Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-15

gotiatfons have taken a keen
interest In the legislative end OF the
American government.
There is a vast difference between the
operation Of the Canadian parliament,
modelled as it is upon the English sys-
tenn, and the American Congress, where
the two houses have equal power and
stand Independent Of the other branches
of the government
The leading Canadian cabinet members
who have been in Washington during the
week are an integral part of the Cana
dian parliament. The cabinet is the gov
ernment," and it is not only the execu-
tive end of the government, but it is the
dominating and controlling part Of the
house of commons, the only branch OF
the Canadian parliament that counts for
anything.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the prime minister,
walks into the house of commons with
his cabinet, and proceeds to carry OFT
on the floor of the house the policies that
the cabinet has mapped out in It's SEES
SonS in the cabinet room. There is an
opposition party, but there is no opposi-
ton and no insurgency within the ranks
of the prime minister's own party.
Should such insurgency develop the re-
suits would be far different from those
that characterize revolution in the
House of Representatives in Washington.
The moment that the prime minister can
not command a majority of the votes OF
the house for a vote OF confidence the
parliament is at once dissolved. With its
dissolution go the terms of the members
who have been elected to the house OF
commons. They are forced to go back ID
their constituencies, or 'ridings, as they
are called, even though they have been
recently elected, and submit to another
popular vote to determine whether the
people want change of party and
new ministry.
The government is actually centered in
the house of commons The Canadian
people have, to all intents and purposes,
complete autonomy and independence of
action so far as the mother country,
Great Britain, is concerned. The party
that wins the Canadian election sees to
it that it's leader is called by the gov
ernor general to take the post of prime
minister.
From that time the governor general
steps back and the prime minister pro-
ceeds. to run the government. He Sc
lects his own cabinet, and as the men,
bers are designated for the respective
posts they automatically come up again
before the voters or their districts Tor
confirmation.
When the ministry is formed it be-
comes the government of Canada TO the
fullest extent. 1t is pleasant fiction OF
the Canadian system to say that thus
thing or that is authorized by the gov
ernor-in-council" The council, meaning
the prime minister and his cabinet, Is
always there, but the governor general
is not.
M.
1t upon himself to try and sit into a
meeting of his council he was politely
shown the door by the then prime min
lister. Sir John Mcdonald.
@The house of commons acts upon the
plans laid down by the prime minister
and the cabinet. The amount OF bust
ness coming before it is so limited and
in accord with the policies mapped Out-by
the government" that there is actually
little independence of action at any
time in the house.
The senate, an actual fifth wheel of
the government has no power at all. so
fay as Canadian presidents show. 1t
does not interfere with nor attempt to
pass upon the action Of the house, and
1t would be the most unusual OF oc-
casions that would bring any attempt
at interference from the governor gen.
eral or the King of England.
*
The system amounts. therefore, to a
virtual making OF legislation behind the
doors of the cabinet room. There is no
message telling what legislation ought to
be passed, and then a rush on the part
Of ambitious congressman to have the
honor Of introducing the bills to carry
out the suggestions.