OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11809, 11 August 1900, Page 2

OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

(Teoji Our Own Cokresfondent.)

OTTAWA, June 25,

The present session of the Dominion Parliament premises to be one of the longest on record. Considering the fact that theTe has beon no extraordinary legislation this session, it is incomprehensible how the sittings have been spun out. The only theory which is put forward for this exceptional waste of time and money—for every day the Parliament silts means at Jeast £200 additional expenditureis thai, members on both sides are bidding- for an extra indemnity of £100, and to justify the Government in granting this the length of tha session has to be urged. The sessional pay of our Senators and members is £200 each, and to the Commoners. an increase of 50 per cent, just before the general elections would be a nice little nest-egg for them, in order to assist in the work of organising in their counties. The country, however, does not like this extra indemnity business. It was only given once, and the row which the newspapers of both parties made over the matter was sufficient to scare future Governments from attempting a similar move. With an augmented revenue it might be said that the country could well afford the additional expenditure of £29,4-00, but the" way that the electors look at it k that if the two Houses had buckled down to work from the first day of meeting there would have been no necessity for an increa.se in the indemnity. The Government has not yet intimated its willingness to propose the extra grant. Before doing so it must know how tlie Opposition view the suggestion.. If the Conservative leaders favour it, then it is not unlikely that the Government may make the proposal to.Parliament. Should the Opposition leaders object, then the Government will take mighty good care to steer clear of the extra indemnity question. On the occasion of every great war _in modern times there have been scandals in connection with the furnishing of army supplies. From time to time one hears of complaiutsm the old land, the present war in South Africa having been no exception to that which has almost become an invariable rule. .• The revelations in connection with the Franco-German war, especially as regards the supplies furnished to the French army, shocked the whole world. Nearer home, Canadians have noted with interest the furore created by the intimation that " embalmed " beef had been supplied to the American troops in Cuba, the method of treatment of the beef being- suffisient to turn the strongest stomach against it. "Embalmed beef" will be quite a factor in the Presidential. campaign which is just commencing. While Canadians have been watching with interest what has been going on in other countries, they little suspected that they would have a small army supply scandal of their own. But so it is, and, although the amount of money" involved is not great, nevertheless the country is watching carefully the progress of the inquiry winch is now going on in this city. Three years ago there came to Canada a Hungarian named I-ieuri Hatch. He is a chemist by profession, and a clover man at that. He has for some years been engaged on an invention which is known as an "emergency" food. It is put up in concentrated powder form, and, as the name implies, is to be used only in an emergency —that is, when the -ordinary supplies of food have failed. Four ounces of this material, by actual test, will furnish an adequate meal to a healthy and vigorous man. Mr Hatch came to panada because, aiter trying the chemical laboratories in France, Germany, and Great Britain, he could not find the necessary- apparatus to enable him to perfect his food. At Montreal, in M'Gill . University, Ik discovered a laboratory better equipped than in any other city in the world, and it was there-that Hatch's protose was brought to what the invfentor considers its proper condition. The invention completed, Mr Hatch brought it to the attention of the Canadian military authorities, and in April, 1699, a rigid test was made on five soldiers of the Canadian regulars at the Kingston barracks, under conditions imposed by the Minister of Militia. The men who underwent the test were fed on. the food for one month, and at the conclusion they were put through, a strict examination, medical and otherwise, the result of which was most satisfactory to the Militia department. Hatch's emergency rations were found to contain from 60 per cent, to 80 per cent, of protein, the chief essential in sustaining a man in bodily vigour. When the first Canadian contingent went to South Africa, or, rather, when it was being organised, Mr Hatch wrote to the Militia department asking for an order for the protose, so- that it might be sent with the troops. The reply he received was that the Imperial authorities would supply everything in South Africa, the matter of the food supplies could not be touched by the Canadian Government. Mr Hatch was referred to the War Office, and the Minister of flilitia gave him a

