1905-01-11

OF THE DEBATES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF THE DOMINION OF CANADA FIRST SESSION-TENTH PARLIAMENT 5 EDWARD VII., 1905 VOL. LXIX COMPRISING THE PERIOD FROM THE ELEVENTH DAY OF JANUARY TO THE SECOND DAY OF MARCH, INCLUSIVE OTTAWA

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PRINTED BY S. E. DAWSON, PRINTER TO THE KING'S MOST -	EXCELLENT MAJESTY

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F.O., GKC.MI.&., K.C., D.C.L. lOxon.)

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President of the Privy Council (Premier)
Minister of Trade and Commerce	
Secretary of State	
Minister of Militia and Defence	
Postmaster General	
Minister of Agriculture	
Minister of Finance	
Minister of Customs	
Minister of Justice	
Minister of Marine and Fisheries	
Minister of Railways and Canals	
Minister of Inland Revenue...		
Minister of Public Works	
Minister of the Interior	
Without Portfolio	
. ..Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid Ladrieb, P. C., G. C. M. G. K.C., D.C.L. (Oxon.)
... Rt. Hon. Sir Richard J. Cartwright, G.C.M.G.
.. .Hon. R. W. Scott, K.C., LL.D.
.. Hon. Sir F. W. Borden, K.C.M.G., B.A., M.D.
.. .Hon. SirWM. Mulock, K.G.M.G.,K C.,M. A.,LL.D. .. .Hon. Sydney Fisher, B.A.
.. Hon. W. S. Fielding.
... Hon. Wji. Paterson.
.. .Hon. C. Fitzpatrick, B.A., K.C.
... Hon. Raymond Prefontaine.
. Hon. H. R. Emmerson.
.. Hon. Louis PHiLiprE Brodbur.
... Hon. C. S. Hyman.
.. Hon. F. Oliver.
.. -Hon. W. Templeman.
Solicitor General
(Not in the Cabinet.)
	Hon. Rodolphe Lemiedx, K. C.

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The Hon. Clifford Sifton is succeeded as Minister of the Interior by Hon. F. Oliver.
The Hon. James Sutherland is succeeded as Minister of Public Works by Hon. C. S. Hyman.
Clerk of the Privy Council
___John J. McGee.

Hon.  R. F.@: Sutherland	Speaker.
Mr. Charles Marcil, M.P	Deputy Speaker.


Mr.  T. B.@: Flint	Clerk of the House.


Mr.  J. B. R.@: Laplante	Assistant to the Clerk.
Lieut.-Col. Henry Robert Smith	Sergeant-at-Arms.



OFFICIAL REPORTERS.

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Albert Horton	
Stephen Abbott....\
E. Joseph Duggan__
J. O. Marceau
Thos.   P.@: Owens. . ..
Alphonse Desjardins . "
A. C. Campbell...
George Simpson .
R. C. Dunbar_


Chas.   W.@: Boyce
.Chief Reporter.
. Reporters;
Assistant to Chief Reporter.



