the subject of Copyright, are likely to be laid before this House ? These Returns were laid before the House yesterday, but the amounts paid to the different authors are not given; while the most important part of the Address is answered in the following terms: proved by them from Lake Nipissing to the Pacific Ocean; or that, if there be two or more such, having power, singly or together, to construct such railway, they may unite as one company, and such agreement may be made with the united companies; or that if there be no such company, with whom the Government deems it advisable to make such agree ment, and there be persons able and wil-dence on record in this office since the ling to form such company, the Government may by charter corporate them, and make such agreement with the company so incorporated." "8. That the Government may further agree with the company, with whom such agreement as aforesaid shall have been made, to construct and work a branch line of railway from some part of the main line in Manitoba to some point on the bound ary line between that Province and the United States, to connect with the system of railways in the said States, and another branch from some point on the main line to some point on Lake Superior in British territory; and that such branch line shall be deemed part of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and a land grant in aid thereof may be made by the Government to such extent as may be agreed upon between the Government and the company. Hon. Sir G. E. CARTIER said, with regard to the eighth resolution, that there would be no money subsidy for the construction of the branches, but there would be land grants, only the Govern ment would agree with the same company that constructed the main line for the construction of the branches. There was no particular limit fixed to the grant as one line might be constructed easily compared to another. The distance from Pembina to Fort Garry was about seventy miles, and the other would be about 100 miles. The Government intended to carry out the scheme as authorized by Parlias ment, and nothing else. The resolutions were then adopted, and the Committee rose and reported. The House adjourned at 11.35. I am directed by the Governor General to inform you that there is no correspon 28th February, 1871, on the subject of "Copyrights respecting British Copyright "Works in Canada!'' I must confess that I read this announcement with a feeling of great disappointment. We find, after all the encouragement given by the Government to the motions made in this House-after all the addresses on the subject from the Senate, that it has been thought of so little moment as not to require any official corres pondence since 28th February, 1871. Some fourteen months altogether have now elapsed since any official communication on this important subject has been made to the Imperial Government. I confess it appears to me that either the representations of the Senate must be passed by as of very little importance, or the question must be considered of great insignificance. I cannot, however, believe that the representations of this House have been deemed of a trivial nature, and accordingly I am driven to the conclusion that the subject has not been thought worthy of consideration, or has been altogether forgotten; but here again I am met by the remembrance that assurances have been given time and again by the organ of the Government in the House that they take a deep interest in the question. Yet, notwithstanding, there is no evidence that any effort has been made during the past fourteen months, to advance it. Under all the circumstances I think the Senate must be convinced of the necessity of urging strongly upon the Government the object which I wish to attain in again moving in reference to this matter. The second part of my enquiry is in these words: Whether it is the intention of the Government to urge without delay on the Imperial Government, the importance, during the present session of the Imperial Parliament, of such legislation as will in effect entitle the Printers and Publishers of Canada to re-print British Copyright works in this Dominion? Although we have been informed that there has been no official correspondence on the subject in the public departments we have seen in the public press some very interesting letters bearing upon this public question. On a former occasion I alluded to some letters written by Sir Charles Trevelyan, and since then I found them published in the Toronto Mail I am happy to say that the purport of those letters is entirely in accordance with the views we have been urging upon the Government. Sir Charles Trevelyan is an author as well as the holder of the copyrights of Lord Macaulay's works, and he has written these letters to Messrs Longman with the view of urging upon the publishers of England just such views as we have always advocated in this House, and which were pressed, in 1868, upon the Imperial Government. The conclusion. of these letters is given in terms which, I think, will commend themselves to the House and, I hope, to the country, and will induce this Government to urge this question again upon the attention of the Imperial authorities. He says: "Our best course, in my opinion, will "be to leave the United States go their "own way, but to make an immediate "arrangement with Canada on the basis of "fered by them. At the present relative "price of labour and material in Canada "and the States, this would lead to a par"tial transfer of the reprinting business "from the United States where English "authors get nothing, to Canada where "they would get 12 per cent., with the "probable ultimate result that the United "States would also agree to allow authors "or their assignees, a percentage of the "sale of the reprints of their works, on "condition that American authors were "allowed the same privilege in England. "....The Act of Parliament passed to "sanction the