norance whether any one gentleman was a member of the board of any of those rail. ways. He was willing to suppose that several gentlemen were promoters of those enterprises, but the bonuses to the railways of Ontario should not be compared with the aid to be granted for the construction of the Pacific Railway by which it was pro posed to give to one corporation an amount equal to the whole public debt of the Dominion. With regard to the paper signed by Mr. Calvin and Mr. Robinson, he re membered that paper having been sent by Mr. Calvin, but he did not remember whether Mr. Robinson's name was attached or not. He had received various papers and they had been printed and were before the country. He then referred to the insurance on the Provincial Buildings, and said the rate of p:emium paid was not more than half that paid when the buildings were previously insured several years ago. He also reviewed the circumstances of the South Grey election. Did he choose so to do, he could mention several cases in which the present Administration of the Domin ion had used their patronage, power and influence in elections. The leader of the Government had taken the Hon John Sandfield Macdonald under his protection in order to defeat him. and he could judge of the verdict which the country would record against him.

Hon. Mr. FERGUSON said the member for West Durham had drawn the discussion away to other things altogether. As to the Proton Committee, however, he ought to have said that it was selected by himself and that it investigated a matter which had been already decided by the affidavits of most reliable men. The hon. gentlemen would bear him out in the statement that the Committee showed that Mr. Lewis went to the electors and said " if you do not vote for the Government candidate 1 shall write opposite your name, satisfied, no reduction; if you vote for the Government candidate you shall have your valuation reduced." The hon. gentleman would not deny that. It was proved beyond doubt that Mr. Lewis was sent for by telegraph, that he was met by the brother-in-law and partner of the hon. gentleman who gave him money to pay his expenses, that Mr. McKellar went to him during the night, and that after getting his lesson he went away and threatened every one at Proton as he had already stated. As to the distribution of the money, it was well knɔwn what every railway was going to receive; and as to the hon. gentleman not knowing the members were connected with the railways, he must have known that Mr. Williams, of Hamil. ton, was director of more than two or three

roads and Mr. Williams told him that he ex pected to get a portion of the money next year. As to the distribution of the money, the latitude of forty eight hours given by the Minister of Justice was much too great The papers were laid on the table of the House a few moments before the House adjourned, and they were printed next morning. He (Mr. Ferguson) himself had voted against the grants, because no time was allowed for consideration of the matter. A few evenings ago the same discussion came up, when he took the opportunity to refer to a paper which was passed across the floor of the House from the President of the Council to the member for Bant. That member then charged him with telling a lie, and further that it was a d-- d lie Since that time a paper he held in his hands, the Hamilton Times had published a statement of the matter.

At this point there was great cries of "order" and much interruption, after which,

The SPEAKER ruled that the remarks were out of order.

Mr. FERGUSON said he desired to state that he held the document to which he had referred in his hand, which would show that what he had stated was perfectly true.

Hon. Sir JOHN MACDONALD said the Speaker had ruled that the hon. gentleman was out of order and he must bow to that decision; but he also ruled that he could take another opportunity of dealing with the matter; and considering the way in which he had been spoken of, he (Hon. Sir John) thought he would do perfectly right to take such an opportunity.

Mr. FERGUSON repeated that he had the document in his hand, and should take an early opportunity of proving what he had said.

Mr. ROSS (Victoria) said that such de bates as were now indulged in were a strong argument against dual representation.

Hon. Sir GEORGE CARTIER said that this business of Ontario was wearing out, and the oftener it was brought forward the sooner it would come to an end [laugh. ter.]

Mr. CUMBERLAND desired to refer to some remarks made by the member for West Durham. That hon. gentleman had spoken of a circular sent by the present Postmaster General when Commissioner of Crown Lands. The hon. gentleman's memory seemed to have failed him very considerably to-night, for whereas he had stated it to be a circular, it was only a private letter.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE-Was it a print. ed document?

Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL, in moving the second reading of the bill to amend the law with respect to copyrights, expressed his regret that two gentlemen-Hon. Mr. Ryan and Hon. Mr. Sanborn--who had always taken a deep interest in the question were not present. For some time past addresses had been passed in the House with the view of bringing about Imperial legislation on the subject of reprinting British copyrights in this country. Cer tainly very many persons had been of opinion that the Imperial legislation on this question was an encroachment upon the privileges given to these colonies to enjoy representative institutions to the fullest extent. Several copyright laws had in the course of time passed the Imperial Parlia ment, and were ultimately made to run into all the colonies. These laws prevented the republication of British copyrights in this country; but subsequently in arrange ment was made to allow the importation into this country of American reprints of British copyright works on the payment of