splendid testimonial respecting the qualities of " protose." Nothing further was heard of the subject until the month of January of the current year, when the second contingent was being outfitted. Mr Hatch then learned that the Department of Militia had given an order to Dr Devlin, who had acted as Hatch's intermediary in the previous year when the test took place, for 7000 rations of emergency food. Devlin, it'appears, had^parted company with Hatch in the meantime, and on the strength of the tests made at Kingston, it is alleged that ho secured an inferior food in the United . States and palmed this off on the Department of Militia. This latter food Is called Vitaline, and by chemical analysis contains only 17 per cent, of protein, a quantity of nutriment wholly inadequate to maintain life in an emergency. The testimony giveai before the parliamenary committee shows that while Devlin charged the Government 2dol per pound for. the food, ho only paid 30 cents per pound" for 'it in the United. States. The contractor declares that, what. he has supplied is precisely the same as the protose which was tested upon the soldiers, but there is abundant, testimony that this statement is untrue. So far as the Minister of Militia is concerned, although the Opposition are endeavouring to prove negligence on his part/it does not appear that he was responsible for a fictitious food being supplied to the department. The Minister left the matter entirely in the hands of the. medical director-general of (he Militia departmont, and the latter seoms to have been hoodwinked by Devlin. The only point respecting which the Minister may be held to account by Parliament arises from the fact that he permitted payment to be made to Devlin after a governmental analysis had been made which showed the absolute worthlessness of the food. It is certain that there will be a good deal of comment about this matter on the hustings during the coming Dominion elections. A few days ago Parliament' adopted an address to the Queen, congratulating her upon the capture of Pretoria, and of the approaching termination of the war. Many members thought that the Government were a little premature in asking Parliament to send this address to her Majesty, but after the patriotic remarks of the Premier and the leader of the Opposition, there was very little hesitancy. The only opposition came from the. French-Canadian wing of the Liberal party, which right along has indicated its sympathies with the Boers in the South AjTican war. Mr Bourassa, a bright young fellow, who w«s< Canadian secretary at the meetings of tho International Commission which met to settle the questions in dispute between tho United States and Canada, is the leader of this wing of the Ministerial party. He 6poke in the debate, and said some things which ruffled the feelings of the English-speaking members, both Liberal and Conservative. When he declared that not one ounce of glory would accrue to the flag of England as a result of the war, ho fairly staggered the Houso for a moment, and then was greeted with ,loud cries of " Shame," and a storm of hisses. The Speaker quelled the uproar, and Mr Bouraesa was permitted to conclude his

speech. Immediately he sat down, an Ontario member, Dr Montague by name, sprung to his feet, and said that tha bast answer thn House could give to the speech just delivered was to give fhroo cheers for the Queen. The Premier raised hk hand deprecatively, but Montague's suggestion caught on, and Kng-lish-speakhig members rose and cheered, following it up by singing the National Anthem. After V.I it'was not a very dignified proceedin", and a clear violation of the rules of the House. While the National Anthem was being sung the Prime Minister and a number of his colleagues kept their seats, as a protest against the irregularity of the proceedings. Since then the Opposition press has endeavoured to make much capital out of the mcir dent: but after a.l it will not have much weight with the country, as the Premier was clearly justified in protesting against sucn a violation of the rules.

In connection with the controversy now goin? on respecting this matter, an incident in Dr Montague's political career has been recalled. Montague represents a constituency in which there are a number of enfranchised Indians, and some years ago, when he was in dire straits, he issued a proclamation to the Indiana, which for pure gall has probably not its equal in any other country. It is to the following effect:—"To the Indians.-^The Queen has always loved her-dear, loyal subjects, the Indians. She wants tnem to bo good men and women, and- she wants them to live on the land that they have, and she expects in a little while, if her great• chief John A. gets into Government again, to be very kind to the Indians, and to make them very happy. She wants them to go and vote, and to all vote for Dr Montague, who is ike Queen's agent. He 13 their Iricndj and by voting for him everyone of the Canadians will please Queen Victoria." • Canadians are sorry now that tney decided to send an exhibit to Paris. When the invitation of the French Government was accepted it was sunpoeeel that the arrangements as regards space would be the same as those which prevailed at previous expositions. After the Dominion Government was committed to the affair, and a large expenditure had been incurred, it was discovered that the exposition commissioners intended to charge for space, and the little bill which Canada will have to way on this item alone is £25,000. A big staff of commissioners has been appointed, and as their expenses are heavy, and the' Government has undertaken to transport all exhibits from and to Canada, before the Government gets through with the accounts it is believed that the country will have to pay from £80,000 to £100,000—a far larger sum than the country will derive benefit therefrom. ■ The suggestion has been thrown out in the House that if this money

had been expended in pushing Canada's agricultural and dairying products in the markets of the old land far greater benefit to Canada would have resulted.

