Hamilton (Inkerman), Vidal.

BILL INTRODUCED.

Bill (C)" An Act to amend Chapter 15, 39 Vict., 1876, intituled 'An Act to make provision for the crossing of navigable waters by railway and other road companies incorporated under provincial Acts."(Sir Alex. Campbell.)

DEATH OF SENATOR CHRISTIE.

MOTION.

The SPEAKER informed the House hat he had received a telegram announcing the death of the Hon. Mr. Christie to-day.

Hon. Mr. SCOTT-I am sure we all feel deeply grieved at the melancholy intelligence that His Honor the Speaker has conveyed to the members of this House. The late gentleman filled important positions in this country, having been, I believe, first elected to the old Parliament of Canada in 1851, and consecutively since that period occapied a position in one or othee

.

Hon. Mr. SCOTT accepted the sug

The motion was amended accordingly, and agreed to.

The Senate adjourned at 3.50 p.m.

THE SENATE,

Thursday, December 16th, 1880. The Speaker took the chair at 3.30 o'clock.

Branch of the Legislature. The
deceased gentleman also held the gestion.
position of Privy Councillor, having
been sworn in in 1874. He was my
predecessor in the office of Secretary of
State, and subsequently occupied the po-
sition which you now fill. We all re-
member that, although loyal to his party;
although having strong feelings of alle-
giance to those with whom he was in
sympathy, politically, during his incum-
bency of that chair, his decisions were
received in this House as coming from one
who pronounced them judicially.
think I express the opinion of every gen-
tleman here, that he did all in his power,
with the clear judgment that Providence
had blessed him, to act honorably, fairly
and with integrity while he occupied the
position of Speaker of this House.
had filled other positions, perhaps of not
equal importance, yet scarcely second to
those, having been devoted to the eleva-
tion of the Province of Ontario in the

I

He

science of agriculture. Eminently successful in that pursuit, he engrafted his own views on men who are now leading tillers of the soil in Ontario. I think he was the first President of the Agricultuaal Association and Board of Arts, and, from its inception down to his latest breath, his heart was in the development of that important branch of industry in Ontario. I am aware that it is the rule in this Chamber that, when a departure takes place among the members of the Senate, it is not customary, of late years, for an adjournment to be moved. However, considering the exceptional position which the deceased gentleman occupiedthat of having filled the chair in this body-I think the rule might, with all propriety, on the present occasion, be departed from, and I am quite sure that this Chamber will mark its feeling of regret at the loss it has sustained by adjourning out of respect for his memory. With these brief observations, I move that this House do adjourn out of respect to the memory of the late Hon. David Christie.

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL, in a few words full of sympathy, seconded the motion and suggested that as Mr. Christie had been the Speaker of the Senate, two members of the Honse should attend the funeral on behalf of the Senate.

Prayers and routine proceedings.

DEATH OF SENATOR CHRISTIE..
The SPEAKER notified the House

that he had named the Hon. Messrs.
Scott and Hope, as representatives of the
Senate to attend the funeral of the late
Hon. David Christic.

TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.

INQUIRY.

inquired

Hon. Mr. BELLEROSE
whether, in view of the decision given
by the Supreme Court, as to the uncon-
stitutionality of the laws passed by the
Local Legislatures prohibiting the sale
of intoxicating liquors, it is the intention
of the Government to bring in a measure
on the subject?

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL-It'
is not the intention of the Government
to bring in a measure upon this subject.
The hon. gentleman supposes that the
appeal has been decided, but I am in-
formed that it has not, but that it is to
be taken to England.

THE SENATE DEBATES.

in

THE STANDING COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
Hon. Sir
ALEX. CAMPBELL
moved that the Hon. Messieurs
Boyd, Brouse, DeBoucherville, Mac-
farlane, Scott, Thibaudean and Vidal
be appointed a committee to
quire into the best means to be adopted
to obtain correct reports of the debates
and proceedings of the Senate, and for
the publication of the same, and to
report from time to time their
views to the House. He said
that he had given notice of
the re-appointment of the old committee,
but was informed on the part of some of
the members that they would rather
have a new committee struck, in order

that two or three members had asked notto be appointed to that committee, and that he would ask the House, therefore, to withdraw the motion, he (Mr. Bellerose,) translating that statement into French, could give but one interpretation to the words of the leader of the House, that another notice of motion would be given with the names of those who did not wish to serve, struck out, and replaced by the names of others. But it seemed, from the observations made by the hon. Senator opposite (Mr. Miller) that he himself had suggested another course.

to get rid of and forget the troubles of last year; and he thought, himself, that this was the better course to take. Since then it had been suggested that as Mr. Thibaudeau was not often present, the name of another French Canadian member should be added to the commit tee. Hon. Mr. Chapais' name had been suggested. He (Sir Alex. Campbell) would be very glad to have that gentle man on the committee. Since then the hon. member from DeLanaudiere, who had been on the committee before, had expressed a desire to serve upon it again; and, as far as he (Sir Alex. Campbell) was concerned, he had no objection to add his name too. Hon. Mr. Hope had also been mentioned; so he proposed to add the names of the Hon. Messrs. Belle-gestion of the hon. Postmaster-General. rose, Chapais and Hope. He (Mr. Miller) did not wish to serve himself.

