EXCHANGE PUBLIC LIBRARY SENATORS OF CANADA ALPHABETICAL LIST 4th SESSION, 10th PARLIAMENT, 7th-8th EDWARD VII. THE DEBATES OF THE SENATE OF CANADA IN THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE TENTH PARLIAMENT OF CANADA, APPOINTED TO MEET FOR THE DESPATCH OF BUSINESS ON THURSDAY, THE TWENTY EIGHTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF Hon. Mr. Belcourt, Hon. Mr. Campbell, months was more than sufficient to meet exHon. Mr. Derbyshire. The Senate adjourned during pleasure. At Three o'clock, p.m., His Excellency the Senate Chamber and took his seat upon the Throne. penses on Consolidated Fund, National Transcontinental Railway, Capital and Special outlays, all expenses of the Dominion of every kind, and leave a balance of vore three million dollars to be applied in reduction of the public debt. The stream of immigrants coming to Canada continues to increase in volume, the year now drawing to a close showing a larger number than any preceding year, and it is gratiThe senators being assembled, His Ex-fying to observe the many coming from the cellency was pleased to command the at- British Isles. tendance of the House of Commons and. that House being present, His Excellency was pleased to open the Fourth Session of the Tenth Parliament of the Dominion of Canada with the following speech to both Houses: Honourable Gentlemen of the Senate: Gentlemen of the House of Commons: In again meeting you at a period of the year most convenient for the despatch of busi The Dominion has been blessed by a long series of prosperous years, and, though at the present moment its business is being restrictthroughout the world, I feel assured that this ed by the financial stringency which prevails unfavourable condition will be temporary and that the illimitable resources of Canada and the world-wide recognition of them give us ample guarantee of continued material progress. The conference held in London in the months of April and May last between the govern ment of the United Kingdom and the governments of the British Dominions beyond the seas satisfactorily dealt with many subjects in which the empire at large is interested. A copy of the minutes of the proceedings will be laid before you. Two of my ministers, duly authorized by His Majesty for the purpose, and acting in conjunction with His Majesty's ambassador at Paris, have recently negotiated a convention with the government of the French Republic respecting the commercial relations between France and Canada, subject, however, to the approval of the French Chambers and the Canadian Parliament. A copy of this convention will be submitted to you immediately and you will be asked to give it your sanc tion. The government of Newfoundland having become involved in a controversy with the government of the United States as to the true meaning of article 1 of the convention respecting fisheries, concluded in the year 1818 between the United Kingdom and the United States, and Canada being also interested in the question at issue, my government has joined with the government of Newfoundland in an agreement to refer all matters of difference arising under said article 1 to the Hague Tribunal. to inquire into the causes which led to the disaster. When received, the report of the commission will be laid before you. It will be necessary to devise means for the completion of the bridge within a reasonable time. It is most gratifying to find that, notwithstanding the large reductions of postal rates, which have been made, the revenue of the Post Office Department has continued to increase rapidly. The large receipts of this branch of the government business will enable the department to make still more liberal provision for the extension of postal facilities throughout the Dominion. The time has arrived when the public interest requires that telegraph and telephone companies holding federal charters should be placed under government control. A Bill will be introduced for that purpose. Gentlemen of the House of Commons: The public accounts for the nine months ending March 31 last will be laid before you without delay. The estimates for the coming fiscal year will be submitted for your approval at an early date. Honourable Gentlemen of the Senate: Gentlemen of the House of Commons: Among the measures to be submitted to you is a Bill for the extension of the boundaries of Manitoba and of other provinces ; also a Bill to provide for the issue of Government a Bill respecting InAnnuities for old age; The difficulty of obtaining labour and materials at a time of great business activity has somewhat retarded the construction of the National Transcontinental Railway. Nevertheless great progress has been made both on the eastern division and on the prairie section of the western division. A section of the lat-surance; and Bills to amend the Election Act ter of about two hundred and fifty miles has and the Dominion Lands Act. been available for handling the traffic of the present season. Contracts for the portion of the prairie section west of Edmonton are about to be let, and immediate steps will be taken for the commencement of work at both the eastern and western ends of the mountain division. Thus, in a very short time, the whole work from Moncton to the Pacific ocean will be under vigorous construction. The unexpected influx of immigrants from oriental countries into British Columbia aroused a strong feeling of opposition. A member of my government has been deputed to proceed to Japan to confer with the Japanese government on this subject. The sudden and unexpected collapse of the great cantilever bridge in course of construction across the St. Lawrence, in the vicinity of Quebec, may be regarded as a national calamity and the event has evoked much sorrow for the lives which were lost on that occasion. A commission has been appointed I commend to your thoughtful consideration the several subjects to which I have referred and I trust that in your deliberations you may be guided by Divine light. His Excellency the Governor General was pleased to retire, and the House of Commons withdrew. The Senate was resumed. BILL INTRODUCED. The Senate adjourned until Monday next at 3 p.m. |