arrangement with Canada "should, of course, prohibit the introduc "tion into England of reprints of English "copyright works from any quarter. "Lastly, I would submit that the circum"stances call for early and decided action. "We must not be like dumb driven "cattle," " I must say in all candour that the dumb. ness spoken of, may, in my opinion, be fairly attributed to those who have not urged the prosecution of the matter more energetically. It is all very well to say that private correspondence is going on, but we cannot know what is doing unless we have official correspondence. I hope that the inducements which have been held out to me amongst other senators to persevere in this matter are not fallacious, and that the Government themselves will move more energetically and make their communications more emphatic in the future. In 1871 when I brought this sub. ject before the House, I stated:-"Two objects were sought to be obtained; first, to be put on the same footing as printers of the United States in regard to reprint ing British copyright works; secondly, to induce the Imperial Government to make Colonial Copyrights extend over the whole British Empire. The latter point the Imperial had already agreed to concede, and it was now for the Dominion Government to urge upon the former the requisite le. gislation.' In reply to my remarks, the hon. Postmaster General said: "It was true we had been promised legislation on the subject. Latterly, the Minister of Finance had been following the question up, but he (Mr. C.) did not know how far the matter had gone. The course adopted by his hon. friend was deserving of every praise, and he had but little doubt that it would be eventually crowned by success." I hope now the Government will evince their confidence in my success, by doing everything in their power to promote the objeet. Again, the other day, when this subject was before this House, the hon Postmaster General said: "The Government are entirely in accord with the hon. gentleman on the question, I hope that now, since there is no prospect of an International Copyright Treaty, they will be able to come to some satisfactory arrangement with the British authorities " I have the same hopes, and consequently I have come to the conclusion, and I am sure the House will come to the same, that we should lose no time, but impress upon the Imperial Government the necessity of legislation during the present session of the Imperial Parliament. If we allow another year to pass by we will be in the same position in 1873 that we were in 1868, and therefore I ask leave to make the second enquiry on the paper. Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL-In reference to the first part of my hon. friend's remarks, that the return does not show the distribution of copyright moneys to British authors, I may say that it is impossible for the Government to make such a statement. The money collected in Canada is transmitted to the British Government who make the distribution, and consequently we have no information on that point. With reference to his other remarks, I may reply that I think I stated the other day that there was no official correspondence, but I believe there had been some uncfficial communications on the subject. The Government are not open to the charge of not acting energe. tically on this matter-it is the experience of us all that very often more is done by unofficial than by official correspondence. The hon. gentleman has referred to the correspondence between Sir Charles Trevelyan and the Longmans. That gentleman is the owner of a copyright and takes precisely the view of my hon friend, but Mr. Longman represents much larger interests in copyrights and holds different opinions, and so far as I can learn represents the views of the British publishing trade. So it will be seen it is difficult for the British Government to deal with the matter in view of such conflicting opinions. The correspondence that has been going on has been conducted by Sir Francis Hincks with the view of affecting the minds of the great publishing houses of England, and in one of his letters Sir Charles Trevelyan refers the Longmans to Sir John Rose as an authority in the mat ter. In this way the Government have been doing all that they could to accomplish the object which my hon friend has in view, and which he has tried to accomplish in so energetic a manner In answer to the question whether we intend to urge on the Imperial Government the impor tance of this measure, I beg to say it is our intention to do so in an official letter during the present session of the Imperial Parliament. Hon. Mr. RYAN-I am satisfied with the assurance given of immediate action being taken as I think I have received a distinct recognition of the principle that official representations are more likely to have an effect than any private correspondence. With reference to Sir Charles Trevelyan's allusion to Sir John Rose, I may give his exact words: "You would do well to confer with Sir John Rose who-here you will notice the word Sir Charles uses-was the great promoter of the Canalian compro. mise." This remark refers, I take for granted, to a former period. We know that Sir John Rose conducted the correspondence on the part of Canada in 1869, and did so with great minuteness, but I am apprehensive that he has not been urging the matter so energetically since he ceased to have any official connection with it. I have now come to the third part of my enquiry-Whether, in expectation of, and preparatory to such Imperial Legisla tion, it is the intention of Government to introduce during the present Session any measure whereby authority may be conditionally obtained to levy a suitable excise duty on all reprints of British Copyright books in Canada, which duty shall be made applicable to the use and benefit of the authors and owners of such works? This excise duty is recommended in the joint report made by Sir Francis Hincks and Mr. Dunkin, and transmitted to England by His Excellency the Governor General. The importance of acting at once during the present session and introducing a bill to levy a suitable excise duty in case the British Parliament con. sents to allow British copyrights to be re printed in this country, must be obvious to every one in this House. If this is not done by the Dominion Parliament before this session ends, and unless power be taken to levy an excise duty and so be ready to correspond with the Imperial le gislation which we hope for, another fourteen months may pass before we meet again and our printers and publishers be still left to complain of serious and op. pressive grievances. Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL-My hon. friend draws a conclusion from the language of Sir Charles Trevelyan-a mere inadventence on the part of the latter evidently— which hardly does justice to the active exertions of Sir John Rose, for he continues to do all he can to promote the object we have all in view. In reply to the hon. member's question, I may say I am unable to promise that the Government will introduce a Bill during the present session for the purpose referred to. It is impossible to introduce a Bill without fixing the rate of duty. My hon. friend will see at present 12 per cent. duty is collected. Sir Charles Trevelyan says that is a fair sum, but Messrs. Longman think it is not enough. It will be impossible to in. troduce a Bill until we see the action of the British Parliament, and have such information as will enable us to fix the per centage that will be satisfactory to all parties. Hon. Mr. RYAN thought the same duty, 12 per cent, would be accepted as quite sufficient, and that a conditional Act might be passed by the Dominion House of Commons to the effect that so soon as the Imperial Parliament shall pass an Act granting power to reprint British copy right works in Canada, then the Governor in Council shall have authority to levy an excise tax of not less than 15 per cent. on such reprints for the benefit of the author or holder of the copyright. Hon. Mr. WILMOT-I think that the hon. member deserves much credit for the energy with which he has pressed the matter. It seems certainly a very anomalous state of things that the Canadian publishers are obliged to go across the lines to set up a printing establishment in order to print books for circulation in Canada. We should do everything in our power to encourage home industry-not drive it to foreign countries. Hon. Mr. SANBORN-I think that the hon, member is entitled to every credit power of for the perseverance he has shown in directing the attention of the House and Government to this important question. I had the honor of expressing an opinion on a former occasion, which met with some degree of approval, that we might have now the legislating directly on the question of Copyrights. We are seeking the power in a different way from what we are seek. ing anything else. When Legislative power is given to a Colony, it is well under stood on constitutional principles it cannot be properly withdrawn; and when we have representative institutions we have the right of exercising all the privileges that they bring with them. We have exercised that power in former times with as little apparent right as in this case. that the Imperial Copyright Act does extend over the Colonies. I am also aware that with regard to Patents of Invention, which is a cognate question, and ought to be treated in the same way, full liberty has been conceded to us by the Imperial Government, and if I remember rightly it I am aware was conceded on account of a refusal on the part of the colonies to accept the Im. perial view of the matter. It was the custom to issue Patents in England for all the colonies, but it was found that there was great reluctance even on the part of Our Courts to enforce those laws, therefore they became nullities, and the issue was to leave the matter in our own hands. Now we might ask whether the same result would not accrue if we adopt ed a copyright law of our own. Will we not give equitable justice to authors, by dealing directly with this subject? Where is the impropriety of asking what Colonial Parliaments have done in several instances, legislating upon matters where there was, to a certain extent, an infringement of Imperial Legislation, but where, at the same time the spirit of our constitution, gave us this power of acting. It seems to me in that way we may best obtain what we now desire. Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL-There is no doubt great force in the remarks of the hon. gentleman, and I think it advisable to bring the matter under the notice of the Minister of Justice, and ascertaining the possibility of obtaining the object in the way suggested by the hon. member. Hon. Mr. RYAN-I hope this will not prevent the Government urging immediate action in the direction which I have suggested. Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL-Certainly not. The letter I previously mentioned is now being written. POSTAL FACILITIES. Hon. Mr. BOTSFORD made the follow. ing motion: That an humble Address be presented to His Excellency the Governor General, praying that His Excellency will be pleased to be laid before this House, a return shewing the number of special trains run on the E. and N. American Railway, and the portion of the Intercolo nial extending to Amherst, or any portion thereof, from the 1st day of May, 1871, to the last day of December of the same year, stating the object, expense, and receipts of such special trains, and by whose Also a authority they were ordered. return shewing the names and numbers of all persons who have passed free on any portion of such railways, stating by whose authority and for what cause such free passes were given for the period above mentioned. In the course of some remarks on the subject he referred to the want of mail accommodation on that part of the