ALPHABETICAL LIST OP THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

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First Session, Tenth Parliament
Adamson, A. J.-Humboldt.
Alcohn, George Oscar-Prince Edward.
Ames, Herbert B.-Montreal, St. Antoine. Archambault, Joseph Eloi-Berthier.
Armstrong, Joseph E.-Lambton, E. R.
Avery, Melzar-Frontenac.
Barker, Samuel-Hamilton, East.
Barr, John-Dufferin.
Beauparlant, Aim# M.-St. Hyacinthe.
Beland, Henri Severin'-Beauee.
Belcourt, Hon. Napoleon Antoine-Ottawa. Bennett, William H.-Simcoe, E.R.
Bergeron, Joseph G. H.-Beauharnois. Bickerdike, Robert-Montreal, St. Lawrence. Black, Judson Burpee-Hants.
Blain, Richard-Peel.
Bland, Leonard T.-Bruce, N.R.
Bole, David Wesley-Winnipeg.
Borden, Hon. Sir Frederick W., K.C.M.G.- King's, N.S.
Borden, R. L.-Carleton, O.
Bourassa, Henri-Labelle.
Bourbonnais, Augustin-Soulanges.
Boyce, Arthur Cyril-Algoma West.
Boyer, Gustave-Vaudreuil.
Brabazon, Gerald H.-Pontiac.
Bristol, Edmund-Toronto, Centre.
Bboder, Andrew-Dundas.
Brodeur, Hon. Louis Philippe-Rouville.
Brown, James P.-Chateauguay.
Bruneau, Arthur Aim£-Richelieu.
Bureau, Jacques-Three Rivers and St. Maurice. Burrows, Theodore Arthur-Dauphin.
Caldwell. Thomas Boyd-Lanark, N.R.
Calvert, William Samuel-Middlesex, W.R. Campbell, Archibald-York, Ont., C.R.
Carney, Michael-Halifax.
Carrierk, L. A.-Levis.
Carvell, Frank Broadstreet-Carleton, N.B. Cash, E. L.-Mackenzie.
Chisholm, Thomas-Huron, E.R.
Christie, Peter-Ontario, S.R.
Clare, George A.-Waterloo, S.R.
Clarke, Alfred H-Essex, S.R,
Clarke, E. F.-Toronto, C.R.
Clements, Herbert S.-Kent, W.R.
Cochrane, Edward-Northumberland, Ont., E.R Cockshutt, William F.-Brantford.
Conhee, James-Thunder Bay & Rainy River.
Copp, Albert J. S.-Digby.
Costigan, Hon. John-Victoria, N.B.
Crawford, John-Portage la Prairie.
Crocket, Oswald S.-York, N.B.
Cyr, .Joseph Ernest-Provencher.
Daniel, John Waterhouse-St. John (City). Delisle, Michel Simeon- Portneuf.
Demers, L. Philippe-St. John and Iberville. Derbyshire, Daniel-Broekville.
Desjardins, Samuel-Terrebonne.
Devlin, E. B.-Wright.
Dubeau, Joseph Adelard-Joliette.
Dugas, Francois" 0.-Montcalm.
Dyment, Albert Edward-Algoma East.
Elson, Peter -Middlesex, E.R.
Emmerson, Hon. Henry R.-Westmoreland.
Ethier, Joseph Arthur C.-Two Mountains.
Fielding, Hon. William Stevens-Shelburne and Queen's, N.S.
Finlay, John-Peterborough, E.R.
Finlayson, Duncan-Richmond, N.S.
Fisher, Hon. Sydney Arthur-Brome. Fitzpatrick, Hon. Charles-Quebec County. Forget, Rodolphe-Charlevoi*.
Fortier, Edmond-Lotbini&re.
Foster, Hon. George Eulas-Toronto, North Fowler, George W.-King's & Albert, N.B.
Gallery, Daniel, Montreal, St. Anne.
Galliher, William Alfred-Kootenay.
Ganong, Gilbert W.-Charlotte.
Gauvreau, Charles Arthur-Temiscouata. Geoffrion, Victor-Chambly and Vercheres. German, William Manly-Welland.
Gervais, Honore-Montreal, St. James.
Girard, Joseph-Chicoutimi and Saguenay.
Gladu, Joseph E. O.-Yamaska.
Gordon, David Alexander-Kent, E.R.
Grant, George D.-Ontario, N. R.

