The Portland daily press., 1873-08-16
A. F. GERRIsH, |
ID. ELLIOT. Republican
VIM. Csc GOD, -
P. TOLMAN, oountv
VIM. H, DRESSER Committee.
L. B, CHAPMAN,
The Dominion Scandal.

The full reports of the proceedings of the
Dominion Parliament, on its re-assembling
last Wednesday, give clearer idea of the
intense feeling that the action of the Governor
General in proroguing that body and ANNOUNCE
ing the appointment of royal commission to
investigate the gross charges against his con-
stitutional advisers, produced. 1t will be re-
membered that four months ago, in an indefi-
mite way, the charges of corruption and
prlbe taking were made in the Parliament
against the Ministry. After an attempt to
cryltdown, the government and its supporters
found 1t necessary to raise a committee to in
vestigate the rumors and charges, consisting
OF three members of the ministry party and
two of the opposition. This committee was
10 SIT during the recess and report to that
body when it met in August. Under the pre-
text that the committee was not specially en-
powered to administer oaths for the purpose
Of taking testimony, nothing was done toward
making the investigation.
Meanwhile the evidences of fraud and cor
ruption have accumulated, and revelation
after revelation has been made until num-
Der OF the leading members of the Ministry
are convicted of practically selling the char.
ter and grant of the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way to Sir Hugh Allan by their own letters.
and still further by the expenditure of over
S3OO,OO0 of Sir Hugh's money to carry the
election Of 1872 for the present government.
All of the Ministers are members of Parlia-
ment, and, consequently, represent the ma
Jority OF that body, which is practically
the government. Charges of so grave char
acter as those made against the Ministry or
members of it, should be investigated by the
body to which they are responsible and not
by commission appointed by the viceroy of
queen Victoria, since this official in selecting
his commission must naturally consult his
constitutional advisers, who are the parties
implicated. Practically this royal commits
sion is allowing the parties of the criminal
dock to become the jurors to try themselves
for high crimes.
On the day Of the meeting of Parliament
committee of that body presented the Govern
or General memorial signed by 95 of the
200 members, (which sets forth the grave
charges against His Exceency's constitution
al advisers, claims that it is the duty and I'M
doubted right of the House of Commons to
prosecute an investigation and prays him not
to prorogue Parliament till the House of
Commons shall have an opportunity to take
such steps as it may deem necessary to secure
an investigation. But regardless of this mem
orial which is signed by more members than
the Government ever secured in division of
the House, thirty of whom have been SUD-
porters Of the ministry heretofore, Lord Duff
terln refused to allow the Commons to sit, and
proceed with business constitutionally its
own, proroSued Parliament and assumed
the prerogative ofconducting the investigation.
The proceedings in the House of Commons
on meeting were of a remarkable character.
as will be seen from the following extract TAX
en- from the special of the st. John Teleqroph.
government paper.
AT $40 the Speaker of the House of Com
mons took the chair, the Opposition side of the
House being nearly full. and the Government
side but poorly patronized.
He had scarcely been seated when Mr.. Ma
kenzie began to speak.
The Speaker called order, but he was cbeered
Dy mis- supporters, and went on to move secon-
cd Dy Mr.. Bolton, the following resolution =
Resotced-That this House during the present
session, ordered an enquiry to be made in con-
HecIion with certain grave charges against the
Government, concerning the construction of
Tie proposed Pacific Railway which ff true ser,-
ously affects the official honor of His Excellen-
cy's constitutional advisers and the privilege and
independence Of Parliament; that the inyesti-
CATION so far has not been proceeded with. ow-
ing to circumstances not anticipated when the
enquiry was ordered, and it is the imperative
duty of this House, at the earliest moment to
take such steps as will secure a full parliament
taTy enquiry; that constitutional usaoes reouire
that charges of corruption against Ministers Of
the Crown should be investigated by Parliament.
and any failure to do SO in this case would he n
fragrant violation of the privileges of this
House; that this House will regard il as hiohIv
reprehenslble of any person who may presume
to advise His Excellency to prorogue Parliament
before it shall have had an opportunity for
action in the premises inasmuch as such pro-
rogation would render abortive all the steps
taken up to the present time, and would infiict
unprecedented indignities on Parliament and
produce great dissatisfaction in this country.
Mr. Mckenzie proceeded to address the
ti when the Speaker again called ''Order;
there Is messenger at the door" The Usher
OF the Black Rod had been waiting almost
from the moment the Speaker entered
Inc Opposition called No! NOT privileged
prlVliegel and for some minutes the House re-
sempieo bear garden.
The mace was withdravn fror, a. .t,
the sergeant at Arms; the fisher ,yas III
ted tho Speaker and the Clerks rose ard ,,,nst
Oh tne members and supporters of the goyarn.
ment left the Honse to attend tba =, $500,
General, followed by the Kisses Of the onnol
sition. vi 'ne oppo-
Some five or six members, inclpd;po rsooo
Burpee, sitting on the government Side and Mail ali
the Opposition retained their seats
The attendance of Parliamentarians IN tho
Governor General comprised four Senators and
about thirty members
subsequent meetings were held BY those
opposed to the royal commission and the ac-
tion OF Lord Dufferin, and resolutions were
passed declaring the propagation a violation
OF the rights Of Parliament and of tbe noo,,o
and the duty of Parliament to resume H. r,
quiry and vindicate its rights at the carries.
moment possible. 1t was intimated that tha
opposition would not prosecute the case bo-
fore the royal commission, on the ground that
1t has no right to make the investigation.
By this action of the viceroy, Sir John A.
Macdonald and his ministers have temporsri-
~ defeated the purpose of the House, but it
- only Tor time as the Governor General
mas announced that he will Summon Parlia-
nel' apout the middle of September, when he
expects that the report of the commission
Fll be prepared, At that time ue no. -