The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-14
COMPANY TO RULE
CANADA'S RAILWAYS
Holding Concern to Admins
ter National Lines Sane
toned by Commons.
10000 MILES OF SYSTEM
Dominion Also Plans to Build
Stable State Owned Mer-
camille Fleet.
Special Despatch to TIE Sun.

OTTAWA, May lathe most notable
Canadian event of the past week was
the final passage through the House of
Commons Of the Governments bill Great
ing holding company to administer the
great new system OF national railways.
With the sanctioning OF this legisla-
ton the Dominion has been definitely
committed, for veal or for woe, to the
policy of Government ownership. The
new company, although appointed by
and In a measure responsible to Par
Lament, Is to be absolutely free from
political interference or control. and has
in all matters OF policy and expenditure
the widest possible powers.
1t will have control OF the largest
State owned railway system in the world,
system including the Canadian North
ern Railway, running from Prince Ru-
pert on the Pacific coast to Montreal;
the National Transcontinental, from
Winnipeg in the West to Moncton, N B.,
in the East. and the Intercolonial which.
with its branch lines covers the entire
Maritime Provinces. the whole en-
bracing more than 10000 miles. In ad-
dition to this vast experiment in State
Grating the Grand Trunk Pacific, the
western half Of the National Transconti-
mental, under a receivershp, and Is
carrying on negotiations with the Lon
don directors of the Grand Trunk Rail-
way Company, by which II Is expected
that at an early date the complete Grand
Trunk system. including 1000 miles in
the United States, shall become the prop
erty OF the Canadian people and be
n NlNaN
National Merchant Marine.
As an auxiliary TO this national rail-
way system the Dominion purposes build
Ing up a Canadian mercantile feet At
the last session of Parliament the House
OF Commons voted sec. 900, 900 to en-
bark upon policy of Government ship
construction. and Thursday last there
was further vote OF 10000. 900 to
carry on the programme. c. c. Ballan-
tyne, Minister OF Marine. who has been
splendid success in his department.
announced. In connection with the vote,
that In addition to a number OF fine
cargo ships launched during the past
year, there are at present forty-flve steel
ships under construction. Their net ton
mage. he said. would total 264.O5o. their
value was s52.69l. 450. more than 10000
men were engaged In building them and
twenty-five vessels would be completed
within the next twelve months Thus. II
Is expected that by the end OF 1920 Can
ada will have State owned mercantile
marine of million tons, working as an
ocean transportation extension of her
national railways and carrying her rap
idly advancing export trade to the mar
kets of Europe and the world.
That this export trade will be greatly
needed II the Dominion expects to rid
iteeh OF a great burden OF war debt was
| made grimly plain by figures respecting
war costs tabled in the Commons BY
the acting Premier. Sir Thomas White.
In asking Parliament for a new appro-
priation Of s35o.000,000 to wind up the
work OF the war. to demoblize the
| army. advance reconstruction projects
and provide credits for Belgium, France
and Rumania, Sir Thomas gave figures
which showed that by the time the Ca
| madam army has melted into civil life
| and all the books are balanced the cost
| or the war to the Dominion will be little
short of two billions.
| At present the national debt stands al
81 100000, an increase Of more than
$1,000 100000 since 1914, and which. or
the basis OF population. is as great a
burden as a debt OF eighteen or twenty
billions would he for the people of the
l
the light Of the resources and populat tor
OF the people OF Canada, may be seer
from the fact that in the past fiscal year
total Canadian revenue. although forti
led by extra normal war taxation, barely
exceeded S300. 900, 900. In the comins
year, taking into account projected ex.
penditure altogether apart from wa,
| costs. there Is expected to be a deficit
of something like 500, 900. 900, and III,
Minister OF Finance announces that Z
new domestic loan will have to be is
sued next September.
New Immigration Law.
One lesson taught Canadians by tn,
war has been profited by and passe,
into law. The lesson was that in tn,
matter of immigration. quality Is NOR,
desirable than quantity, and this weel
| Parliament sanctioned n new immigra
ton act designed to bar undesirables
The new law provides for a literacy ties
THE clause was patterned after tina
in force in the United States-and al
anarchists, Bolshevists. conspirators
mental and physical weakllngs and ques
itionable characters are excluded
A vigorous campaign will be carried
on to secure immigration from thu
United States and the British Isles, but
unlike past years. no special efforts will
be made to bring settlers from Contra
or southeastern Europe. As much a
possible the Dominion population will b.
kept Anglo-Saxon-Celtic in aspiration
and ideals.
Significant OF the growing bonds o
intimacy between the Dominion and tn
United States Is the announcement il
Parliament made by Mr.. Rowell, presi
dent of the council, this week that Can
ada Ia TO be permanently represented a
Washington. Up to the second year o
the war all Canadian business of a poll
tical and diplomatic character wa
transacted by and through the Brits
Embassy (the joint International com
mission was an exception), but the enor
nous growth of relationship brough
about by the war made the establish
ment OF Canadian war mission, work
ing independently of. but in cooperation
with the British Ambassador, almos
imperative.
1t is now the intention OF the Domin
ion Government to continue this ar
rangement. The matter, according I
Mr.. Rowell, is the subject of CORE
spondenee between the Canadian an
British Governments, and II is though
, likely that when a permanent represen
. tative Is appointed he shall possess some
what wider diplomatic powers than wa
lconferred upon the head of the eXistin
; mission.
Cabinet designations Likely.
The political uncertainty attendan
J upon the coming budget, with It's prom
Use OF big parliamentary fiscal battl
and possible designations from the Unto
| Minia fr