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Greenway. Thomas-Lisgar.
Gunn, Benjamin B.-Huron, S.R,
Guthrie, Hugh-Wellington, S.R.
Hapgaht, Hon. John Graham-Lanark, S.R.
Hall, R. R.-Peterborough, W.R.
Harty, William-Kingston.
Henderson, David-Halton.
Herron, John-Alberta.
Hughes, James J.-King's, P.E.I.
Hughes, Samuel-Victoria & Haliburton.
Hunt, Aylmer Byron-Compton.
Hyman, Hon. Charles S.-London.
Ingram, Andrew B.-Elgin, E.R.
Jackson, Samuel Jacob-Selkirk.
Jackson, William-Elgin, W.R.
Johnston, Alexander-Cape Breton, South. Johnston, Thomas George-Lambton, W.R.
Kemp, Albert E.-Toronto, East.
Kennedy, James Buckham-New Westminster.
Lachance, Arthur-Quebec Centre.
Lake, Richard Stuart-Qu'Appelle.
Lalor, Francis Ramsay-Haldimand.
LaMont, John Henderson-Saskatchewan. Lancaster, Edward A.-Lincoln and Niagara. LanctOt, Roch-Laprairie-Napierville.
Lapointe, Ernest-Kamouraska.
Laurence, Frederick A.-Colchester.
Laurier, R. Charlemagne-L'Assomption. Laurier, Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid, G.C.M.G.- Quebec, East.
Lavergne, Armand-Montmagny.
Lavergne, Louis-Drummond and Arthabaska. Law, Bowman Brown-Yarmouth, N.S.
LeBlanc, Oliver J.-Kent, N.B.	.
Lefuiigey, Alfred A.-Prince East, P.E.I.
Lemieux, Hon. Rodolphe- |
LENjNOx, Haughton-Simcoe, S.R.
Leonard, J. E. Emile-Laval.
Lewis, Edward Norman-Huron, W.R.
Logan, Hanck J.-Cumberland.
Loggie, William Stewart-Northumberland, N.B. Lovell, Henry-Stanstead.
Macdonald, Edward M-Pictou.
Macdonell, Angus Claude-Toronto, South. MaoLaren, Alexander F.-Perth, N.R.
Maclean, Alexander K.-Lunenburg.
Maolean, William F.-York, Ont., S.R. Macpherson, Robert George-Vancouver City. McCarthy, Leighton Goldie-Simcoe, N. R. McCarthy, Maitland Stewart-Calgary.
McColl, John B.-Northumberlmd, Ont., W.R. McCool, Charles Arthur-Nipissing.
McIntyre, Gilbert H.-Perth, S.R.
McIsaac, Colin F.-Antigonish.
McKenzie, Daniel D.-Cape Breton North & Viet.
McKenzie, Peter H.-Bruce, S. R.
McLean, Angus A.-Queen's, P.E.I.
McLennan, Angus-Inverness.
March, Charles-Bonaventure.
Marcile, Joseph Edmond-Bagot.
Martin, Alexander-Queen's, P.E.I.
Martin, Thomas-Wellington, N.R.
Mayiiand, Hormisdas-Maskinonge.
Meigs, Daniel Bishop-Missisquoi.
Miller, Henry Horton-Grey, S.R.
Monk, Frederick D.-Jacques Cartier.
Morin, Jean Baptiste-Dorchester.
Mulock, Hon. Sir William, K. C. M. G.-York, Ont., N.R.
Northrup, William Barton-Hastings, E. R
Oliver, Hon. Frank-Edmonton.
Osler, Edmund Boyd-Toronto, West.
Paquet, Eugene-L'lslet.
Parmelee, Charles H.-Shefford.
Paterson, Hon. William-Brant.
Parent, George-Montmorency.
Perley, George H.-Argenteuil.
Pich£, Camille-Montreal, St. Mary's.
Pickup, Samuel W. W.-Annapolis.
Porter, Edward Guss-Hastings, W.R.
Power, William-Quebec, West.
Prefontaine, Hon. J. Raymond-Maisonneuve. Pringle, Robert A.-Stormont.
Proulx, Edmond-Prescott.
Ratz, Valentine-Middlesex, N.R.
Reid, James-Restigouche.
Reid, John D.-Grenville.
Riley, George-Victoria City, B.C.
Rivet, Louis Alfred AdhUmar- -Hochelaga.
Roche, William- Halifax.
Roche, William J.-Marquette.
Ross, Duncan-Yale-Cariboo.
Ross, Jean Auguste-Rimouski.
Rousseau, Jeffrey Alexandre-Champlain.
Savoie, Francois Theodore-Megantic.
Schaffner, Frederick Laurence-Souris.
Schell, Jacob T.-Glengarry.
Schell, Malcolm S.-Oxford, S.R.
Scott, Walter-Assiniboia, West.
Seagram, Joseph E.-Waterloo, N.R.
Sifton, Hon. Clifford-Brandon.
Sinclair, J. H.-Guysborough.
Sloan, William-Comox-Atlin.
Smith, George-Oxford, N.R.
Smith, Ralph-Nanaimo.
Sprocle, Thomas S.-Grey, E.R.
Staples, William D.-Macdonald.
Stewart, Robert-Ottawa.
Stockton, Alfred Augustus-St. John City and County.
Sutherland, Hon. Robt. Franklin-Essex, N.R,