a duty of 12 per cent; to be distributed among the authors of such works. This system, however, had been proved to operate prejudicially to the interests of Canadian publishers; and an effort had been made for some time past to obtain from the Imperial Government the right to reprint the works in question in this country. When the question was last brought up the hon. menter for the Wellington Division (Hon. M. Sanborn) suggested that we might legislate directly on the subject, for he believed we had the power by virtue of the B N. A. Act a d the fact of our enjoy. ing representative Government He Mr. C.) in accordance with a promise he made on that occasion, had brought the subject to the notice of the Minister of Justice and his colleagues in the Government, and it was decided to act upon the suggestion of the hon. gentleman just mentioned. The argument defining the position of the Gov. ernment was stated in the preamble of the Bill-that there was no reservation with respect to copyrights when representative institutions were granted to this country-and that express power was given to the Dominion by the Union Act to legislate upon the subject Some might say that the power was only given to the Dominion in contra-distinction to the powers given to the Provinces; but nevertheless, he be lieved the language was road enough to embrace the power given in the present Bill. It was now proposed to allow Canadian publishers to reprint British copy right works on receipt of a licence from the Government These works are to be registered with the Minister of Agriculture, and thereupon no foreign reprints of such works are to be allowed to be imported. An excise duty of fifteen per cent on the wholesale price of such works is to be collected and distributed for the advantage of the authors.

Hon. Mr. FERRIER said the Dominion ought not to be placed in reference to such works in a worse position than it is now. A duty of 12 per cent, was at pre sent collected on the wholesale price of American reprints, but now there was to be an excise duty imposed to the extent of 3 per cent. more

Hon. Mr. BUREAU was very desirous to to encourage home industry, but at the same time he saw danger in a bill which disturbed the relations we at present eajoyed with the United States. More than that, he doubted whether we had the pow er to legislate o such a subject. The same difficulty might occur that arose in 1837, when the Special Council passed an Act to abolish Habeas Corpus. At that time a very distinguished lawyer, Judge Valliere,

contended that we had no power to overrule Imperial legislation, and he suffered for expressing that opinion, but he was subsequently proved to be correct. We could not be too careful in dealing with matters of legislation, where we might come into conflict with Imperial authorities. He was in favor of a certain amount of protection to home industry, but there was always a danger that the principle might be pushed to extremes. He had no objection to the imposition of a small duty, but he believed the general principles of the Bill are antagonistic to the public interests. He could not too strongly urge the advisability of cultivating the most friendly relations with the United States, instead of exciting the hostile feelings of the publishing interest of that country. He deprecated any undue haste in dealing with such matters.

Hon. Mr. CHRI TIE pointed out some difficulties in the way of our dealing directly with the question.

Hon. Mr. WILMOT expressed himself desirous of sweeping away our present anomalous system which is so injurious to the interests of the publishers of Canada.

Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL did not suppose there is any reason to apprehend that the passage of the bill will interfere with the relations between Canada and the United States. He did not see any analogy whatever between the present question and the suspension of the Act of Habeas Corpus by the Council in 1837. He did not claim to be acting contrary to Imperial Legi-lation, but in pursuance of the express au thority given to us. At the same time the Government wished to act with all caution, and had therefore inserted a clause declar. ing that the law shall not go into effect until there is a proclamation of the Gov ernor to that end. The Government, how ever, hoped and believed the English law officers would come to the same conclu sion they had, that Canada had the right to legislate with respect to such matters.

Hon. Mr. BUREAU contended that the case he had cited was directly in point, and again argued we had no jurisdiction in the matter.

The bill was read a second time.

MESSAGE.

A Message was received from His Excel. lency the Governor General with respect to the receipt in England of the Address expressive of the gratification of Parlia ment at the recovery of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales.

Several Bills were received from the Commons

The House then adjourned.

·HOUSE OF COMMONS.

OTTAWA, June 4, 1872.

The SPEAKER took the chair at 3.35 p. m.

IMPERIAL DESPATCH.

The SPEAKER presented a message from His Excellency the Governor General transmitting a despatch from the Colonial Secretary acknowledging the receipt of an address from the Parliament of Canada, congratulating Her Majesty upon the recovery of the Prince of Wales, and thanking it for the warm expressions of loyalty and sympathy contained in the said address.

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.

The SPEAKER also submitted a message from the Governor General trans、 mitting supplementary estimates of sums required for the public services for the year ending 30th June, 1873.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

On motion of Hon. Sir FRANCIS HINCKS, the Blouse went into com. mittee of supply, Mr. Stephenson in the chair.

