Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-17

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Even greater than the broad constitu-
tionai powers conferred upon the Do
minion government by
TOWerS OF the British North Amer
the Ministry , ,ss. act IA, are those ann non
political usages borrowed from the moth
er country and which are as effective
IN Ottawa is in London The govern
ment of Canada, meaning the ministers
In office, is in possession of powers great
er than can possibly be found in any part
OF the American system for the Cana
dian ministry is in itself the authoritative
representative of the executive lesisla-
tive and judicial power-the three things
so absolutely and entirely separated in
the republican system prevailing in the
American union and in all the individ-
ual American states.
therefore,. when Premier Laurier or
ms subordinate ministers makes an
agreement such as the reciprocity agree
ment recently concluded with President
Ia1t there is no moral doubt that TIE
jamaican parliament will ratfy the ac-
uon OF the ministry. If it should fail
70 90 SO then Laurier and the entire
ministry would resign in a moment and
the Canadian people woul, re given the
opportunity - a general election to say
VINO was right
On the American side it is safe to
presume that President Taft will use all
ms influence to cause Congress to ratify
the agreement, but he knew when he
mace IL that he had to run the risk that
congress would overrule his best iudg-
ment. But II Congress fails to ratify
ant
think of resigning. Even if he did, his
resignation would not be followed nv an
eiection. The elections in the United
states are ordered by the calendar.
IN other words. the Dominion of Can
ada has complete responsible parliament
.arE government. in which the most re-
Gently elected legislative representatives
are entirely supreme. subject to instant
overthrow: while the United States has
q rigid and non-responsiye form ~ 70
puphcan government. in which lesisla-
i've executive and judicial departments
are porposely balanced against each 9TH
eT.- w men Is the better is not within the
province OF this article to say-that the
facts. - oi tue
premier Laurier has Infinitely greater
power in government than has President
Taft as is in
neSGIdlnIS on stanced in the mat
Premier Laurier. proc,t ~, a ,ns pen,-
but he is subject to great many posi-
Die restraints. For instance, II President
ia1t had occupied the same position as
that OF the Canadian premier he would
long ago have been in retirement He
would have been forced to resign the first
time Congress failed to approve a meas
ure .omcially submitted to IL by him. Con-
gre.s has voted down Mr.. Taft repeat
eddy. and If this government were like
that of Canada he would now be ex-
President Taft.
Therefore. while the prime minister of
Canada has more power than the .Ameri-
can President, he holds it solely at the
pleasure Of parliament. That means sim
ply that the Canadian parliament has in
nnftely greater power than the American
Congress, even aside from its constitu-
ttonal grants. for it is the supreme power,
holding the executive at it's mercy.
Presidents Of the United States frequently
defy Congress-in fact, not one of them
since Washington has been in complete
accord with Congress throughout his ad
minstration, unless it was Mckinley.
1t is a well known fact that at least
one-half of the debates in Congress are
addressed not to the merits of the prob
lem involved. but the the question of
whether Congress has or has not the
power to proceed to it's solution. In the
parliament at Ottawa such questions are
extremely rare
Canada. then. is governed by parlia-
ment. which in turn is represented by all
executive ministry-the ministry and the
parliament exercising much wider powers
than the President and Congress Of the
United States. Only the federal supreme
court in Canada Is weaker than it's corre
SDondinH institution in the United States.
But, OF course over all the Canadian sys-
tenn is superimposed the majesty and the
ultimate sovereignty OF the British en-
pire. Every act Of the Canadian govern
ment is taken In the name of George v.
TOmorrOw-POLITICS IN CANADA.
Iy.-Relations With England.