Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 18, 1878, Winnipeg, Manitoba Business announcement with a View of bettor accommodating a Large number of the patrons of the press we Havo opened a Branch office and counting room under charge of our mra Macgregor in Tho will lung immediately North . Krco press july Glt 1877. In flu Day Jan. 18, 1878. Opening of the Imperial parliament. The Queen s speech. The Eastern question St. Paul Jan. 18. Parliament assembled yesterday. The Queen was not present in person. The speech from the tin one was As follows my lords and gentlemen i have thought fit to assemble you be fore the usual period of your meeting in order that you might become acquainted the efforts i have made to terminate Trio War now devastating Eastern Europe and Asia and that i might have the advice and assistance of parliament in the present Santo of Public affairs. You Are aware that after unsuccessful striving to Avert War i declared my intention to observe neutrality in the contest which i had tried but had failed to prevent so Long a the interests of my Empire As defined by my government were not threatened. I expressed at the same time my Earnest desire to Avail myself of any Opportunity which might present itself for preparing a peaceful settlement of the questions at Issue Between the belligerent Powers. The successes obtained by the russian arms in Europe and Asia have convinced the Porte that it should bring to a close the hostilities which Are causing such immense in foring to its subjects. The government of the Sultan accordingly addressed the Neutral Powers parties to the treaties relat ing to the turkish Empire suggesting there was now an Opportunity for their Good of Licos. It did not however appear to the i of the Powers thus addressed that they could usefully comply with the re quest. They communicated this opinion to the i Orte. I to Porte then determined on making a separate Appeal to my govern ment. 1 at once made enquiry of the pm p.-1-or of Lussia whether his Imperial majesty would entertain overtures for peace. The emperor expressed in reply his earn est Dcsii-3 for peace and stated at the same time Liis opinion As to the course which should be pursued for its attainment. Upon this communications have taken place be tween the governments of Russin. Anil tur key through my government officers and i earnestly Trust they May Lead to a Pacific solution of the Points at Issue and to a termination of the War. No efforts on my will be wanting to hasten the so far As the War has proceeded neither of the belligerents has infringed the conditions on which my neutrality was founded and i willingly believe that both parties Are desirous to inspect them so far a May to in their Power. So Long As these conditions Are not infringed my attitude will continue the same but i cannot con ceal from myself that should hostilities be unfortunately prolonged some unforeseen occurrence May Render it incumbent on me to adopt measures of precaution. Such measures could not be effectually taken without adequate preparations and i Trust to the liberality of parliament to sup ply the Means which May to required for that the speech congratulates the country on the diminution of the proportions of the Indian famine and refers to South african affairs saying that it has been thought expedient to reinforce the troops there. It re commends legislation in regard to recent factory disturbances and to the education of children. Thursday Jan. 17th. The House met at 3 . After routine or. Girard on behalf of the Coin Mitten appointed to investigate the Case of alleged breach of privilege made a Progress report which after a lung discussion on objections raised by or. Cornish was with drawn by permission of the House. moved for an address playing that his excellency would cause to Brt Laid before this House copies of All Cor Respondence Between the Dominion government find the executive of the province on lilo subject of the Extension of the Dun Kin act to this province also a similar address regarding the school lands in this pro Vince. Carried. Seed Wii hat Ady Axcius. Roux moved for the appointment of a committee to petition the Dominion government in reference to the Lle Lief commit with Power to Send for persons and a Pord and that this committee should con of lion. Messes. Norquay and i Isi s. Taylor Murray Gunn , and the mover. My. Noun having spoken to Tho motion in Finch my. Koyal explained that the Hon mover s remarks had been to the effect that the settlers who had availed themselves of the assistance of the Ile Lief committee by obtaining seed Grain and provisions Felt that the obligation was a loan that must be re i Aid but that the government of Canada had perhaps not dealt As fairly As they Thoulin have done in demanding the actual of the advances made in i lie rattlers should give Bushel for Bushel or pay in Cash with interest. Or. Colin had asked if the settlers were now obliged to Ibuki bushels of wheat in repayment for Tho one they bad borrowed whose fault was it but those