The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-07
TERRITORIES WILL. SOON BECOME
PROVINCES.
Probability that Saskatchewan, Assini-
boia and Alberta Will Be Merged Into
Two Provinces With Capitals at Cal
gary and Regina - Later Will Come
a Railroad to Hudson's Bay.
Special to The Journal.

place at an early date, IS one which
will be of great political significance .
By the beginning of the next year, dele
gates from Regina will go to Ottawa
to discuss the terms on which the three
territories of Alberta, Assiniboia and
Saskatchewan, which only a generation
ago were the private property of that
most ancient corporation, the Hudson
Bay company, are to become free and
autonomous Provinces
We say autonomous on this side
Of the line and not sovereign and
therein lies the whole difference be-
tween the American and the Canadian
system of federation. In the be-
ginning the state declared whether it
would join the American union or not.
Even now the people of a new state
tain all powers which are not specially
delegated. In Canada the new province
is created by the federal power and
receives it's constitution from it's hands,
subject to the approval of the sover
eign crown Of great Britain. Conse-
quently there can be no talk of the
right to secede on the part Of the prov
with matters placed within its jurisdic-
tion by the federal act. In short, in
the scheme of Canadian legislation,
the crown, not the people, Is still con-
sidered the source Of authority.
Not Much Practical Difference.
In practice, however, the average man
seldom feels the difference. The Ca
madam parliament has heretofore been
most generous in it's treatment of the
territories. Manitoba became prov
ince when it's population scarcely en-
titled it to the privilege Of homo rule
and it's right to govern itself in all
matters of local concern have been up
held by the rest of the Dominion in
The present territories, which are
soon to become provinces also, furnish
an excellent example of the pliability Of
Canadian institutions and Of the fair
temper Of the Canadian rulers. AS
early as 1883 these territories were
given a measure of homo rule and since
1897 they have enjoyed government
by a legislature chosen by the people
and cabinet responsible to the repre-
sentatives in the same manner as the
British cabinet is responsible to the
commons. Instead of being repre-
sented by delegates in the federal capi-
I tal the territories now have ten repre-
sentatives in the house of commons
and two senator's, number of seats
= have entitled them to at the time the
act was passed. All British subjects
have the right to vote and, in munich
pal matters, all rate-payers have the
I right of suffrage irrespective Of ma
! tionality. AS the territorial legisla-
ture does not levy any tax on property,
the only direct taxation being for mu-
o nicipal purposes, 1t can truly be said
+ that there is no taxation without rep.
!. resentation in the Canadian northwest
Il The only rights which the territorial
~ legislature does not possess are those
I to borrow money on its own responsible
~ ~ ity and to, dispose Of the public lands
= AS the federal government attends tc
= = those services in very satisfactory
q manner it is not surprising to find that
e in some localities conventions are act
"a ually passing resolutions to the. effect
70 that the territories are not yet ripe fo1
e; provincial autonomy. It would be :
ID poor politician in an American terri
1T tory who would run counter to an agita
IF tion for admission to statehood. Bu
in the recent elections, Premier Houl
tain, of the Canadian territories, tried t.
ice they were opposed to provincial auton
IN. IN, omy for the territories, but signal,
les Ss failed.
me Punishment for Houltain.
However, the Ottawa government ha
decided to take up the question Of th
ed: reorganization of the northwest govern
&c. &c, ments. It has not, however, forgotte
|
&c, &c, it has resolved to punish that politician
by redividing the territories over whic
. he has held sway for many years. Wit
the power to borrow on the credit 0
the province and to dispose Of the pull
much more formidable opponent tha
he the leader Of a territorial Legislature
on and the Laurier cabinet does not pr
ler pose to place those powers in the han6
of declared enemy without condition
Ill II
he daries Manitoba will seek to acquii,
to cial government is hostile to the FEEDER;
led administration, which will undoubt tedl
M hurt it's prospects of agrandizement.
!gh Nevertheless it is probable that pu1
chs the Manitoba boundaries as far north .
the tifty-ffth degree Of latitude, whi
ar, Saskatchewan, Assiniboia and Albert
ap9 will be merged in two provinces, divi
ed from north to south by meridis
di- running not far east or west Of Battl
ford.
VS. Calgary would undoubtedly in tn
case become the capital Of the weste
province, while Regina would rema
you ince of the prairies. Each provin
would have about 100000 square mil
AXE Of territory and resources which are
! eI guarantee of large population in t
t1f- near future. q" H. Z
)us- .
let's auoson bay Route. -
her With tha financial indenendan
ers, which provincial stains will Owe The
had the new nrovinces are snre to lannch !
J.. mediately into large public underta
C ings the very first Of which will be
construction Of railway line to Pr
len Nelson, on Hudson Bay. ..
Whenever boats are devised to ma
cred enable the wheatprower of the Ca1
too dian northwest to Law his Grain on
)ys- Liverpool market several cents cheaI
TO than any competitor on this continent
that N1W oo1aOoh IOn nootaE O1sA
han | g.