The Federal authorities have decided to increase the capitation tax on Chinese entering Canada to" £20. At present it is £10. The province of British Columbia is most directly affected by the influx of Mongolians, and during the nafit two or thee years there has been a vigorous agitation in the Pacific province to increase the tax to £100. Previous lo the last general'election? the Premier, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, said that the wishes of British Columbia on this question would prevail, and naturally there is great disappointment because a higher tax than £20 is not to be imposed. On the part of a few people in Canada there is a, desire for restrictive legislation against the Japs, but owing to the friendly relations existing between Great Britain and Japan, both political parties consider the time most inopportune to discuss a question of this nature. It would i>ot be a matter of surprise, however, if next session the Government were to propose the adoption of an act somewhat similar to the Natal Immigration Act, under which no person is admitfo'd into that colony-unless he can speak or write one of the languages of Europe. w lth a view to satisfying ptiblie opinion in British Columbia the Government

has decided to appoint a. commission to investigate the extent' of immigration into Canada from Japan. In three weeks, over ?.000 Jape arrived at Vancouver, -the western terminus of the Canadian-Pacific railway. A number of these were destined for Canadian

points," but-the'greater proportion are for the United States. - Evidently the Japanese Government does not desire tbat there should be any friction on this matter, as a decree has just been issued with a view to preventing the Japs from becoming a nuisance or a bur-

den on this continent. The Japanese regulation! provides that an average of only five persons may immigrate to the United States in one month from any of the 47 prefectures in Japan. As regards Canada, double the number is to bo allowed. According lo this decree the number of Japanese emigrants to Canada is limVted to 564-0 per annum. It is

doubtful whether Canada can absorb this number, but the testimony which is likely to lie given before the commission will doubtless settle that point.

Although' the Dominion Government declines to introduce a Federal Prohibition Bill,

the question is a live one in the provinces. The Legislature of, Prince Edward Island last week passed alaw for the. prohibition of the sale within the -..province of intoxicating, liquors, except for sacra-mental, medicinal, and manufacturing purposes. This act does not attempt to deal with the importation or manufacture of liquors,, as those businesses are beyond the power of the Icoai Legislature to pass upon, being exclusively within the purview of the Federal Parliament. The law goes into effect on the sth of June next. During the discussion of the bill, an attempt was made to place clubs under the ;ban of the prohibitory law, but this proposal was defeated, and,consequently the clubs in Prince Edward Island will be able to sell liquors as at present.' .■ From the most easterly province of Canada to the central province of Manitoba is a distance of 2000 miles, and it is to this latter province that the eyes of prohibitionists are now turned. Manitoba on two different occasions, by an overwhelming vote, has de-

clared in favour of prohibition, and the new Premier, Mr Hugh John Macdonald, has determined to carry out honestly the pledge which he made to the electors before polling