hold control of die communication ways Whoso fault it if the province had been tinted in its growth and was still isolated in these i is Hon. Member for St. Ann s Isid been quite right. If the settler could not now Bell his Grain for a Price approximately near that which ruled in other markets the fault Lay in the dilator iness of Tho Dominion government hear it had Boon bid that in some cases settlers had soon furnished with accounts from the agent of the Relief committee charging i hem with More Grain than they had actually had advanced to them. If this were so the matter required investigation. He was Hilly convinced of the Justice of the theory that if the country wore now suffering by the of other parties for want of transportation facilities that such parties wore bound Tosho a due consideration. The Otta authorities had so far dealt leniently with till settlers of Manitoba and he believed thai they would to prepared to listen to a reasonable request. My. He had pleasure in Eup Orting the motion. Lie understood that it had been suggested that the Dominion government should be asked to accept re payment on the basis of Bushel for Bushel and he desired to Point out that the House should take into account the that Many of those who had received Relief had already repaid the advances made them at the rate of about per Bushel. In whatever representations were made to Ottawa it should not be overlooked that those who had made a great Effort to Clear off their indebtedness were particularly entitled to consideration. Or. Con in and or. Mckenzie heartily concurred in the spirt of the Hon. Member for Rockwood s remarks. Or. No Quay had no doubt of the propriety of the House taking some action on this seed Grain question which now hangs like a Nightmare Over the settlers. If the House could take some course that would help to remove it it would earn the the country. It was very hard for a Man to have to pay four bushels for the one advanced him particularly when he had to team a great distance Over such roads As we had this Winter. A great Deal of the commercial difficulty now Felt was due. To the want of communication with Eastern markets where Cash could to obtained for surplus pro ducts. Or. Courish observed that if the province had Only railway communication Given it the Settimi a would gladly pay four bushels for one or. Norquay resuming said it might be address should also ask that certain depots be established in various parts of the province at the principal Cen tres viz., Winnipeg Selkirk the Portage and Emerson which would relieve the settlers of the great hardship of teaming their Grain Long distances and would also be convenient to the Dominion government by furnishing supplies at convenient distributing Points. Or. thought the whole indebted Ness should be remitted. The promises the Dominion government had made with re Spect to railway construction had not been fulfilled and he considered this afforded a substantial ground for their making such a claim. Or. Dick could not View this matter As some other members did. Some of those who had received advances had repaid them the first year. These men would naturally think it hard if the delinquents now got off by paying Bushel for Bushel when wheat stood at fifty cents after they those first mentioned had by great exertion and self sacrifice paid up when wheat was Worth he was personally strongly opposed to any course which to re even the Semb Lance of repudiation. Would such a policy recoil upon the province if misfortune Cane upon it again and it were Neces sary to ask for assistance my. Luxton desired to say in regard to the statement that had been made that some settlers had received accounts charging them with five sacks of Grain when they had received Only one or two that he was in formed some mistakes had occurred owing to parties having the same names receiving the wrong accounts. He Felt it was due to or. Hespeler to say that it was Only in some such Way As this at All possible that such a complaint could arise. The motion then passed. Wild lands tax act. Or. Luxton moved that in the opinion of this House Tho wild lands tax act should be so amended As to bring under its opera Tion All wild lands within the jurisdiction of this legislature. In his remarks he said that the provisions of this act had been under very Lively discussion Ever since it had passed the legislature. When it came before the legislature some very Good Rea sons were adduced in support of its introduction. It was said that persons not residing in Manitoba were sending Money for investment in land within the province expecting to take out thousands in the course of a few years for the hundreds they were then expending. Such speculation brought no Good to Tho country but Only tended to impoverish it. There was also another evil it tended to lock up the lands from cultivation. Tho Law As then passed included Only the lands of holders. While he admitted that there might be a distinction made without injustice he was not prepared to go the length of saying