New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-07
CANADA.
MAINE LAW REJECTED-GRAND TRUNK
RAILWAY.

RAILWAY.
prem Our Own Conespondent
TORONTO, "wednesday, May 2, 1855.
The ProhibitOry Liquor bill was thrown out in
the Legislative Assembly on Monday night, on
a question of procedure. Objection was taken
that the bill affected the revenue; and should,
therefore, according to the fortyhfth rule of the
House, have originated in Committee OF the
Whole; and that in consequence of this omis-
son the whole proceeding upon it was void.
The Speaker being appealed TO declared the oh
lection valid. The advocates of the bill appealed
fl ON bis decision 70 the House, and were defeated
On division, mastering only 40 votes against 81
IL is said there waJ great excitement 10 the
House when the vote was taken Here is the rule
Of the House on which the proceedings were de-
clared irregular:
"Thst II any motion made 10 this House or any public
md debate thereof shall not be presently entered upon bat
shsll be adjourned I'll sgoh further dsy ss the hoae sha
House opinion be repored, before resoson or
vote Of the House do peas thereon"
II is difficult 10 see how the Liquor bill came
under this rule the rule relates TO the imposition
OF public burdens, and the bill would have de-
creased certain duties. 1t is true that that de-
-rrease of duties must have led t. the imposition
Of others; but this was not bill for imposing
them II shows the temper Of the House on the
question, that they strained point to bring the
bill under the operation of this rule with view
defeating il. / have all along known and stated
that there was no sincerity in the majority of the
members of the House who have hitherto sup
ported the bill they hated il in their hearts, and
only made show OF supporting it, because they
believed it popular to do So The question is not
necessarily disposed Of for the session. IL may be
introduced in the proper form now but no bill on
the subject will pass this session. Indeed, 1t IL
difficult to say when such measure Will pass
for it is reported that in Lower Canada there has
recently been q strong revulson of feeling on the
subject Some bill on the subject of Temperance
will probably pass next session; but it is likely
that il will be good deal diluted from the Maine
standard If / remember right directly opp0-
site construction was given, during the present
session. to the forty-hth rule of the House, on the
Reciprocity bill, which raised exactly the same
question as this Liquor bill 1t would diminish
the revenue like this; and yet, if my memory
serve me, il was held not necessary TO go into
Committee of the Whole in the initiation of the
measure. In 1916, Mr.. Baldwin trippej up the
present and then InspectOr-(ieneral the tariff
question, under this rule, and the proceedings
after they had reached an advanced stage, were
commenced de moro
The Grand Trunk Railway Company makes an
appeal to Parliament for E9O0OO0 additional as
sistance, under these circumstances: Over $500
900 of the A series of stock was reserved for the
stock and bond holders in certain Canadian rail
WAYS; and these were allowed q certain time 10
take il or not. Not one of them took share !;
but on the contrary, most of them fastened to
,ell at the high rates caused by the amalgamation
of the companies now forming the Grand Trunk.
The large quantity of stock they threw upon the
market was the principal cause of the first decline
of the Grand Trunk stock. The sale of this re-
served stock was lost; for, when the time for the
Iarties TO exercise their option in taking il ex-
fired il had sunk considerably in value. Then,
the contractors have had to expend, on the Mon
trea and Portland section, GSOO,OJ0 more than
vas provided ior il. They lost fl0O,OO0 on the
Quebec and Richmond section. The calls on the
A series of stock could only be made with a GER
tain degree of rapidity, and not fast enough to
provide funds to pay for the work as II was done.
Work 10 the value of over fjOO0O0 has been duly
certified to be completed, for which the Company
las no funds. Their drafts for this work have
been refused acceptance. They might pay the con-
tractors on the Il series of stock but the con-
tractors could not sell it and the effect would be
to endanger the payment OF the calls on the A Sc
ries SO say Mr.. Barring and Mr.. Glynn, Financial
Agents of the Province, who recommend our Gov
eminent TO secure from Parliament the grant of
the 100000 additional aid asked. They state
their conviction that if this be given the con-
tractors will be able to complete the whole work,
from St Thomas 40 miles below Quebec, to STRAIT
ford, in the fall of next year. The Province will
have paid about As per cent of the whole cost OF
the work, it this additional sum be granted-fOr
which il has the first claim on the receipts, and
the first mortgage on the road The amount asked
for will be granted