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The Examiner]

DEBATES

OF THE

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.

EE (Continued from first page of this week's Examiner.)

Mr, Leroray.— Mr, Chairman, this ques tion has been so well discussed already, that it is unnecessary for mo to occupy much of the time of tbis Committee vith apy re- ma'ks | may pave to offer. 1 was pleased at eceing the reference in the paragraph to the subject of dredging in our harbors aod around our wharves. ia have long recognized the great importance of this mat- ter, and I hope we shall soon have a good steam dredge at work, As to the railroad, Lam in favor of the introduction of such means of communication Some may im- agine that my opinion is irflucneed by the fact that I live in “ammerside, and mj pro- perty would be enbanced by the road; but, Sir, such is not the case, If we look be- yond the narrow limits of the Island, we find tha: every country, imhabited by in- telligent people, has odopted railroads, and noue desizing to dispevse with them. The minority have brought no arguemnts bear- ing on tie sutject, exccpt in favor of it. It is a stubborn fact that our neighbors ia the S:ates and the Dominion of Canada have built, and/are buildinz, great lines of railroad, [ was in Saint Joh», New Bruns- wick, when the fir-t sod of the first rail- road (that between Saint Joby and Shediac) was cut and | passed over the line a year or two after it was opened for trafic, At that time § thought it ap expensive under- takiog, and not likely to do much good to the country. Only two or three first-class passengers got out of the train at Shediac. But, Sir [have travelled on that line many times since, and have seen the traffic con- stantly increasing; and it must be a source of pleasure to the Government which con- structed it to reflect upon the extent io which their policy has developed the re- sources of the conutry. Lust year, when [ used the line, every passenger ear wags crowded, and the complaint was g-veral

-that the accommodation afforded by the liae was altogether inadqzzte to the busiuess of thecountry Which required to be performed, We are here to discuss the question of rai!-

“ways, and not those of land or, religion, aud I do not see why those subjects have been introduced, The parograph does not com- mit us to any railroad, Lt merely prom- ises our serivus consideration of the subjeet, 1 have travelied by rail from Halifax to Truro, in Nova Scotia, and I[ recollect that lurge numbers of the people were op- posed to the government of the day on their railway policy, and actually turned them out of office on that account I though at the ‘ime bat it was » great mistake that the road did not go to Pictou; but time eff-cts yreat changes in the ideas of people, Nova Scotia bas extenad the line to Pictou, and is now bringing all parte of the country into direct raiiway connection, and is re- ceiving reaccuable returns from the Jines in operatin, We must keep up with the times, and [ hope none bere will say that we must forever reuiain as we are at pre-

ent. without railrcads. Sir, have we no resources? Hon members of the opp:- sition say ‘bat our road will cost more than £5000-amilce, If we enter into a contract at tbat. or a lower price, and take good se~ curity for the performance of that work, the contracting pariy ioust do the work and if a loss is sus aincd, must take it on his own shou ders My hor. colleague (Mr. Mac- Millan) is in favor of raijroads, asd has signed a petition in support of his views,

Well, Mr. Chairman, | bave signed the game document aboat two years ago. The soil between St John and Shediac is, with the exveption of a few miles, barren end rocky, atid [ was surprised to find that, notwithstanding ths drawback, the local bus ness of the line was £0 per cent. of the whole, the business of the Island givioy 10 per cent, A railroad would open up be coun'ry, tend'to the cstablishinent of manu- factories, and develop many new branches of business. Why,Sir, we know that inthe United States, where railway com-nunics- tion is general, fortunes have beca -uade by the trade in the single article of ive of which we certainly have a reasonable quar- tity. and of a bardness greater than that of cur ncivbbors, The boo, mearer from ‘iryon (Mr, Howat) waried to know what we had to feed a railroad? Why, Mr. Chairman, the wood that is now wasted tn clearing wilderness farms, wou'd, if brought to market pay for the ‘and on which it grew, cspegialty it manufac’ured into hoops, staves, barrels, and other articles, The conveyance of coal litnestone, mus-e!mad, and other articles required in the interior part of tbe fsland; wou d coatribute largely to the busine-s of the road, Great stress has been laid oa the probable inercase of taxation if we hada railway, but, while it would be wrong to ‘ax a muon if he got po- thing iu eXchange for the burden, yet f the tax he pays yields to him a benefit equiva- lent toy or greater than its amount, really cannot seo the hardshio of the care. | ex- pevt that nine tenths o: the peop e will get a good retura for all they may have to pay for the road, It was stated by the hon