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vii
Talbot, Onesiphore Ernest-Bellechasse. Talbot, Peter-Strathcona,
Taylor, Georoe-Leeds.
Telford, William Patteson-Grey, N.R. Thompson, Alfred-Yukon Territory.
Tisdale, Hon. David-Norfolk.
Tobin, Edmund William-Richmond and Wolfe. Turgeon, On£siphore-Gloucester.
Turriff, John G.-Assiniboia, East.
Walsh, Robert Nelson-Huntingdon.
Ward, Henry Alfred-Durham.
Watson, Robert James-Parry Sound.
White, Hon. Peter, Renfrew. N.R.
Wilmot, Robert D.-Sun bury and Queen's. Wilson, Norman Frank-Russell.
Wilson, Uriah-Lennox and Addington. Worthington, Arthur Norreys-Sherbrooke. Wright, Aaron Abel-Renfrew, S.R.
Weight, William

Muskoka.
Zimmerman, Adam-Hamilton, West.

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First Session, Tenth Parliament
Alberta-John Herron.
Algoma, East-Albert Edward Dyment.
Algoma, West-Aithur Cyril Boyce. Annapolis-Samuel W. W. Pickup.
Antigonish-Colin E. Mclsaac.
Argenteuil-George H. Perley.
Assiniboia, East-John G Turriff.
Assiniboia, West-Walter Scott.
Bagot-Joseph Edmond Marcile.
Beauce-Henri Severin Beland.
Beauharnois-Joseph Gedeon Horace Bergeron. Bellechasse-Onesiphore Ernest Talbot. Berthier-Joseph Eloi Archambault. Bonaventcre-Charles Mareil.
Brandon-Hon. Clifford Sifton.
Brant-Hon. William Paterson.
Brantford-William F. Cockshutt. Brookville-Daniel Derbyshire.
BroME-Hon. Sydney Arthur Fisher.
Bruce, N. Riding-Leonard T. Bland.
Bruce, S. Riding- Peter H. McKenzie.
Calgary-Maitland Stewart McCarthy.
Cape Breton, North and Victoria-Daniel McKenzie.
Cape Breton, South-Alexander Johnston. CahletoN (N.B.)-Frank Broadstreet Carvell. Carleton (O.)-Robert L. Borden.
Chambly and Vercheres- Victor Geoffnon. Champlain-Jeffrey Alexandre Rousseau. Charlevoix-Rodolphe Forget.
Charlotte-Gilbert W. Ganong.
Chateauguay-James P. Brown.
Chicoutimi and Saguenay-Joseph Girard. Colchester-Frederick A. Laurence. Comox-Atlin-William Sloan.
Compton-Aylmer Byron Hunt.
Cumberland-Hance J. Logan.
Dauphin-Theodore Arthur Burrows.
Digby-Albert J. S. Copp.
Dorchester-Jean Baptiste Morin.
Drummond and Arthabaska-Louis Lavergne. Dufferin-John Barr.
B*
Duniias-Andrew Broder.
Durham-Henry Alfred Ward.
Edmonton-Hon. Frank Oliver.
Elgin, E. Riding-Andrew B. Ingram.
Elgin, W. Riding-William Jackson.
Essex, N. Riding-Hon. Robert Franklin Sutherland Essex, S. Riding-Alfred H. Clarke.
Frontenao-Melzar Avery.
G-asp£-Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux.
Glengarry-Jacob T. Schell.
Gloucester-Onesiphore Turgeon.
Grenville-John Dowsley Reid.
Grey, E. Riding-Thomas S. Sproule.
Grey, N. Riding-William Patteson Telford.
Grey, S. Riding-Henry Horton Miller. Guysborough-J. H. Sinclair.
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Haldimand-Francis Ramsay Lalor.
TT	f William Roche.
Halifax j Michael Carney.
Halton-David Henderson.
Hamilton, East-Samuel Barker. HAAtrimN. West-Adam Zimmerman.
Hants-Judson Burpee Black.
Hastings, E. Riding-William B. Northrup.
Hastings, W. Riding-Edward Guss Porter. Hochelaga-Louis Alfred Adhemar Rivet.
Humbolt-A. J. Adamson.
Huntingdon-Robert Nelson Walsh.
Huron, E. Riding-Thomas Chisholm. Huron, S. Riding-Benjamin B. Gunn. Huron, W. Riding-Edward Norman Lewis.
Inverness-Angus McLennan.
Jacques Cartier-Frederick D. Monk Joliette-Joseph Adelard Dubeau.
Kamouraska-Ernest Lapointe.
Kent (N.B.)-Oliver J. LeBlanc.
Kent (O.), E. Riding-David Alexander Gordon. Kent (O.), W. Riding-Herbert S. Clements. King's and Albert (N.B.)-George W. Fowler. King's (N.S.)-Hon. Sir Frederick W. Borden K.C.M.G.
X