Hon. Mr. CHAPAIS-I should prefer not to serve on the comunittes. Take Mr. Bellerose.

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL moved that Hon. Messrs. Bellerose and Hope be added to the committee.

Hon. Mr. MILLER said if a new committee was to be appointed, he did not see why the hon. Senator from De Lanaudiere should depart from the understanding which the House had arrived at a day or two ago. He did not see why any particular individual of the old committee was to be appointed on the new one. He (Mr. Miller) thought, himself, it would be a good idea to substitute a new committee for the old one. But the suggestion should be carried out in its entirety.

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL said his impression had been that there should be an entirely new committee, but as the

hon. Senator from De Lanaudiere wished

to have his name added to it, he had stated that he had no objection. The object of appointing a new committee was, that the troubles of last session and

Hon. Mr. MILLER denied that he

had said anything of the kind. He had stated that he agreed with the sug

Hon. Mr. BELLEROSE said the hon. gentleman had stated that the Postmaster-General ought to stick to what had been decided upon.

Hon. Mr. MILLER" Suggested," I said.

Hon. Mr. BELLEROSE contended that if the hon. Senator from Richmont (Mr. Miller) did not wish to serve on the Committee he should withdraw, bu the whole Committee should not by wiped out because one or two of its members wished for a change. He (Mr. Bellerose) did not consider it proper that his name should be struck out merely to please the hon. gentleman (Mr. Miller), who was himself always ready to take offence at any slight which was offered to him. The Committee had

worked harmoniously last session, the the hon. gentleman himself had raised only exception being the conflict which because he (Mr. Miller) had some feelwith the reporters. Was it proper that ing against the reporters, the Committee was to be discharged and new members who would suit the hon. gen

the previous one might be altogether tleman's taste appointed? If there was forgotten.

Hon. Mr.

old

one committee with which the GovernBELLEROSE consider- ment ought not to meddle it was ed it but natural that the this. It should be left in the hands of committee should be re-appointed, the House. The money which was paid as had been done in the case for the reporting service was taken out of all the other committees. But of the contingencies of the Senate, and when the hon. Postmaster-General rose excepting the general supervision which in his place the other day, and said the Government must have over all ex

penditures of the public money, they should not interfere with this matter. The House had, by a unanimous vote, expressed itself favorable to the committee, and there was nothing therefore, to justify the Government in adopting the course which they were now following. The proof that it was not the House that demanded this change was, that the Hon. Postmaster-General had of his own motion given notice to reappoint the old committee, and it had evidently been withdrawn at the request of somebody.

ability and faithfulness of the reporters. But the system was not what it should be, and ought to be changed. Sugges tions to that effect had been made last session, not only by himself, but by the leader of the Government. The hon. Senator from Londonderry, and other members of the Senate who frequently took part in its debates, and whose opinions were entitled to respect, had suggested that some change should be made in the system of reporting, and that a plan should be adopted similar to that which was now working so successfully in the House of Commons. The day after the debate on the Address in that body took place a full report of in the hands of members,