Upon the item of $3,950 for a statistical office at Halifax,

Mr. ANGLIN asked if Mr. Cosgrave, who was employed as census commissioner at Halifax, was the gentleman of the same name who, he saw by the public ac counts, had drawn a salary as clerk in one of the departments at Ottawa.

Hon. Mr. POPE did not know but would make enquiry.

The item was passed.

On the item, $1,850 for salaries of deputy registrars in Nova Scotia and for getting marriage returns,

Hon. Mr. MA KENZIE asked if it was the intention of the overnment to sub.

mit any general plan this session for obs taining vital statistics,

Hon. Mr. POPE said it was not, but a general plan was under consideration.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE also asked if the Nova Scotia returns were to be printed in the report of the Department.

Hon. Mr. POPE said they would be in a separate report made by Mr Cosgrave.

Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE said no one ever saw that report, as it was not laid before Parliament. The returns should b embodied in the departmental reports.

Hon. Mr. POPE thought the suggestion a good one, and, if possible, it would be acted upon.

Hon. Mr. WOOD said that for two years successively, when this item had come before the House, the Government had announced that it would take the matter of statistics under consideration, and come down with a general scheme Two years ago the excuse had been offered that there had not been time to prepare a plan, and last session it had been announced that this partial state of things-returns being collected in Nova Scotia and nowhere else -could not be allowed to continue. The Minister of Justice had made that states ment, and had added that the Govern ment had then under consideration a scheme which would be applicable to all the Provinces. It was of the first import ance that a proper system of collecting statistics should be adopted. Canada in this respect was behind all other countries, particularly in regard to the collection of vital statistics. He would like to know whether the Government would be prepared next session to come down with a scheme as had been promised.

Hon. Sir JOHN MACDONALD said he certainly had made no promise last session, for he was not present when the supplies were voted.

Hon. Mr. WOOD said it must then have been the session before, for he remember. ed the very words the hon. gentleman had used-That this partial state of things cannot be allowed to continue, and the Government will be prepared with a general scheme."

Hon. Sir JOHN MACDONALD said he remembered the discussion, and his remarks might have been in that sense, though he did not recollect the exact words. There was no doubt that the state of affairs with regard to the collection of statistics was unsatisfactory; but he did not see how a satisfactory system could be devised, except at great expense, without some understanding between the Local and General Governments. It was true the General Parliament had power to command the services of all provincial officers and order them to make returns; but he thought it would be extremely inexpe dient for them to use that power except under an extraordinary necessity. rule, officers appointed by the Local Go. vernment should render all their services to those Governments, and the General Government should employ officers of its own to perform whatever duties it requir ed to be executed. That was the case in the United States, and he thought the rule a good one in its general application. The difficulty then in the case was that the General Government had no officers

As a

for the collection of statistics throughout the Dominion; and at the time he had spoken, as referred to by the hon. member for South Brant, there had been on his mind the idea that there should be some arrangement between the Dominion and Provincial Governments, by which there would be a general plan for that purpose, as the hon gentleman had suggested. The Government would perhaps be able in the next Parliament to do something of that kind.

Hon. Mr. HOLTON hoped there was no such fate in store for the country.

Hon. Sir JOHN MACDONALD was afraid the hon. gentleman would have to submit to it.

The item was passed.

On the item $190,000 for the census, Hon. Mr. MACKENZIE asked for information.

Hon. Mr. POPE said there had been expended in 1870-71, out of the vote of $310,000, the sum of $150,000. The amount so far expended in the current year had been $250,000. It was estimated the needs of the remainder of the current year would be about $7,000 more. This latter sum would be applied to the payment of expenses for compiling and printing the reports, and for taking the census in the North-West. This item of $190,000 was a re-vote of the unexpended balance of last year.

Mr. ANGLIN asked the total expendi. ture connected with the census.

Hon. Mr. POPE said it would be about $410,000. Up to this time one third of of the compilation had taken place, and it was expected that in about three months the first volume of the report would be in the printer's hands, if not printed.

The item was agreed to.

On the item, $18,212 for salaries of immigration agents and employes,

Mr. BOLTON hoped the emigration office in London would be placed in a state of greater efficiency.

Hon. Mr POPE said the agent in London had been instructed to furnish emi grants with all the information he could, regarding the different Provinces of Cana da, and while in this country recently he had been supplied with everything that could be procured upon the subject. His salary had been increased, and a more liberal allowance made with regard to ex penses. He had also been instructed, if he could do so at a reasonable rate, to furnish a better and more convenient office, which would be more accessible to emigrants, and to which Canadians could resort when in London.

Hon. Mr. YOUNG thought full informa