dian Cable Company (limited)."

He

- and the House will recollect

son why he should not, and if he should said: The promoters of this Bill desire have the satisfaction to see an organizato be incorporated under the name of the tion under this Act of incorporation, we European, American and Canadian Cable will very likely have the same result Company, with a view to laying two with regard to that company that we The names have seen with regard to others; we will indepencables across the Atlantic. see this independent company only of the Canadian promoters are mentioned in this Bill. There are a number dent until it is organized and until it For my own of influential gentlemen on the other side suits it to sacrifice the public interest of the Atlantic associated with those swallowed up in its turn. whose names appear, but I thought it not part, I was unsophisticated enough to desirable to introduco them until I had believe, some years ago, when the Marine further correspondence on the subject, Electric Telegraph Bill was before the They will, however, be introduced at a Senate later stage. I may say that the company that a very protracted discussion took has already been formed in England, and place upon that important measure I hold in my hand the ordinary articles that we were really about passing a law of association issued with the view of in- which would have the effect of destroycorporating organizations of that nature. ing monopoly in cable communication The capital is laid down at $1,500,000, between the old and the new world. and can be increased from time to time. We had the most positive assurance from I am right in saying that there is a tho- gentlemen who were considered to be rough earnestness on the part of the pro- more than ordinarily interested in the moters of this Bill to lay two cables in a passage.of that legislation (I mean the short period of time. The measure is one promoters of the Direct Cable Company), which, I am sure, the House will assist that one of their chief objects was the in passing, inasmuch as it is desirable to patriotic and philanthropic one of deobtain an independent cable across the stroying monopoly with regard to ocean Atlantic. We made an effort in this di- telegraphy, and in promoting civilization rection a few years ago, after some dis- and the great ends of commerce, and But no sooner cussion in this Chamber, but it failed. It other laudable objects in the relations of seems to be the fate of companies of that the two hemispheres. kind that the larger swallow up the smak did those gentlemen get the legislation ler. If the reports in the newspapers be they wanted; no sooner was that comtrue, the larger companies on this conti-pany incorporated than attempts were nent have recently swallowed up all the made at amalgamation one way or another - by joint purse or otherwise which smaller ones, and, I believe, the cables that are now laid between this country ultimately were successful, and we find and Europe. I therefore think it is that those conflicting interests have all highly desirable, if possible, to get a disappeared, and those philanthropic peocompany that will, for some time, at all ple have united in one monopoly larger do not inevents, preserve an independent vitality. than before existed against the rights It seems to be extremely difficult to do and interests of the public. so; however, the competition will last tend to oppose my hon. friend's Bill at any of its stages, but it is useless to atfor some time, at any rate. tempt to force a measure of this kind by arguments of the nature he has used by supposing it is going to do anything to break down monopoly, because I believe if his company ever gets into operation in a short time it will be found to be only another small tributary to the great monopoly which now unfortunately prevails in Atlantic telegraphy.

I do not inHon. Mr. MILLER tend to detain the House with any lengthened remarks, neither do I intend to oppose the second reading of the Bill; but I wish to say a word in reference to one remark which fell from my hon. friend, that it is very desirable, in view of the present position of ocean telegraphy, we Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL should have an independent company. I am afraid, if my hon. friend is fortu. Does this Bill contain a clause abrogatnate enough to get his Bill through ing the charter unless the cable is laid. Parliament, and perhaps there is no rea-within a certain time ?.

It

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL seems to me to be a question for this House and both Houses of Parliament whether, in this and other Bills involving large enterprises, we should not go a step further for the purpose of requiring evidence of good faith than even the clause limiting the period within which the charter should be valid - whether we should not exact, before the Bill goes into force, evidence of some capital being subscribed and some list of shareholders that will secure public confidence, and some actual subscription in bank. The multiplicity of those bills I do not speak of cable bills particularly, because there are not many

port of that Bill, insisted that he would not have it he would not allow that protection to the public, and it may be a question for the House whether we should not have some such protection in this measure.

The Bill was read the second time.

NATURALIZATION AND ALIENS BILL.

SECOND READING POSTPONED.