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King's (P.E.I.)-James J. Hughes.
Kingston-William Harty.
Kootenay-William Alfred Galliher.
Labku.k-Henri Bourassa.
Lambton, E. Riding-Joseph E. Armstrong.
I.AMbton, W. Riding-Thomas George Johnston. Lanark, N. Riding-Thomas Boyd Caldwell. Lanark, S. Riding-Hon. John Graham Haggart. Laprairie-Napierville-Roeh Lanctot. L'Assomption-R. Charlemagne Laurier.
Laval-J. E. Emile Leonard.
Leeds-George Taylor.
Lennox and Addington-Uriah Wilson.
Ltivis-L. A. Carrier.
Lincoln-Edward A. Lancaster.
Lisgar-Thomas Greenway.
L'Islet-Eugene Paquet.
London-Hon. Charles S. Hyman.
Lotbiniere-Edmond Fortier.
Lunenburg-Alexander Kenneth Maclean.
Macdonald-William D. Staples.
Mackenzie-E. L. Cash.
Maisonneuve-Hon. J. Raymond Prefontaine. Marquette-William J. Roche.
Manklvongk-Hormisdas Mayrand.
Megantic-Francois Theodore Savoie.
Middlesex, E. Riding-Peter Elson.
Middlesex, N. Riding-Valentine Ratz. Middlesex, W. Riding-William Samuel Calvert. Missisquoi-Daniel B. Meigs.
Montcalm-Francois Octave Dugas.
Montmagny-Armand Lavergne.
Montmorency-George Parent.
Montreal, St. Anne-Daniel Gallery.
Montreal, St. Antoine-Herbert B. Ames. Montreal, St. James-Honore Gervais.
Montreal, St. Lawrence-Robert Bickerdike. Montreal, St. Mary-Camille Piche.
Muskoka-William Wright.
Nanaimo-Ralph Smith.
New Westminster-James B. Kennedy.
Nicolet-Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux.
Nipissing-Charles Arthur McCook Norfolk-Hon. David Tisdale.
Northumberland (N.B.)-WiUiam Stewart Loggie. Northumberland (O.) E.R.-Edward Cochrane. Northumberland (O.) W.R.-John B. McColl.
Ontario, N. Riding-George D. Grant.
Ontario, S. Riding-Peter Christie.
Ottawa City Napoleon Antoine Belcourt.
I Robert Stewart.
Oxford, N. Riding-George Smith.
Oxford, S. Riding-Malcolm S. Schell.
Parry Sound-Robert James Watson.
Peel-Richard Blain.
Perth, N. Riding-Alexander Ferguson MacLaren. Perth, S. Riding-Gilbert H. McIntyre. Peterborough, E. Riding-John Finlay.
Peterborough, W. Riding-R. R. Hall.
Pictou Edward M.: Macdonald.
Pontiac-Gerald H. Brabazon.
Portage la Prairie-John Crawford.
Portneuf-Michel Simeon Delisle.
Prescott-Edmond Proulx.
Prince, (P.E.I.)-Alfred A. Lefurgey.
Prince Edward-George Oscar Alcorn. Provenoher-Joseph Ernest Cyr.
Qu'Appelle-Richard Stuart Lake.
Quebec, Centre-Arthur Lachance.
Quebec, East-Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier G.C.M.G.
Quebec, West-William Power.
Quebec (County)-Hon. Charles Fitzpatric k.
Queen's, (PEI) /Alexander Martin.
v ' v	lAngus A. McLean.
] Renfrew, N. Riding-Hon. Peter White. Renfrew, S. Riding-Aaron Abel Wright. Restigouche-James Reid.
Richelieu-Arthur Aime Bruneau.
| Richmond (N.S.)-Duncan Finlayson.
Richmond and Wolfe(Q.)-Edmund William Tobin. Rimouski-Jean Auguste Ross.
Rouville-Hon. Louis Philippe Brodeur.
Russell-Norman Frank Wilson.
St. Hyacinthk-Aime M. Beauparlant.
St. John (N.B.), City-John Waterhouse Daniel, j St. John (N.B.), City & Co.-Alfred Augustus Stockton.
St. John and Iberville-L. Philippe Demers. Saskatchewan-j chn Henderson Lamont.
Selkirk-Samuel Jacob Jackson.
Sheffohd-Charles H. Parmelee.
I Shelburne and Queen's, N.S.-Hon. William Stevens Fielding.
I Sherbrooke-Arthur Norreys Worthington.
Simcoe, E. Riding-William Henry Bennett. i Simcoe, N. Riding-Leighton Goldie McCarthy. Simcoe, S. Riding-Haughton Lenrox.
Soulanges-Augustin Bourbonnais.
Souris-Frederick Laurence Schaffner.
Stanstead-Henry Lovell.
Stormont-Robert A. Pringle.
Sthathcona-Peter Talbot.
Sunbury and Queen's (N. B.)-Robert D. Wilmot.
Temiscouata-Charles Arthur Gauvreau. Terrebonne-Samuel Desjardins.
| Three Rivers and St. Maurice-Jacques Bureau.
I Thunder Bay and Rainy River-James Conmee.
Toronto, Centre- 1 Edmund Bristol.
(E. E. Clarke.
Toronto, East-Albert E. Kemp.
| Toronto, North-Hon. George Eulas Foster. Toronto, South-Angus Claude Macdonell.
| Toronto, West-Edmund Boyd Osier.
Two Mountains-Joseph Arthur C. Ethier.
j Vancouver (City)-Robert George Macpherson.
Vaudreuil-Gustave Boyer.