Intercolonial Railway between Painsec Junction and Amherst. He stated from personal knowledge that there had been no passenger or mail trains between those two points, although they were run ning on other portions of the road. The Postmaster lately made an arrangement by which & postal car put on for the accommodation of the public, but on account of more importance being attached to traffic that car was constantly shunted off, General was Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL would enquire into the matter, and certainly remedy any mistake that may have arisen. He did not understand why the matter had not before been brought under the notice of the Government. The returns asked for, he added, would be brought down as soon as possible. ADJOURNMENT. On motion of Hon. Mr. WILMOT, seconded by Hon. Mr. ARMAND, the House agreed that when it adjourned that day it should stand adjourned until the evening of Wednesday next. IMMIGRATION AID SOCIETIES. Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL introduced a Bill entitled an "Act to provide for the incorporation of ImmigrationAid Societies,' and in doing so, stated that it had been prepar ed in consequence of the formation at Ottawa last winter of a society to aid in the bringing of immigrants into this country. Under the Bill the Minister of Agricul ture, will have power from time to time, to divide the Provinces into Immigration Dis. tricts, in each of which there shall be an Immigration Agent. In each district, an Immigration Aid Society or Immigration Aid Societies, for the purpose of assisting immigrants to reach Canada from Europe, and to obtain employment on their arrival in Canada, and of enabling persons in Canada in want of labourers, artisans, or servants, to obtain them by such immigra tion, may be formed under the Act, The Society shall have power to enter into agreements and contracts, either with members of their corporation or with others, for any purpose relating to immi. gration. The Society may receive applications from persons desiring to obtain artisans, workmen, servants or laborers from the United Kingdom, or from any part of Europe, and may enter into any lawful contracts with such persons, including the obligation on the part of such per sons to employ the immigrants referred to on their arrival in Canada. It was the object of the Government to give all the aid in their power to all Societies who were endeavoring to bring additional population into the country. He had no doubt the Bill would meet with the approbation of the House. Hon. Mr. SANBORN had looked cursorily over the Bill, and could not see that it contained any objectionable features, but it seemed to him, the first clause might entail considerable expense, since it gave the power to the Minister of Agriculture to establish an office in every district. So far we have had considerable machinery to induce immigration, but with very little satisfactory results. Unfortunately the con stitution under which we are now placed has divided the control of this mode of immigration. The Local Governments, besides, hold the lands which are the principal incentive of immigration. The Federal Government consequently was cramped as to means to effect the purpose it has in view, and could only resort to direct subsidy. He thought the best agents are local industries-the encouragement of manufactures and construction of public works. He thought it advisable to consider whether such Colonization Societies as existed in Quebec should not be legis. lated for in the same Bill-it would not be expedient to have two societies of a cognate character in the same locality. He was satisfied that whatever was done by the present head of the Department with the view of promoting immigration would be well performed; he was a man of business capacity and good judgment, and would bring those qualities to bear on the administration of this Department; but the same time it was well to remem. ber that he was called upon to a large extent to make bricks without straw, since the means at his disposal for achieving anything were very limited. Hon. Mr. WARK thought that the present Bill was intended to do a great deal of good, and expressed his opinion that it was not advisable for newly arrived immigrants to go upon wilderness lands before they had served some time upon cleared farms. Hon. Mr. WILMOT expressed a similar opinion, and believed measures should be taken to keep our own people in the country by the encouragement of home industries. Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL said that the ob. jection raised to the first clause was met by the fact that any money required would have to be voted in Parliament every session. At present the immigration offices were few in number, and there was no intention just now to enlarge the number, but only when the necessity arose. He was sure that the Minister of Agriculture would read with pleasure the remarks of the hon. member for Wellington Division with respect to himself. great deal had already been done in the direction of promoting immigration since his hon. friend had joined the Government. As respects the reference to the Colonization Societies he would mention the matter to the Minister of Agricul ture. The Bill was read a second time. A ST. FRANCIS AND MEGANTIC R. R. Hon. Mr. SANBORN moved the second "An Act reading of the Bill intituled: to amend the St. Francis & Megantic Railway Act," the principal objects of which are to enable the additional issue of half a million of bonds, and the construction of a Referred telegraph line along the route. to the Committee on Railways, Banking and Commerce. PUBLIC LANDS. On motion of Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL, the Bill respecting public lands was made the first order of the day for Wednesday next. The House then adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The House met at 3 o'clock. DOCUMENTS, Hon. Mr. LANGEVIN laid upon the |