St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-24
CANADIAN PARLIAMENT.
The Governor General Opens the
Parliament With the Usual
SDeeeh

Speech.
OTTAWA, Ont, Feb. 23.-At 8 p. m.
to-day his excellency, the governor gen.
eral, proceeded in state to the parlia-
ment building, and the members of the
house of commons having been sum-
mOned to the senate chamber, his eX-
cellency was pleased to open the second
session of the sixth parliament of Can
ada with the following speech:
Gentlemen of the House of Commons:
1t affords me much qualification to meet
you once more at the commencement of
the parliamentary session, and to con-
graduate you upon the general pros
perity of the country. Although the
labOrS of the husbandmen have not
been rewarded in some portions of the
dominion by adequate return, the har-
vest of last year has Oh the whole been
plenteOus, while in Manitoba and the
Northwest territories it was one of re-
markable abundance. The negotiations
between her majesty's government and
that of the United States for the adjust
ment of what is known as 1.-The Fish
cry question" have, / am pleased to in
form you, resulted in a treaty which
will, venture to hope, be considered
by you as honorable and satisfactory to
both nations. The treaty, with papers
and correspondence relating thereto,
will be laid before you, and you will be
invited to adopt measure to give effect
to its provisions. The extension and de-
VelOpment of our system of railways
have not only rendered necessary addi-
tional safeguards for life and property,
but have given greater frequency to the
question in which the interests of rival
companies are found to be in conflict
and to require authoritative adjustment,
as further legislation appears to be
needed for those purposes. A measure
will be submitted to you for cOnSidera-
ton and Improvement of 1.-The railway
act" Experience having shown that
amendments are required to make the
provisions of the act respecting the
elections of members of the house of
commons more effective and more con-
venlent in operation, you will be asked
to consider measure for the amend
ment of that statute. The act respect
ing cOntrOverted elections may likewise
require attention with view to the re-
mOval of certain questions of interpret
atiOnS which have arisen and
which should be set at rest.
My government has availed itself
of the opportunity afforded by the re-
cess to consider numerous suggestions
which have been made for improving
the details of the act respecting the elec-
tive franchise, and measure will be
submitted to you for the purpose of sim
plifying the law and greatly lessening
the cost of its operation. The growth
of the Northwest territories renders ex-
pedient an Improvement in the system
of government and legislation affecting
these portions of the dominion. and a
bill for that purpose will be laid before
you. A bill will be submitted to you to
make the larger portion of the modern
laws of England applicable 10 the prov
lnce of Manitoba and to the Northwest
territories in regard to matters which
have not as yet been made the subject
of Canadian legislation. Among other
measures bills will be presented to YOU
relating to the Judiciary. to civil service
and to the audit of public accounts.
The accounts for the past year will he
laid before you, as well as estimates for
the ensuing year. They have been pre-
pared with due regard to economy and
the requirements of the public service.
l commend these important subjects
and all matters affecting public inter-
ests which may be brought before YOU
to your best consideration, and | feel
assured that you will address your
selves to them with carnestneSs and as
Siduity.