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Victoria (B.O.)-George Riley.
Victoria City(N.B.)-Hon. John Costigan. Victoria and Haliburton, (O.)-Samuel Hughes.
Waterloo, N. Riding-Joseph E. Seagram. Waterloo, S. Riding-George A. Clare. Welland-William Manly German.
Wellington, N. Riding-'Ihomas Martin. Wellington, S. Riding-Hugh Guthrie. Wentworth-Ernest D. Smith.
Westmoreland-Hon. Henry R. Emmerson.
Winnipeg-David Wesley Bole.
Wright-E. B. Devlin.
Yale-Cariboo-Duncan Ross.
Yamaska-Joseph O. E. Gladu.
Yarmouth-Bowman Brown Law.
York (N.B.)-Oswald S. Crocket.
York (O.), C. Riding-Archibald Campbell.
York (O.), N. Riding-Hon. Sir William Mnlock, K.C.M.G.
York (0.), S. Riding-William F. Maclean.
Yukon Territory-Alfred Thompson.
Select Committee Appointed to Supervise the Publication of the Official Reports of
the Debates of the House.
Bergeron, J. G. H.-Beauharnois.
Bureau, J.-Three Rivers and St. Maurice. Clarke, A. H.-Essex, S.
Eihier, J. A. C.-Two Mountains. Gervais, H.-Montreal, St. James. Guthrie, H.-Wellington, S.
Hughes, S.-Victoria and Haliburton. Johnston, A.-Cape Breton, S.
Logan, H. J.-Cumberland. Macpherson, R. G.-Vancouver City. McCarthy, M. S.-Calgary.
Roche, W. J.-Marquette.
Schaffner, F. L.-Souris.
Scott, Walter-Assiniboia, W. Taylor, Geo.-Leeds.
1 Chairman:-H. Gervais-Montreal, St. James.
House of Commons Bebates