day. He frankly admits that lie is not a pro hibitionist -on principle, but be is that kind of statesman who believes that a public man should live up to his pledges, and to that extent is prepared to subordinate b.is own views. There is one element of danger to the successful carrying out of a prohibition bill in the province-Miamely. that arising from tho tenure by which the Hudson's Bay Com* pany holds its lands. This company, the oldest trading corporation under the British flag, up to 1870, owned the whole of the vast territory lying between Lake Superior and the Rocky Mountains, and from the international Boundary to the Arctic circle. The Dominion bought this. territory from the Hudson's Bay Company, in 1870 for a sum of £300,000, one of the most statesmanlike and far-seeing actions of,that great Empire-builder, the late Sir John Macdonald. Without it, the Dominion of Canada could not have been consolidated to the extent that it is to-day, that, 13. embodying one continuous stretch of 4000 miles of territory from tho Atlantic to the 'Pacific. But in purchasing this enormous tract from the *' governors and company of adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay" the latter reserved to themselves two sections of land of 640 acres each in every township of 36 sections, and over those lands the Hudson|s> Bay Company has absolute, control. It is contended that under the. deed of surrender, . and the Imperial Act which ratified it, the Hudson's Bay Company have rights which it is not competent for the Legislature of Manitoba or for the Parliament of Canada to alter, and it will not be until' the courts have decided upon this question that- the full extent of tlie jurisdiction of the Provincial Legislature will be settled. However, the province is going ahead with its bill, and .there is this provision in it .which makes it quite different from the P. K. Island Taw, that the use of liquor m clubs, pocietie*. or associations of any kind, at banquet?, or miblie functions, is strictly prohibited. 'Mr Maodonakl declared that ho could not consent to any amendment which will alter the principle ot the measure, so that Manitoba will get prohibition to the full extent of the powers ot the Legislature. As previously stated, a province 'cannot wevent the importation of liquor from another portion of Canada or from foreign countries, hence it will be necessary for beer drinkers to bring in their own supplies. The operations o£ these two laws will be watched with groat interest by the other provinces of Canada, more especially as there are difficulties in the way which cannot be overcome under the V""1 ll' n ° °> lh(? Canadian Constitution. The total trade of Canada for the fiscal year ending .Tune 30 promises to bo tho greatest in the history of the country. I'or the 11 months ending May 31 it amounted to 323,596,478d01 t or greater than the entire trado of the previous year. Since confederation, now 35 yea,™ ago, Canadian trade has grown by leaps and bounds. The value of the imports and exports the first year was 131 000 OOOdol. There were various uiu'tiuitions, but tha general tendency has been upwards, and- in 1883 the trade amounted to 220.340 OOOdol, or an increase of nearly mOOO.OOOdoI in tho first 15 years from tho union of the scattered provinces of Jirilisn North America. Since that time there tins boen a steady increase, so that this year tho total trade will exceed 350,000.000d01. The slate of political chaos which has oxklcl in tho province of British Columbia for several months is now at an end. Mr Martin, the stormy petrel nf Canadian polities his boon beaten out of sight, and one of Uio strongest and' wea'thieft men in the province has boon selected to form a Government. :.lr Dunsmuir, tho new Premier, has shown )iiv<: tact in selecting his colleague,-?. 'the recent t>io"Uon.s were not fought out on Federal party lines, and Mr Uunsmuir hin.self is a very moderate uolitioian. He has surrounded

himself by men of both political parties, and to that extent has clone much to repair the condition of affairs brought about by the Martin faction. The defeat of the Martinitns involves the resignation of the Lieutenant Governor, Mr M'lnnes. The latter gentleman somewhat unceremoniously dismissed the Turner Ministry, although it had a. majority in the House. By calling upon. Mr Martin to form a Government the Lieutenant Governor staked everything on the ca3t of the die, and has lost. Within the next few days :t is expected that he will submit to the inevitable, and hand in his resignation. "Residents in the gold-bearing districts _of the Yukon are clamouring for representation in the Federal Parliament, but the Government has decided to wait until the census returns have been received. The Department of Agriculture is now engaged making the necessary arrangements for tlio decennial enumeration of the people, and the Government has caused it to be made known that the do jure system will be adhered, to. In. other words, people will be counted where they permanently reside, no matter where they may be when the enumerator calls at their domicile. Under the other, or de facto, system, a person is counted where he actually is, the clay the enumeration is taken. The latter is the plan adopted in Great Britain, so that if a, man's home is in London, and he happens to be in Liverpool on enumeration day. he will be counted a-s a resident of Liverpool. In the end the English plan works out all right, as what a city or town may lose by tha temporary absence of some of its residents on census day is made up by the transients who may be in the city when the enumerators make their call. In a country like Canada, where our people are much given to moving about, errors are likely to occur under either system, but it must lie obvious, on reflection, that the greatest possibility of error lies with the system which has been adopted. Under the de jure plan Canadians who have permanently gone elsewhere are liable to be- counted at their old homes, and sometimes to be counted twice. Young men, especially, who may be living in the United States, will be set down as residing with their parents, and to the extent of such errors will the count be misleading. In 1891 the census enumerators were instructed not to count as residents of their districts any who had been absent a yea.r, no matter what their understood intentions might be. That was a limit on the possibilities of error, but It still left the door open for mistakes even by most intelligent enumerators. It might be well next year to decrease the time limit, although by.fixing a limit at all an admission is made that there is a weakness in the de. jure system.