Hon. Mr. MILLER said that nothing which had fallen from him justified the remarks of the hon. Senator from DeLanaudiere. There certainly was nothing it was to justify his misrepresentation of facts and the press on both sides of politics. which ought to be within his know- complimented the House of Commons ledge. The hon. gentleman had stated on the great improvement they had that this new departure had been made introduced into their system of reportat his (Mr. Miller's) instigation. How ing. He thonght it would be well if a dare he make such an assertion without new committee, free from any partiality a tittle of evidence to support it! When for the old system and from the unhe did so he only placed his statements fortunate personal unpleasantness of generally in a position not to entitle last year, should be appointed, who them to a great deal of credence by those would be ready to adopt any improvewho heard them. The hon. gentleman ment which the experience of the other thought proper to say that there had House might show to be desirable. It been no trouble in the committee last was useless for the hon. Senator from vear, except what he (Mr. Miller) made. DeLanaudiere to say that he (Mr. Miller) Whether the hon. gentleman agreed was the only one dissatisfied last session. with him or not, he was not going, by a Others had been dissatisfied, and the lond voice, to prevent him (Mr, Miller) hon. gentleman might some day find from stating his objections or vindicating that it would be just as unpleasant for his rights upon the floor of this House. him if others assumed a position such as With all the aggressiveness and inclina- he was adopting to-day, and by which tion to be disagreeable which the hon. any member might be placed at a disgentleman had on former occasions advantage in reference to any public shown towards him and others, he would question. The principle having been meet him (Mr. Bellerose) on this or any laid down that a new committee was to other ground which he might take in be struck, there was nothing offensive in the Senate, in any spirit he thought making the change, and it was not proper to evince. It was it fact usual for a member to force himself that there had been a great deal of un- upon a committee where a course like pleasant feeling in the committee last this was deemed necessary from any year, and that he (Mr. Miller), for cause. The suggestion of the hon. reasons which he would not now state, Postmaster-General was a good and was obliged to bring any grievances in salutary one and likely to prove beneconnection with the reporting which he ficial to the House and to the reporting had to complain of before the Senate, service, and not before the committee. The hon. gentleman stated that the House was Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPBELL was satisfied with the method of reporting very sorry that there should be any unlast year; that statement was not cor-friendly feeling about this matter.

rect.

It

He (Mr. Miller) desired to say was only a domestic arrangement for the nothing on this occasion against the purpose of having their debates reported,

Hon. Mr. BOTSFORD, as a member of the former committee, did not feel that this was a reflection upon them. Under the circumstances be approved of the ap pointment of a new committee, as he thought it was perhaps the best way to get over the difficulty.

and surely it could be disposed of with- | Government would not cast a reflection out unpleasantness. The reason of the on the members of the old committee as change was that there had been some not having done their duty. npleasantness on the committee, and some gentlemen did not desire to serve on it again. Then it occurred to him that it would be better to change it altogether-take a fresh departure, and let bygones be bygones; that a new committee would have an opportunity of ascertaining without being influenced by prejudices and past differences what was the best course to be pursued with regard to the reporting, because there ould be no comfort to the House in perpetual wrangle over those small matters. He thought from the position taken by his hon. friend from De Lanaudiere (Mr. Bellerose) the better plan would be to adhere strictly to the form of procedure, and move the resolution just as it was, allowing the hon. gentleman to have some further motion made hereafter upon the subject, if he so desired.

Hon. Mr. HAYTHORNE said that he had been placed on the committee two years ago when the change took place. Though having no acquaintance with the subject, he had assumed the duty of serving upon the committee, and he had endeavored to discharge his duty in an efficient manner. He had heard no complaint in that committee that the reporting of this House was inefficiently, inadequately or improperly performed. On the contrary, he thought there was a general feeling of satisfaction at the in which it was dane. There might have been one two who expressed dissent; but on both sides of the House there was a general feeling that the reporting was promptly, efficiently and accurately performed. That being so it seemed strange that a committee who had discharged their duty so efficiently should be summarily dismissed.

Hon. Mr. CHAPAIS declined to manner serve on the committee.

Hon. Mr. BELLEROSE said that he had no intention of provoking the hon. gentleman from Richmond, as he knew it was a serious matter, and he did not wish to have him repeat the scenes of last year in this House. However, if there had been difficulties on the committee, they were of a trifling character, and the only serious trouble was that which had occurred once in this Chamber. The House could judge of it because every hon. member was present when the attack was made by the hon. Senator from Richmond upon the reporters. As to the question before the House, he did not intend to oppose the znotion of the hon. Postinaster-General.

or

Hon. Sir ALEX. CAMPEELL--Not at all.

Hon. Mr. HAYTHORNE considered that the committee who had charge of the debates had one of the most important duties that had to be performed in the Senate, for in their hands were the liberties of this House. Unless these debates were accurately reported and promptly published they might as well close their doors. To what purpose should he or any other hon. member rise in his place and bring some abuse or some malpractice which

Hon. Mr. MACDONALD said, as a member who had served two years on the Debates Committee, he had on all occasions endeavored to carry out the views of the House rather than his own, and he thought it was very unfair to cast a re-prevailed in his own province to the flection on that committee. The names of the old committee had been entirely omitted from the new one because one or two members were supposed to differ iu opinion from the others. In all committees there were difficulties, and it was well, perhaps, that there should be differences of opinion, but he hoped that the

notice of the House, supposing it were in the power of any reporter or any committee to alter, amend or abbreviate that hon. gentleman's speech? The special point which had given so much satisfaction on both sides of this House with reference to the reporting had been the accuracy with which the speeches