The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-21
Correspondence Of The journal.

Correspondence Of The Journal
Ottawa, Ont, Oct. 1S.-The one
topic Of conversation in political CIR
cles the last few days has been the IN
terprovincial conference. The provln'
cial premiers and their ministers ar
were cordially welcomed by Sir Will
frid Laurier, entertained on every
side, banqueted by the Canadian club,
in fact, nothing was left undone to
make them feel at home in the Cana
dian capital.
Many meetings were held, sometimes
of all the provincial representatives,
sometimes of groups to thrash out mat
ters of only local Importance; some
times of both provincial and federal
representatives. On the whole the con-
cerned.
Tho the provincial premiers came to
make what some Canadian newspapers
haye described as raid on the feder-
al treasury, it was recognized by the
Dominion government that there was
right on their side. Under the Brit
ish North America act (the Canadian
constitution the customs and excise
revenue was transferred from the
provinces to the Dominion, and to off
set this serious loss it was provided
nual subsidy to each Of the provinces
consisting of fixed amount supple
mented by per capita grant.
Why Provinces Deserve More.
Many causes have combined to make
this revenue and the restricted taxes
which the provinces had power to levy
insufficient to meet modern require
msnts. The cost of administering
justice, of maintaining the admirable
public school systems of the several
PROVINCES, encouraging agriculture
building roads and bridges, and many
other matters that come within the
jurisdiction Of the provinces, has in
creased out of all proportion to the
population.
On the other hand the revenue of
the Dominion has been increasing by
leaps and bounds, and while the ex
penditure has also been on the in
crease, still it is known that the fn
ances of the country are in extremely
healthy condition. Under the circum
that the provinces should expect {
larger proportionate share of revenue
collected within their own boundarie!
than they had received in the past.
What They Asked For.
So far as this matter Of subsidie
was concerned the provincial premier
practically adopted the financial reso
buttons passed by the Quebec Golfer
ence of 1902, under which the Domin
ion was asked to make the per capit
payments Of 80 cents on the basis o
population as ascertained at the las
decennial census, with an additions
20 cents head to cover the increase
cost of administering criminal justice
and a special allowance to the PROVING
of British Columbia which, because o
its geographical position, immense are
and sparse population, was felt to b
i'll an exceptional position. In tn
present conference, however, Mr.. No
Bride, premier Of British Columbia
asked for what amounted to doubl
the per capita subsidy of the othe
provinces. This the other premier
would not support, and it is certai
that the Dominion government wi
not listen to such request.
Laurier Generous.
Finally the provincial represents
tives met Sir Wilfrid Laurier and TO
mulated their demands. While Il,
clining to commit his cabinet to an
definite promises, the prime ministe
frankly accepted the principle of il
creased subsidies, and gave inform,
assurances to the premiers that the