The Order of the day having been called for the second reading of Bill (G) "An Act respecting Naturalization and Aliens,"

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL said: The Bill is not yet printed, and I may mention, in extenuation of the fact, that despatches have been received upon the subject within the past few days rather bills for the con-altering the features of the measure as it would be presented to the House, and rendering some changes necessary. therefore move that the Order of the day be discharged, and the Bill be read the second time this day week.

struction of railways and those akin to them, which have been put on our statute book, and which have passed away and nothing has been done with them, is an evil which can only be remedied in the way I speak of. I do not say that this is a Bill which is being passed for the purpose of being transferred to anyone else, but there are so many bills of that character that I think the suggestion I make is one which will have to be, sooner or later, adopted by Parliament, and it will be found necessary to require that there shall be a certain number of shareholders and a certain amount of capital paid in before the Bill can go into effect.

-

I

The motion was agreed to, and the order was discharged.

PATENT LAW AMENDMENT BILL.

IN COMMITTEE.

The House went into Committee on

Bill (E) "An Act still further to amend the Patent Act of 1872."

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL said when the Committee rose before, objecHon. Mr. DICKEY In confirma- tions had been taken by the leader of the tion of what has fallen from the hon. Opposition and the hon. Senators from Postmaster General, I may remind the Amherst and Richmond to the first and House that there are several cable bills principal clause of the Bill. It was on the statute book of the country at this stated that it would be a dangerous thing moment, and several have been extended to renew the various patents which were from time to time. What use has been mentioned in the schedule, without made of them, and how they have been inquiry and without more knowledge allowed to fall into oblivion, I cannot than the House then had. A list was understand. In reference to this matter brought down and laid upon the table, I cannot help making this general obser- giving the House all the information vation: I think it is a great misfortune which could be procured, as to the perthe House had not accepted a proposition sons who held those patents, the matter which was made by the minority when of each patent and as to the time when the Marine Electric Telegraph Bill was it expired; but notwithstanding that up for discussion, that the maximum information, it seemed to those hon. price of telegraphing should be fixed. We gentlemen not to be very wise to legiswere voted down on that question. My late in the direction which the first hon. friend (Mr. Scott) who led the sup-clause, as originally framed, would have

men

clause, which protects persons who are
using the patents during the time they
are not in force, would be made clear by
striking out the last four words. There
was a class of cases which were
tioned by the leader of the Opposition,
which this amendment did not touch,
and he did not know how to get at them.
That was where application had been
made to renew patents, but the applioa-
tions had been sent to an agent in
Ottawa, and that agent, knowing the
usages of the Patent Office, had not pre-
sented them to the Commissioner, there-

He was afraid to open the door for that class of cases, because it would be almost impossible to say whether the applications had come to Ottawa or not, and by what means it could be made certain that they had been here. On the whole, he would rather not extend it to that class of cases, trusting that the leader of the Opposition would see that it was not very important; or if he thought it was important, that he would assist in framing language to meet the difficulty.

asked the House to have done. The hon. leader of the Opposition suggested that perhaps it would be a better plan to confer power on the Commissioner of Patents the Minister of Agriculture, to renew where he found that there was good ground for it, after such inquiry as he might see fit, subject to certain limitations which might be set forth in the Bill. Adopting that suggestion, he (Sir Alex. Campbell) had framed a clause which he would ask the Committee to substitute instead of clause one. He proposed to give the Minister of Agriculture power to renew any patents where the applica-fore no application had really been made. tion had been made to renew it within ten days from the date of the expiring of the patent. The hon. gentleman from Amherst had pointed out that in the list laid on the table of the House there were many patents that had expired several months before application had been made to renew them, and that, therefore, there was no just cause to ask Parliament for a remedy. He (Sir Alex. Campbell) proposed to amend the clause by providing that the application must have been made within ten days from the expiring of the patent. On looking over the list it would be found that there were only four or five of the renewals applied for that would not come within that term. He believed, with the hon. gentleman from Amherst, that a definite time should be fixed within which the application should be made, so that this thing should not be going on for ever, and he proposed that the Bill should provide that, between now and the 31st of October, any of those persons whose patents had expired, and who had made application to renew with in ten days after they had expired, could come in and ask to have them renewed. Then, in the future, by the alteration suggested in the second paragraph, application must absolutely be made before the expiration of the first patent. It seemed that there had been a misunderstanding as to the time the application should be made under the old Act.

