, 1873-07-04
CANADA,
VI
,Er,ke41t Nf4,ffth ,

Special Dtspateh to Tho Chicago Tribune.
been issued containing the announcement OF the dis
allowance Of tho act passed 1ss session, authorizing
tho Pncdo halwny Committee to take evidence on
oath.
Tho Government has receiyed an tntimason from
Judge Johnston that he declines tho acceptance Of tho
q NSSs sss ss.na,
met yesterday TO inquire Into tho charges made by Mr.
Huntington against The aoyetnmcnt, regarding The tho
COURTROOM waa crowded With prominent politi.
ciaus. A1r. Huntington Was prepared to proceed
present, @ IT. al The Hon. John niiliard Cameron, ohas-
man, With MeasrB. Dor1on and Dlako, on tho right,
Mcdonald and Dlanchot On tho loft, occupied The
announced the receipt Of . communicating from tho
Minister Of Justicc notifying him Of tho publication Of
ihs u he as et aa
eeason giving the Committee the power OF adminis-
te,np oaths to witnesses s. te g., e9 sscs salea ,,,
md examined, when Afr. Macdonald offered the fol-
lowing:
Parlan}ent, empowering this md other Committees
Of tho House to administer oaths to Witnesses who
shall 10 examined before them, has been disaowed by
WnEnEAs, This Oo,unaittee Was instructed to e1-
anime witnesses before them under oath therefoEe,
they cannot be oxaminod until further inatructed BY
thB House Of Commons. .1
Tbs 1novor strongly supported ~ amendmont, urg-
and explicit. and expressing his opinion that 1t was
not competent for tho Committee to 60 on any
further. He advised that tho alternative should 10
adopted Of having tho Royal Commission armed With
the powers, as the House Of Commons had COLI
ferrod on tho COMMITTEES.
Mr. Blake took the Wow that they not only had tho
right to proceed, but he considered It their imperative
duty 10 do 10. He reviewed the story Of their nppotnt
ment. Their instructiona wore to investigate tho
mat4er; TO examine witnesses, mud to report 70
tho House. Ther duty was, II tho law permittad, to
their duty clearly II thoy going to carry out
their Instructions to prosecute tho under
whaever disadvantage they might be Placed by the re-
Rcnding Of statute. He conhlderod II premature 10
discuss whatever mode OF conducting the
might be adopted by Committee OF the House ~
some other capacity, which they might bo authorized
to take.
Nj, Dorion supported Mr.. Dlakos View He felt
that tho Committee had duty to perform. They had
been ordered to investigate particular charge, md
Tho House had oudeayored to provide the necessary
means OF allowing thom to conduct their Investigation
under oath Thoy thought such course necessary.
Ho did mot beeve That lor Instructions we're inter
sao crodenco TO Witnesses ~ they wero on OATH -
they embraced ministers Of thu crowp Senators,
and others. TruAt1ng 70 tletr honor for
900 years In England and nifty IN Canada this had
been done. The amendment meant delay Ind ho op-
posed It.
MI, Oanpron, tho Chairman, considered that the
House intended tint hll Witnesses should DO examined
on oath, aud objected TO- proceed without proper
authorization, and suggested an adjournment TO allow
the communication with tho Homo Government to OBJ
tain the necessary authorization.
take on itsolf to recommend on lta violations that tho
Constitution 10 inteyforcd with ~,
Tho Committee finally adjourned without voto I'LL
this afternoon,