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Wednesday, January 11, 1905.
To-day being the first day of the meeting of the first session of the Tenth Parliament for the despatch of business.-Thomas Barnard Flint, Esquire, LL.D., D.C.L., Clerk of the House of Commons, and Lieut.-Col. Henry Robert Smith, Serjeant-at-Arms, commissioners appointed by Dedimus Potesta-tem for administering the oath to members of the House of Commons, all attending and according to their duty, Henri G. LaMothe, Esquire, Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, delivered to the said Thomas Barnard Flint, Esquire, a Roll containing a list of the names of such members as had been returned to serve in this parliament.
The aforesaid commissioners did administer the oath to the members who were present, which being done, and the members having subscribed the roll containing the oath, they repaired to their seats.
The Clerk of the House said : I have the honour to inform the House that I have received the following communication from the Secretary of His Excellency the Governor General:
Ottawa, December 28, 1904.
Sir,-I am directed by His Excellency the Governor General to inform you that the Chief Justice of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy Governor, will proceed to the Senate Chamber to open the session of the Dominion parliament on Wednesday, the 11th proximo at 3 o'clock p.m.
I have the honour to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Sgd.) J. HANBURY-WILDIAMS, Colonel.
Gov. Gen.'s Secretary. The Clerk of the House of Commons.
A message was delivered by Ernest John Chambers, Esquire, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod :
Gentlemen of the House of Commons :
His Honour the Deputy of His Excellency the Governor desires the immediate attendance of this honourable House in the Chamber of the honourable the Senate.
Accordingly the House went up to the Senate, when the Speaker of the Senate said :
Honourable Gentlemen of the Senate :
Gentlemen of the House of Commons :
I have it in command to let you know that His Excellency the Governor General does not see fit to declare the causes of his summoning the present parliament of Canada until the Speaker of the House of Commons shall have been chosen according to law; but, to-morrow, at the hour of three o'clock in the afternoon, His Excellency will declare the causes of his calling this parliament.
And the House being returned.

