon. Members of the legislative whether they arc to blame or not we should at least show a spirit of Courtesy and generosity. Tho lion a Ember for St. Anno remarked in the i Loupe that the. Present minister of agriculture has it the Confidence of Tho for Neh people. In the contrary the Hon. Minister of Agri has the Confidence of the French people which the United French vote of this Blouse on this Bill would show and he held that the change in the government Lias Boon he Means of uniting the French members lie would say with regard to his constituents that they had left him at Liberty to do is he believed to be to the general Benefit of the province and lie thought it would be very ungenerous for the members we orc present the minority in the House to throw my obstacles in the Way when it was Consi dered for the general Good of the province. Tho second Reading was then carried on the following division Cornish cow an Chenier Davis Dick Girard Gunn Lux ton Lemay Lupine Murray Mckay my Enzi i Norquay Nolin Royal 20. Two Howard and mar absent the former gentleman unavoidably but would have voted Yea had he been present. The cause of the absence of the latter gentleman is Well known but it is stated that he would have voted nay. The House then went into committee of the Luxton in Tho chair. Tie committee Rose and reported without amendment. Third Reading at Tho evening session. Lox. My. Davis Rose to a question of privilege and stated that an irregularity had been committed yesterday by the House in referring the Marquette Lisgar and Selkirk colonization railway to the committee on private Bills and he would move that it be referred to the committee on privileges and standing orders and that in the meantime action by the private Bills committee be suspended. He did not do to kill off the Bill but merely to Correct an irregularity and cited authority in support of his Posi Tion Mil. By own moved that in Tho unavoidable absence of Hon. Or. Howard the promoter of the Bill action be deferred until the even ing sitting. My. Thought the Bill should stand Over injustice and oort cry to or. Howard or. Brown s amendment was Brown Cowan Cornish and Mek Coxie Vot ing in favor of or. Davis motion was carried. On motion of Hon. Or. Royal the House went into committee of the whole on the Bill respecting the organization of Tho department of Public Bird in the chair. At six o clock the committee Rose and the House adjourned till Manu Fiu Tureh of far Jiuu ing material engines a atoms and uo., stoves a or burning Iron brass 01 every fit Root St. A asks. Hall s Standaro 8afe3, a full line of fire burglar proof safes Mill vault doors always in Stool big Ford Passmore a Erik of co Aii i stave rooms Paul Minnesota. N o c o v o ;