that a Speculator simply because he was a resident was entitled to hold As much wild land As he pleased without taxation. It was True the resident could not help spending some Money in the Community while the non resident conferred no Benefit on the province. Glancing Over Tho exceptions from the operation of the existing Law he considered the exemption of lands occupied for school and religious purposes too sweeping. The lands held by resident householders should Havo some limitation to their exemption. Or. When Are you coming to Tho Hudson s Bay company laughter or. Luxton looking at the statute Well i know its somewhere there lie said he recollected it had been said when the act was passed that the Hudson s Bay company s lands Ware not amenable to this tax because they were protected against any special taxation by the terms of the Transfer. However this might be his motion fully aimed at bringing All wild lands within the jurisdiction of that House under the operation of the act. It would to then Lor the government if they saw fit to bring in a Bill to decide what lands came within its scope. If the h. B. Co. Lands were exempt they could not help themselves but he hoped not that corporation held acres for purposes of speculation. If these were brought under taxation the results would be highly important on account of the increase to the provincial Revenue that would result and it would have indirectly Tho far greater Benefit of bringing such lands speedily under cultivation. Lie would not object to a certain discriminatory rate Between resident and non resident speculators but under any circumstance he wanted to see wild lands to a prohibitory extent hear he did not As a Rule As he had stated on previous occasions like the revenues derived from such sources accruing to Tho general provincial fund As he would prefer to Seo them at the disposition of the localities where they were collected. In the meantime they must be contented with what could be done but he would like to see the Tiore general formation of Munici there was no doubt the government would find plenty of Means of disposing of Tho Money raised by the amendment of the Law which would follow if this Resolution prevailed. Roads and Bridges were badly needed also schools for there were localities actually without schools because there were no funds with which to maintain them. In some cases the absence of schools was the direct re sult of the lands being locked up by speculators lie could suggest half a dozen ways in which such a tax a could be expended to the advantage of the province. It must not be understood that by this re Mark he intended that the formation of municipalities that should expend such tax ought to be postponed. It had been re marked by some that to tax the wild lands owned by residents would to a hardship upon persons who had secured a farm and were working at their employment till they had saved sufficient Money to enter upon it. To meet this objection he might say he would not oppose a resident of the province being allowed to hold sufficient wild land for his own cultivation eventually free of the proposed general tax on other unoccupied lands. Or. Sutherland had much pleasure in seconding the Hon. Member for Rockwood s solution. The existing act was altogether top Liberal in the Way of exemptions and in did not appreciate the making of a distinction Between resident and non resident speculators. In this Way a class of reserves bad been created infinitely More detrimental to the country than the other reserves that had been so much complained of for speculators had contrived to secure land within townships that were to a great extent settled and where their operations were consequently most pre judicially Felt. He also agreed with the Hon. Mover that the revenues obtained from this tax should be at the disposition of the localities whence they were derived. If the act were altered so As to allow this it would afford a great encouragement to the formation of municipalities. No wild lands at All should be exempted from the provisions of this act except Homestead and Preemption claims. He was favourable to some modifications of the clause exempting school and clergy lands. Or. Cornish said that what it was very important now to know was whether Tho Hudson s Bay company s lands were Amena ble to the proposed he invited the opinion of the Hon. The attorney general on this Point. Or. Royal said that when an Hon member wished to elicit the views of it member of the government on any Point it was the custom to give notice of his question so that Tho minister might not be taken by bin prise. If the Hon. Member would put his question in writing and give the usual notice to would give him his opinion with Tho greatest pleasure. Laughter and my. Cornish said that was just the answer he had expected he should have thought the notice of this motion to be made should have been sufficient to enable Tho Hon. Attorney general to pre pare himself. He congratulated the Hon. Member for Rockwood on the Resolution he had