Rt. Hon. Sir WILFRID LAURIER (Prime Minister).: Mr. Flint, the first duty which devolves on this House at the opening of this new parliament is to at once proceed to the election of a Speaker. I need hardly remark that the position of Speaker of this House, under our parliamentary system of government, is second to none, is, in fact, equal to the highest in the gift of either the Crown or the people. In the first place, the Speaker of the House of Commons is the channel of communication between the House and the Crown ; he is the mouthpiece of this assembly ; and, in the olden' time, in the earlier parts of the history of the motherland, when the relations of the Crown and parliament were not as clear and as well defined as they are at the present moment, this part of the duties of the Speaker was of paramount importance. But we live in calmer and happier days, and the duties which the Speaker performs in this line are, we may say, only perfunctory. But, on the other hand, the duties which the Speaker has to perform as presiding officer of this House have increased importance. These duties require special qualifications which it is not always easy to find combined in the'same person. In the first place, It is expected of him who fills this chair that he shall he of a mind at once judicial and fair, that both sides of the House and all parties may expect at his hand a uniform and fair treatment. It is expected of him also that he shall he well versed in parliamentary law. I have to submit to the House that In our judgment, and I believe in the judgment of all, Mr. Robert Franklin Sutherland, member for the north riding of Essex, is well qualified in all


Hon. GEORGE E. FOSTER (North Toronto).: No one can find fault with the definition of the duties of the Speaker as laid down by my right lion, friend who has made the motion (Sir Wilfrid Laurier). The prime duty of the selection rests, of course, upon my right hon. friend (Sir Wilfrid Laurier), and I have no doubt that he has exercised his best judgment in selecting for the position a gentleman who fulfils his high definitions and ideals of this most important office. Personally, I have not had the pleasure of the acquaintance of the hon. gentleman who has been proposed, but I have been told by my colleagues on this side of the House that they consider him to be a gentleman who, by his independence and from their knowledge of him, will be one who will maintain the high traditions which have so long obtained, and which we trust will for ever obtain in this chamber. Under these circumstances,, and with these ideals of the hon. gentleman, I can only say that this side of the House will give every reasonable support to the Speaker who has been selected, and hold up his hands in every way, so long as he carries out the high duties of that office, as I have no doubt he now intends to do.


Wilfrid Laurier: Hear, hear.


George Eulas Foster: The discipline and the dignity of this chamber are in the hands of His Majesty's loyal opposition in common with the gentlemen on the other side of the House, and we are as anxious to have them maintained as they are.
The motion being put to the House,
The Clerk of the House (Mr. T. B. Flint) declared the motion carried in the affirmative nemini contradicente; and Robert Franklin Sutherland, Esquire, member for the north riding or Essex, duly elected to the Chair of the House.
Mr. Sutherland was conducted from his seat in the House to the Speaker's chair by Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Sir William Mulock.


Hon. ROBERT FRANKLIN SUTHERLAND (Speaker-elect).: Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I desire to express to you my sincere thanks for the honour you have conferred on me by electing me to the Sir WILFRID LAURIER.
high position of Speaker to preside over your deliberations. No one can appreciate more highly than -do I the honour of this selection. No one, on the other hand, can be more diffident than myself as to my capacity to discharge the duties of the office. At the outset I am very inexperienced, as you are aware, but I trust that that inexperience will in itself be met by your cordial feeling towards me, and that for a time at least I shall be permitted to occupy this position with kindness from both sides of the House. With your aid and co-operation I feel well assured that we will be able to vindicate our rights and privileges according to our established rules and usages, preserve that freedom of speech which is at the foundation of liberty, and at the same time maintain the dignity and decorum of such an assemblage as this, I need hardly say that I enter upon the duties of the office with a full desire to be impartial as between the two sides of the House.
May I be permitted,' without at all desiring to suggest to the House that my knowledge of the language enables me to make a speech therein, to attempt to say a few words in French :
(Translation.) Hon. gentlemen, the French language being more familiar to a large number of members of this House, as also to a considerable number of electors in the constituency which I have the honour to represent here, I am glad to be able to tender to you in that language my sincere and grateful acknowledgments for the honour which has just been conferred upon me. Let me add that, with your co-operation and the aid of my English speaking friends, I will endeavour to discharge the duties of that exalted function with all the zeal and devotedness within my power.
The Serjeant-at-Arms then placed the Mace on the Table of the House.
On motion of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, House adjourned at 3.30 p.m.

Thursday, January 12, 1905.