The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-13

RETRENCHMENT

| Ihe demand tor greater economy In the
administration ofthe affairs OF the Canadian
government has been 50 loud aud determin-
ed that 1t has at last made itself felt. The
business Of re.renehment has been begun Al
the top. The House Of Commons last week
voted, los to q, TO reduce the salary Of the
GoyeBor-General from $4,000 to $4,000.
The debate which preceded the division
was long and spirited, ths ministry and their
friends opposing the reduction with graf
determination. The salary OF the Governor
General vas fixed at eI0o00 sterling by the
Conference in. London. and clause fixing a
at that fgure-subiect, of course 10 the action
Of the Dominion Pafiament-Nas pat into
the Union Act. The Privy C1uncil, nearly
all the members Of which were delegates 20
London, admitted and desended their action
in the Conference, and urged the Honse Of
Commons to endorse ii BY voting down the
proposal to reduce the salary. But The House,
on the final vote, refused. by a majority Of
nearly three 20 one. The wish OF the govern
ment, and the appeal to what is supposed to
be the wish OF the Imperial authorities in the
matter, were alike in vain. The representa-
tiyes OF the peope were inexorable. The
feeling has been very general that the salary
was outrageously high; but that the majority
in favor of reduction should be so large has
the influence OF The Ministry in the House is
weaker than was supposed.
One New Brunswick journal curtly re-
marks that the $4,000 is not only all the
people can afford to pay, but quite as much
as Lord Monck is worth.
THE FoRTIFIcATIoNs.
On Thursday night there was an exciting
debate upon an amendment to the ioItifca.
ton bill, calling for further inquiry before
proceeding to vote five millions OF dollars to
be expended in Notifications. The amend
ment was pressed with much spirit but it
was lost by vote OF two to one, the House
virtually expressing resolve to ''go in blind"
in this matter. The idea seems firmly fixed
in the Canadian mind that nothing short of
Gordon of forts along the frontier and the
turning of all their cities into entrenched
camps will save their country from speedy
absorption into the United States. Mr.. Calf
made speech on this occasion in the course
of which he said that if the policy Of the op-
position were carried out the inevitable result
would be annexation. Separation from the
mother country must come at some time-he
hoped it would not be in his day-and Cana
da must prepare herself for a future state OF
national existence. While the Dominion
was yet young and required protection, the
mother country extended her shield for their
protection. But in the meantime it was OBJ
viously the duty of the people of the Domin-
ion to protect themselves from having no
choice in the future but that of annexation.
Mr.. Chaveau agreed with Mr.. Gait, and
said that while the people of the Dominion
we're overshadowed by their great neighbors,
who invited to their shores all the filhbusters,
Fenians, and banditti in the world, it was Of
the highest importance the Dominion should
affirm its national existence by such prepara-
tions as would guarantee the peace OF the
country. How and when the money is TO
be expended nobody seems to know.
THE REPEAL PETITION.
The Toronto Globes London correspond
ence of April 25, says:
The case of the Nova Scotia malcontents
will be brought before the House of Commons
by Mr.. Bright, who will move that counsel be
heard on their behalf at the bar of the House.
Messrs. Howe and Armand have retained Mr..
Vernon Harcourt (Historicus,) as counsel for
the Anti Confederation party: These gentle
men declare that they will be content with
the appointment of Parliamentary Commit-
tee, and it is probable that Mr.. Bright will
make motion to that effect. The intention
was to bring the subject before the House
in the course of next week, but it is expect
that the Irish debates will prove an insuper-
able obstable TO the arrangement L do not
think there is the slightest cha ice that even
motion for inquiry will be passed, or that more
will be done than is involved in making Par
liamentary demonstration.
The Duke of Buckingham will, of course,
decline to comply with the request of the No
va Scotia petitioners.
THE FISHERIES.
As indicated some time ago, the govern
license fee OF 81 per ton. Confscation of
vessels without license is to take place at
once instead of after three searches, as hith-
erto.
THE PAPER DUTY.
The great majority of the Montreal print
ing and publishing houses have petitioned
the House of Commons to remove the fifteen
per cent. duty on printing paper, or admit it
at the lowest rate consistent with the require
ments of the public treasury; and to accord
a similar tavor to wrapping, writing and 9TH
er kinds OF paper. The petitioners allege
that the present duty is of prohibtory
character, injurious to the revenue and to
trade in general.
A SEVERE BUT JUST SENTENCE.
judge Drummond Of Montreal. has sem
| fenced DR.. Robert hoffman of that city to ten
years Imprisonment in the Penitentiarv, for
kaving procured an abortion upon the person
of young lady whom he had seduced DIR.
Patton, promising young medical man who
was his instrument in the crime, was so over
whelmed by remorse for the act that he COM
mitted suicide by taking prussic acid IL Is
evident that public sentiment in Canada Id
relation to things of this kind is less depraV-
ed than with us.