brought Forward and alluded to a former occasion when the subject was brought up by the Hon. Member for West Bourne. As the Hon. Attorney general was not prepared to give an opinion the Point regarding the Hudson s Bay company s lands without formal or. would give them a Legal opinion without notice he believed it quite competent for the House to tax theol or. Luxton had been almost begging the ques Tion by alluding to the proposed general impost As a special he concluded his remarks by suggesting to the mover to add to his Resolution the following words and it is Tho duty of the government to introduce a Bill to that or. Luxton thought the Resolution sufficiently expressed the sons of the House As to what the duty of the government was. Or. Cornish said it would be better for the Resolution to say so distinctly. Or. Luxton while declining the suggested addition was nevertheless willing to Promise that if this Resolution were carried and Tho government then did not take the matter up. He would join Tho opposition some further discussion taking place on this Point or. Luxton said very decidedly if the government do not accede to the will of the House this session i will support a motion of non Confidence in. Cowan himself very strongly against the funds derived from this tax accruing to the general Revenue. He believed Tho principle of the Resolution was perfectly Correct. Why the Hon. Member thought it necessary to bring it in just now to compel the government to take action he did not know. If it had the effect de sired he could Only say better late than he thought the principle of Mak ing the tax go to the municipalities should to imported into the Resolution. If the government were not willing to adopt the idea when they came to Amend the present act they might still use the funds As a nucleus for encouraging the building of rail ways for the construction of which people were even willing to have their cultivated lands taxed. Lie declared the administration had been culpable neglectful of the promotion of railways. Or. Brown said he Felt warm on this matter which had engaged his Active in Terest formerly. He was favourable to tax ing every foot of wild land in the province. If this Resolution passed it would undoubtedly be the duty of the government to Amend the present the principle of entrusting the municipalities with the Dis position of the funds from this source was a Correct one. It would be hard for in stance for the people of Westbourne who had been pioneers in this matter not to control the expenditure of the funds raised in their own municipality upon Tho local schools. He would give the Resolution and a Bill founded on it All the support he could. Or. Martin remarked that the govern ment had found a Way to escape the con sure of the people by putting the Hon. Member up to move this the spirit of which however he or. Martin concurred. He thought the government should have i taken the matter up them selves. He considered it hard however on new settlers that their lands should be subjected to this tax. Or. Norquay showed that this idea was altogether erroneous As the wild lands tax would not fall on occupied land but if any settler had surplus Money which he thought proper to invest in More land than he could cultivate he then necessarily came within the category of a Speculator and must be subject to taxation like other speculators. Replying to the remarks of other members who had complained that the government had not done More to promote railways or in the execution of other Public works he remarked that Hon. Members ought to have the sense to know that the province had Only at its disposal barely enough Revenue to keep the machinery of government in motion which was expended in a manner annually approved by that House. It had been proposed last Spring that the govern ment should undertake to guarantee the interest on Money to be expended in the construction of the Manitoba Western rail Way. On making a calculation they had found that this would require about whole subsidy of the province. The government had never shown themselves Adverse to the incorporation of companies for Buch enterprises and if the country lacked men of Means capable of accomplish ing such enterprises that was simply its misfortune. All these faults were found for the Sake of political effect. The government with Tho limited Means at their disposal were unable to perform one tenth of what they desired to accomplish and what the country really required. Or. Luxton commenting on or. Martin s remark about the taxation of the settler s land remarked that the lion gentleman had entirely mis apprehended the Drift of of this Resolution As he dirt that of so Many other matters. Laughter he had further say that he had not put up the motion at the instance of the government. Previous to the notice he had Only spoken to one member of Tho House upon the subject and that was or. Cornish. Miscellaneous. After some further discussion the motion passed. Or. Murray moved an address praying for a return of the amount