El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-16
Canadian Reciprocity Is
Strictly an American Move
Canadian Statesmen Broadmnded It's Politics Resembles
Engands in Every Way.

requires a two-thirds vote of the SEN
ate, and is considered by that body
in secret session, the house of repre-
Sentatiyes having nothing to 90 with
the matter. President Taft thought it
possible to secure a majority Of the
senate, and OF the house, but he knew
that there was no hope whatever OF
getting two-thirds of the senate.
Under the cabinet system of govern
ment borrowed from England, which
prevails IN Canada, the premier and
the other IA members of the cabinet
are called abe government" They all
are members Of the house of commons,
the lower chamber Of parliament, and
they are at all times subject to the
Will Of the majority of the commons
If the ministry is defeated on any vote
it must resign at once or bring about
a dissolution Of that parliament and
a general election, in which the point
at issue is carried before the voters.
The whole Canadian system is a min
iature model Of the British as far as
the forms of government are concerned,
although in its federal aspects Canada
has borrowed from the United States.
At the head of the Canadian govern
ment is the governor general. He is
an appointee Of the king of England,
and he represents the imperial crown
of Britain in Canada. His relation to
the actual processes Of government in
Canada is almost exactly that of the
king to the English government
Every legislative action is formally
taken in the name of the governor
general. although he really is subject
always to the advice of his ministers
He serves n useful purpose as the in
carnatton of the permanent spirit Of
the nation. as an impartial officer su-
perior TO all party considerations and
as sentimental reminder and an ac-
tual ambassador from the mother coun-
try.
Actual Power In Commons.
In fact, however, practically all ac-
tual power in Canada is vested in the
house of commons, and is exercised by
the cabinet representing a majority OF
the house This house now is com
posed of POI members. The British
North America act provides that Que
bee always must have IS members of
the lower house Other provinces have
such a number as bear the same reIa-
ton to their total population as 65
bears to the population OF Quebec On
tario now has IS, Nova Scotia - New
Brunswick IS. Manitoba 10. British Co
lumbia Z, Prince Edward Island 4, Sas-
katchewan 10. Alberta Z and Yukon ter
ritory 1. The representation OF the
"CSICA II PAO DIOUdO1t VIII NC
greatly enlarged after next year
Canade's Upper House.
The upper house of the Canadian par
lament is called the senate, but it
bears a much closer resemblance 10
the British house of lords than it does
to the upper house of the American
congress. The Canadian senate now
consists Of 81 Senators. appointed for
life by the crown-wnIch means rhe
governor general, which means the pre-
mier in office. At the time OF the
federal union in 1857 the three great
divisions OF Canada-Quebec. Ontario
and the Maritime provinces-were each
given "a members Of the senate. This
was a modification of the American
| constitutional theory which gives each
state, regardless OF its population. ex-
actIy equal representation in the sen
ate But in Canada this theory was not
adhered to and the senate never has
assumed importance as a legisIative
factor. As other provinces were admit
ted, the size of the senate was Increased
In an irregular fashion until if nov
mas total Of 81 members Senator's
hold office for life, and are utterly ir-
responsible But as they have prac-
tfcalIy no power, except that of deIav
the senators are not important facro-s
in Canadian politics.
The governments of the separate
provinces in Canada are miniature