The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-04
CANADA SHOULD
OWN RAIL WAYS
That Will Probably Be the Issue
in the Next Gam
paign.
Strong Conservative Statement
as to the Grand Trunk
Pacific.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Ottawa. June I'm forcible
speech, at the close Of the debate on
the transcontinental railway bill, the
leader of the opposition. MI. Borden,
pledged the conservative party, in
unmistakable terms, to the policy Of
government ownership Of the trans
continental railway. This pronounce
ment is likely to have a most impor-
tant bearing on the approaching gem
eral election, as the railway policy Of
the government will undoubtedly be
paign-if not by the government,
then certainly by the opposition.
Mr.. Borden and his followers have
undoubtedly satisfied themselves that
the feeling turnout the Dominion is
largely in favor of government own
tercolonial railway to the wheat coun-
try of the northwest, and that the
popular sentiment in that regard is
growing from day to day. There are
not wanting signs that a large num-
Der of Canadians are 1nclining to the
view that it would be wiser in the
long run for the country to build the,
outright, rather than to build the
most difficult portion Of the line and
hand it over to the Grand Trunk, at
the same time paying a heavy SUBJ
sidy for the western portion Of the
road.
A Protest from Winnipeg.
A significant straw Is furnished in
formal protest just Forwarded to
Ottawa by a number Of well-known
business men of Winnipeg, all strong
supporters Of the government. This
protest states in unmistakable terms
that these men, tho liberals on prin-
ciple and by lifelong conviction, can
not now support the liberal party In
transaction embodying on a gigan-
tic scale the very evil to which lib
eralism is fundamentally opposed
the sacrifice Of public good to pri-
vate greed. The resolution states that
the enormous liability to be incurred
In the construction Of the eastern sec
ton of the Grand Trunk Pacific
| makes the undertaking absolutely alb
surd as remedy for the congestion
Of traffic, or for the lack Of adequate
facilities from the west to the sea-
board. In the west the proposed line
running parallel with existing lines
will not and cannot develop new ter
| ritory.- The resolution adds: =. =.
Where the Remedy Lies. .
The remedy lies in railways under public
ownership and operated by a non-partizan
commission. The Intercolonial should be
freed from the spoils system, placed under
such a general manager as Sir Thomas
Shaughnessy, Mr.. Hays, Mr. Whyte, or
other efficient railway administrators, and
extended to the Rocky mountains and the
Pacific. Public ownership would free us
from overcapitalfzation, from combinat ton,
from excessive rates and from inadequate
equipment with cars and locomotives. 1t
would give us truly national transport
tation policy, would immensely facilitate
business and augment the prosperity of
Canada and it would deliver us from the
frightfully demoralizing effects upon our
whole public life Of the railway policy
hitherto pursued. ss :.
.., The Borden Resolution.
Here is the resolution moved by Mr..
Borden in the house Of commons, and
which may now be taken, as the defin-
lite railway policy Of the conservative
opposition in Canada:
J, That the bill (the G. r. P. billy pur.
!; poses to ratify and confirm agreements
: imposing upon the country enormous OBJ.
legations for the construction of trans.
continental railway, large portion O.
which Is to become the property Of a rail
way corporation, to whom the remaining
portion Is to be leased for fifty years or
CGT1uS OneTOuS TO the country.
That the obligations Undertaken by thu
. country under the proposed agreement viii
provide almost wholly for the cost Of con
STRUGGLING the proposed railway, while thu
obligation assumed by the Grand Trunl
Railway company is Comparatively small
The house is. of the opinion that instead
Of ratifying the proposed agreements,
would be moro In the public interest tina
the Dominion should assume the who'll
obligation necessary for extending across
the continent the present government sys
tenn of railways, thereby completing
trenscontin railway from the Atlanti
10 the Pacific entirely owned by and un
! der the control OF the people Of Canada.
Borden's Solemn Declaration
In an elaborate analysis Of the gov
ernments railway policy, Mr.. Border
\ made this solemn declaration:
II the conservative party Is returned
q power it will enact such legislation as wi
I enable the will o. the people to prevail
: # It is the will of the people Of Canada
. as declared at the next general election
4 that another railway from ocean to ocea
4 shall be built. owned and controlled b
& the people Of Capeda, and not by tn
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway company;
1t is the will Of the people that we sta
assume, not merely nine-te but ter
Z tenths Of the obligations necessary to cor
struct another tra1scontinental road, an
by thnt means own and control a nation;
railway highway from the Atlantic to tn
I Faciac-the conservative party, If re
turned to I.ower, Is prepared to place upo
the statute book Of Canada such legisls
ton as will enable that result to be az
con,plished with the least possible della;
4 The leader of the opposition mad
a significant statement in regard t
the attitude Of the conservatives,
returned to power, toward the Gran
d Trunk.
The sanctity Of contracts demanded
he said, that the legitimate rights {
the promoters Of the transcontinent,
railway should be respected; but, h
I added let them understand that tn
will Of the people must be carrie
out, whether by appropriation or an
! other fair means There must be n
n reputation. The Grand Trunk mu.
: be put to no loss, but at the sam
time the country must not be n