Hon. Mr. SCOTT - Is it made perfectly clear now that the application can be made at any time during the currency of the patent?

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL said that under the change in the Act no misunderstanding could occur. The 3rd

Hon. Mr. DICKEY desired to ex

press his satisfaction at the course that had been taken by his hon. friend who had charge of this Bill. Very strong objections had been taken by himself and other gentlemen to the measure as it was introduced, and he was glad to see that the leader of the Government had yielded, as he usually did, to the general sense of the House. He (Mr. Dickey) had deprecated in very strong language the introduction of personal legislation that would have gone back and condoned the delays of people who had slept upon their rights for years. As to the Bill as amended he had no objections to it, and would certainly give it his cordial support.

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL moved the amendments to the clauses, which he had explained.

The amendments were agreed to without debate.

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL moved that the Committee rise and report the Bill as amended.

Hon. Mr. VIDAL asked if provision had been made for the case of an irregu

the future?

larity of this kind occurring again in | and although not embodied in the report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Private Bills, he had been instructed by that Committee to ask the House to

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL No; we have not. We think we have made the language of the Bill perfectly grant an extension of time to the 15th clear by altering the rule so as to render of this month. He therefore moved that the time for receiving petitions for it obvious that application for renewal must absolutely be made any time during private bills be extended to the 10th inst. the currency of the first patent. Hon. Mr. VIDAL not incur the risk of being detained in the day.

And they must the application Post Office for a

Hon. Mr. FERRIER, from the Committee, reported the Bill as amended.

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL moved that the amendments be concurred in. The motion was agreed to.

Hon. Mr. MILLER said before adopting the motion, some good reasou should be shown for extending the time. The House had now been in session eight weeks, and there had been plenty of time for presenting petitions for private bills. It was not desirable to get into the habit of indefinitely postponing the time for receiving these petitions. It had the effect of throwing a large amount of business into the latter part of the session, and in the Senate

Ordered that the Bill be read the third especially, where they were usually

time to-morrow.

The Senate adjourned at 5 p.m.

Prayers and routine proceedings.

BILLS INTRODUCED.

crowded with work towards the close of the session, it would not be desirable that this extension should be granted.

Hon. Mr. BOTSFORD said that the recommendation had been made by the committee for the reason that an extension had been granted in the House of would be agreed to. Commons, and he hoped the motion.

Hon. Mr. DICKEY said the House had been long enough in session to enable parties who had petitions to present to Hon. Mr. VIDAL presented the fifth send them in. The time had already report of the Committee on Standing been very liberally extended, and it apOrders and Private Bills, and in pur-peared to him that a stand should be suance of the recommendation contained made somewhere. in it, moved the suspension of the 51st rule.

The motion was agreed to.

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL said there would have been great force in the objections taken by the hon. Senator

Bill (H) "An Act to incorporate the from Richmond under ordinary circumNapierville Junction Railway, and stances. But this was an exceptional

Quarry Company." (Mr. Bureau.)
Bill (1) "An Act respecting the
Banque Ville Marie." (Mr. Trudel.)
Bill (37) "An Act respecting the
Canadian Pacific Railway."- (Sir Alex.
Campbell.)

PETITIONS FOR PRIVATE BILLS.

TIME EXTENDED.

Hon. Mr. VIDAL called attention to the fact that the time for receiving petitions for private bills expired yesterday,

session, called at an exceptional time of the year, and many persons might not have been prepared with the measures House. Under the circumstances, therewhich they desired to submit to the fore, he thought the time might be enlarged.

Hon. Mr. VIDAL explained that it was a mere accidental omission of the Clerk to include the recommendation in the report of the Committee. The object in extending the time was to work in harmony with the House of Commons,

which had extended the time for receiv-sary to a separate and distinct and com