The daily critic., 1890-11-04
CANADNs CONSTITUTION.

colonial dependency of Great Britain
only in name. In fact Ctu1dAis really
an independent country So Ear from
contributing to lhe support OF thc I'm
potiaI Government. The Damiuion lgvies
customs 5uii,s ON imports from Great
Britain with tbe same freedom that she
lays them upon imports from other
countries As with our own country
Canada lcvies these duties. not only for
revenue. but fr the protection OF
home industries English papers arc
now ur1ir- Canada in view Of the NlC.
EINIEY law 90 adopt free trade, but
whether She does ur does not resls en-.
tirely with herself The Mother
Country" has no mrrc 90 do with
Canadu's action in The matter than the
United States.
The power Of making treaties for The
empire as whole or for any Of its parts
Is retained by the Imperial Government
but Canada takes the Liberty Of enforc
ing Der own views Of treaties directly
relating Co her interests, and The I'm
rcrial Government however rcluc.
tautly. IS compelled to acqui,sc, In
those views This Is seen in the way
Canada has acted with reference 10 the
fisheries treaty OF 1918. The Imperial
Government has been compelled TO pll
Canadl's view though 70 was agai NJ
The views or wishes of the Foreign
OniJe 90 london. which had no dg8ire
to be- drawn into q controversy with this
country over sn small q matter as the
Newfoundland fisheries, and which was
moreover. local 90 Canada la tlr'. ls
slated by q recent writer on the subject
the Canadian Parliament has "al
powers necessary or proper for per
forming the obligations Of Canada or OF
any province thereof as part OF the
British Empire towards foreign coun.
tries arising under treaties between the
empire and such foreign countries
The recent law Of the Canadian Pdglia
mcnt TO eXirldlte criminals was drawn
up without regard 10 treaties, In that 70
embraces, as eXtraditab,e, oHeHsss not
recognized as such IN the treaties Of the
Imperial Government.
When the Dominion Government was
formed ia 1861 many ideas were adop'ei
from both the British Constitution lni
from the Constitution Of the United
States. Specified powers only We're
given 20 the Provinces, the rest Temaln-
ing with the Imperial Cover meut, or
vesiing IN lhe Dominion The eyelu-
siye legislative powers Of the Provin-
cial Legislatures are quite eX-
ieBsiye, extending as they do,
generally, 90 the amendment OF
The Provincial constitutions 10 the lay
ing Of direct taxes aud the borrowing oi
money for Provincial purposes 10 the
establishment and tenure Of Provincial
Offices 10 the management Of prisons,
charities, schools aud municipal insti
siutions; 10 the creation aud regulation
Of property and civil rights, aud the al
miHislTatiOn Of justice 10 the Provinces
and, generally, 70 all matters Of a merely
local or private nature As with US, Do
minion and Provincial laws sometimes
operate on the same subject, as, for in
stance, those regulating the sale Of
liquors There is a general Dominion
act and local regulations b0th
10 he make up If The Dominion
Parliament The British Parliament was
taken as fbe general model. The p9pu-
lsT bsUCh is known as the House Of
Commons, but The upper branch IS
called ibr Senate. In the latter
tie ber,di.ary principle Of the
House % L0rGs was discarded. Tn
Caradia Senate contains so members
Cf whom Ontario has "a, Quebec a.,
Nova Scotia 10. New Brunswick no.,
Prince Edwarl's S Island 4 British Co
lumbia 9 Manitoba 3 the Northwest
Territories @ Senators are appointed
By the Governor General for life.
They must be 30 years Of age, aud
must hold real aud personal property of
The value Of $1,000 over and above
their debis and liabilities. This prop
eTty qualification they must continue
10 possess, and each Senator isTequired,
under q resolution Of that body adopted
10 1850, 10 take within twenty days
from the opening Of The first session Of
each Parliament. an oath containing a
declaration that lie holds property Of
The value required.
The House Of Commons Is compose
Of 2l5 members, app0rJi0Ded among the
various Provinces, approximately q
population. no property qualification
is required 10 hold q seat IN the Com
mons Money bills are Introduced Dl
the advice 0f Minister rlspausijls q
the Parliament zs 70 Great Bdlaiu, lr
matters ri parliamentary practice ElE
ush prsClL-u-s aIe generally followed
A supreme Court Gf the Dlm'li1-
was established iH 1870. II consists 81
Chief Justice and live pul5ue judges
N Is not supreme IN the sense our clur
b. for an appeal may be taken from q
10 the Judiciary Committee of The Pi.Fg
Council gl England.
AS Cauada has grown ID indepeud
cree tLe people have become proud Of
their county ana is pqleudalities
They are quick b resent auy aEzre5
alous of he Cr1Bu upon their pr.a
leges. Tbs spirit of independence dle.
nal cover any desire Tor annexation viii
fh5a rr.rrfrr Inn rafhar uraHaufs fEf