The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-22
CLAIMING INTERESTS IN CANADA.
A Deadlock Between the Senate and House OF
Far-Reaching Importance.

and unworkable character OF the present 'aiia-
dian constitution has been demonstrated our
Ing the present session of the Dominion far-
lament in a more thoroughly convincing man
ner than ever before. The masses OF the peo-
pie OF the Dominion. In the celebration OF diner
ent sets OF national, or rather OF racial hoi-
days, have shown that those OF dinereht orr
Gin have no more unity for one another than
IL they were composed respectively OF oil ana
water. But these differences are now being
daily emphasized in Parliament by the rep
resentative men OF the country In a manner
that appears TO forbid all possibility OF ma
tional unity. And they are accentuated py
a deadlock between the Senate and the House
OF Commons, In which the former the nom
elective branch OF the Canadian parliament
stands charged by some Of the French-Cana-
dian representative In the House OF Commons
with hostility to the French-Canadian popula-
ton Of the province Of Quebec.
The Canadian Senate is an utterly irrespon-
sible body, differing entirely In its compost
ton from the Senate Of the United States.
In one respect II Is modelled after the House
OF Lords in England, Its members hold their
seats for life. None Of them is elective. When
ever a vacancy occurs In the body, which can
only be by death or resignation, II is filled by
the Governor General In Council which means
that his Excellenoy signs the appointment
of whoever is recommended by the Govern
ment of the day. Thus, when any political party
has been in power for a long term Of years,
II flls up the Senate with so many OF Its po-
litical friends that when its opponents come
to reign they are in danger OF having all their
legislation checked by the irresponsible life
legislators Of the upper house. Sir Wilfred
Laurier is suffering from their party opposi-
ton at the present time. Lord Aberdeen fore
saw the difficulty while serving as Governor
General Of Canada. When Sir Charles Upper,
the Conservative leader, was last defeated
at the polls and the Government led by him
compelled to resign. there were several vacan-
cies TO be filled In the Senate, which the then
Government had already kept open for a num-
Der OF their political friends who might be de-
feated in the general election Of members
of the House Of Commons. During the inter-
val that elapsed between the general elections
and the change Of government. and while Sir
Charles Upper was winding up his manage
ment OF public affairs preparatory to resign
ing the reins Of power. be submitted the names
Of a number Of his political friends for appoint
ment to Ali the vacancies in the Senate. Lord
Aberdeen promptly refused to make the APP
poinunents. not only upon the ground that
Sir Charles no longer represented the public
opinion Of the day, having been defeated at
the polls, but also because the composition
of the Senate was already over whelmingly
Conservative, that 1t no longer represented
the present public opinion of Canada, and should
under no circumstances be made more partt-
sun than II then was. Notwithstanding that
the vacancies In question and all subsequent
ones as well have since been filed by nominees
OF Sir Wifrid Laurier, there is still so large a
Conservative majority in the Senate that II
has been able to prevent much Of the present
Governments legislation from becoming law.
One Of the most important matters in which
II has thus interviewed Is that OF the Prov inoial
Judges. The Legislatures Of the different Prov
inces regulate the administration Of justice
within their Jurisdiction. but the Dominion
appoints the Judges and pays
their salaries. At It's last sess ion. the Legislature
of Quebec passed a bill providing for the creation
OF three new Judges In Montreal. II was UNI
derstood that three very prominent Liberal
lawyers In Montreal were To nav the appoint
ments. The majority Of the peoples repre-
In the House Of ommons passed a
Government bill TO give effect to the Constiti-
tional demand and legislation Of the Province
OF Quebec In the matter. In the Senate how
e yer, where the Conservatives are In a major
ity. prompt measures were taken 10 defeat the
bill and prevent the appointment Of three new
Liberal Judges. 1t was rejected on a party
vote. Intense indignation was caused, not
only throughout the Province Of Quebec. but
aiso in the House of Commons; the legislation
of both having been turned down by the Senate.
The House OF Compons declined to accept as
final the decision, OF the Senate. but sent the
bill back TO it with a strong resolution. only TO
to have II again thrown out by a majority of
one vote.
This deadlock Is one Of the seversst strains
to which the present Constr tuition Of the DO
minion has ever been submitted. The con.
stitutlon of the Senate and the unconstitutional
ity OF its recent action. have formed the sub
Ject OF bitter attacks In the House Of Com
mons by both Sir Wilfrid Laurier and menu
bers OF his Government that certainly indicate
the intention of a Senate reform movement, II
clared that the Senate had acted in direct vio-
lation OF the Constitution. and that II did not lie
the power OF the Dominion Parliament to
bee IN this matter. The Premier declared, too.
that he stood upon the broad ground Of Pro-
vinciai rights in this matter and that the Senate
bee should not bave It's wish in this respect,
when Ontario had eighty-seven Judges and
Quebec only forty-one.
So far were racial and other feelings aroused
attention OF the House to what he called -the
ISLANDERS OF the vile sheets who daily attack the
French Canadian race and the Roman Catholic
religion" So~iioitor-General Fitzpatrick de-
clared tina t the action Of the Senate was an In
frlngement on the spirit Of Provincial auto
nomy. Us secured in the British North America
act, and he described that body IA q haven OF
rest for the rejected OF the people. and said IL
seemed to he It's duty to hwart the will of the
people.
ceedlngly vlndictive In their attacks on the
Senate. and conveyed the impression that
the province Of Quebec is fully persuaded
that the upper house Is actuated by ianaticism
against it. Thus Mr.. Bourassa, who led the
opposition TO the sending Of Canadian troops
that the Senate is degeneratiDG into a mere
political committee. and declared that n IL
persists In such conduct there is danger OF
raising, a movement against II In the province
of Quebec. Mr.. Monet declared that the action
Of the Senate was an Infringement, OF the rights
the present, session OF Parliament opened with
an encroachment on the constitution by the
Government In sending Canadian TROOPS 10
Africa without parliamentary authority. IL
was ending by, an encroachment on provin.
cial rights by the Senate,
During the same debate Mr., Foster. one NJ
the Conservative leaders. complained OF a
French-C Canadian newspaper In Quebec. which
recently published a cartoon representinr
a conservative member Of Parliament armed
with weapons Of war. and declaring that
"Orangemen were bound together by a solemn
oath to e~xterminate Roman Catholics and he
Fre~nch-Canadian people" And so the silly
fight between the different races of peoplo In
the Dominion goes on, aided by racial and RAJ
llgious references OF this kind, both in and out
Of Parliament. especially upon the eve of gen.
eral elections.
The Droyincc Of Ontario novar fou.