of Revenue received from the tax imposed upon wild lands such return to show the amount received in eac1 county also an address praying for a return of the registrars of the province showing the amount of fees collected by them during the year 1877. Car ried. Or. Burkh asked the government if it is their intention to get drained the swamp half a mile West of the City limits on the Assim Boine Road next summer or. Norquay replied that the Bills relat ing to roads and statute labor now before the House would provide the necessary regulations to enable the Road overseers to make Tho Best arrangement for local improvements. The government in Addi Tion after proper in Quay were prepared to assist local efforts in the improvement of the great highways to the extent of Tho Means at their command As they had Al ways done. Or. Cornish offered to allow a Bill to had produced to lie Over to equalize the right to vote for members of Tho legislature in consideration of the one to be brought Down by Tho minister of Public works. On the motion of or. Norquay the Bills relating roads and to Amend Tho act re lating to the performance of statute labor passed their second Reading and were referred to a special committee consisting of messes. Royal Girard Nolin Lepine Mckenzie Murray Sutherland and Dick. Or. Martin moved the Tion whereas Many people Havo taken land in Tho Rod River Belt according to of Dei from Ottawa that nil the Laud along the said River going to to put to Public auction at Tho off set Pitico of per acre settlers have made great improvements Oti their farms with Tho Faith that Tho said order of Tho Dominion Iov eminent was going to to carried through whereas Tho new imposition of an acre by a new order shortly issued from the department of the Interior is going to bring Tho ruin of Many settlers on Tho red River Belt and be also prejudicial to the interests of immigration whereas land in the same locality can be obtained from old settlers for per Aero be it resolved that this House it. Of opinion that an acre of All Tho land in the red River Belt would be a fair remuneration and that an address be in Conse Quence presented to to transmitted to his excellency the governor general through his Honor Tho Lieut governor praying that the new order issued from the Dominion government fixing Tho land on the Rod River Bolt at an acre to be re consid adopted nem con. Or. Norquay Laid on Tho table the report of Tho minister of Public works. The House adjourned till 3 p. M. To mor Row. Following a Solu a c j e d classical concert Lor the Beik fit of the St. Boniface Hospital 2lst of january at 7 30 ., in 1111 St borage Cathedral admission 50-cents. To Kels at Donaldson and atthe Trott my Lille members Ontario College Penney s Block of train Street. Toilet soaps. Lubins Sarge s Glycerine Brown Windsor in m m ice Malinc jul carbolic Silver Barber s. Kavo rile genuine Yankee tar perfumes. Lubins Atkinson a Eugene uimmel.-, Princess Lavender Florida water Cologne no. 4, Wicker Cut Glass Lemunel Juliann Maria Farina. A full Stock of Patent have made the jobbing Trade a and Are prepared to offer to dealers and trader our goods it prices lower than Ever sold in Tho province try us remember the sign of the Golden most or doors North of Mckenney s Corner. A3m n Palmer Cla Flke Bro. Goods furs and clothing a Are desirous of reducing our mock As much possible before com Cue our annual Slock taking to will offer for the next Lew weeks men pm up Kcal inducements to puj1ctiasrrs. Grey Cottons from 7c, upwards. White Wincey 7c. Loc. Special bargains in fur sets Clouds mufflers Bankets dress goods a flirts Etc. A 3rood heavy pair of White blankets for overcoats and pea jackets at very Low rates. J7-21 Palmer Cla Fike cats Filc tic a now fair opened you can Purchase Oillie line-1 at lowest possible at the following specialities Havo just arrived per express Dak inc stats no idles Lolly slipper1-. Ill coloured sul in Hool -. Kangaroo Kul Dancic hoots. Seal in ten 11 in 1 cloth laced or Button Boot i idles k d buttoned Snow i Slu leather cloth or i m in in boots shoes or clippers. Gunis put tent sch liar boots. Celeb Tedo for die. I it tent leather shoes. Skating ients1 Strong scr Thor to org. Por Polhe hide Sleigh ing go nah Kelt lined ale alb. Huss in leather curs. Walking Genis steel rail boots. C. I. B. Lied cloth lined Overa Hoei sitting Bull s Moccas lne. Wka test out soft impervious to Snow and Wanner than anything Ever in this a Tirkot. Soto lie window and address main St., two doors North of Telegraph office. We cannot Alford to sell at Cost but we will sell our goods at a living profit which we think will be cheaper to Iii those who say they at Cost. Clothing a specially cheaper than Ever. A Luers Tyne wholesale and retail grocer a very Large and Complete Stock of wines and liquors flour pork and Bacon Ham Etc., breakfast Bacon table butter Green apples canned fits Etc tub Market piece paid Feii wheat and Oats. A number of Eiver farms and 100 sections for Salo. Oily and town lots in Winnipeg and Selkirk ;