Leader of the Government, that £30 000 would be the interest ca the cost of 100 miles of road, but I think we may set duwa the len.th of the line at TL5 miles The interest would then be abuut £32 000 a year Now, Sir, a-euming the road to earn one-half that amoun',there surely woud be no difficulty ia raising the remaining £17, GO), If the road is to be paid for by de- beutures, having 20 yearsto run, { supposa a sinking fund will be provided ;*but even if it were no provided for wuttia that period, the credit of the Isiand wili be awple secur ty for an exteosion of time, end our children will say that their fathers aced wi-ely, and left to tiem a fair equivatent fer any taxation they ma" b> called — pay on accouot of the railway. Lam g'ad to thiak that this matter hs been brought under out notice, bet cannot see what pos sible conpection can be traced between it and Confederation. 1 have beea called a Coz~ federate, for what reason i know no, unle 8 it be that L am in the habit of buying flour from some of the Vanadians. L do not think that the Government bas ary idea of

Charlottetown, April 10, 1871.

we

{1Cs. per annum.

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bringing us into Confederation by building a railway. The hon. member for 'I'ryon says he is in favor of » survey of a line for the railway, What does he mean by that ? Whea he made that sta'ement, he admitted the principle of introduciog railways ; for, if it is necessary or expedient 'o survey a ling, is is equally necessary and expedient to con- stract it. Notwithstanding a}! that bon, member had said about meredan's at Sun- meraide clubbing together to keep down the price of oa's last fall, and the farmers refus- ing to sell in consequence, [ may tell him that I have been for some years in the habit of buying oats, and that las: year especial! y, tbe roads were in such a state as to prevent partics from bringing oats to market. The imprevement of our roads by macadamiza- tion has been referred to, and it has been admitted that it has cost in some cases, as much as LLEOO or L20V0 a mile, Bat, if we put the cost at even £1000 a mile, it must certainly be imprudent to spend that sum, when focr times chat amount would giveus amile of railway, The fact is, that that our soi! is too soft to bear heavy cart- ing, and last year | saw 13 or 14 men em- ployed, at one time, near Summerside, in filling up boles and repairing the roads where they bad given way. We are better able than most other countries to build a railroad, and rf the undertaking should uo! be adop'ed this year, the people will bz induced tothink the matter over, and [ do not fear the re ult, for I believe that, it the House do not act in this matter this year, the people wijl force it upon oor netiee next session, It is idle to say that our roads are fit for the heavy hauling required io spring and fal!, and that vessels are not deained by that cause, Cascumpec harbor ts the best on the Western side of the Island but three years ago a vessel of m ne lost three wecks in endeavor- ing to get into that port, and bad finally to put into Georgetown to load, while a cargo

of oats for ber was stored at Uascupec. A |

good deal of objection to a railroad in tbe is- Jand, has ar:sen from !ocal feelings es to the route. It is true that railroads cannot be carried to every man’s property, neither ean s'eamboats cal! at every man’s door up- 09 the coast. but they both pay, und all tne population share in the benefits they confer, It is probabie that Summerside ard George- town ray receive greater bevefits than other parts, but we must look at the general in- terests of the Island in dealing with a sub- ject of this nature, In the neighboring Provinces, surveys of diff rent routes bave been made before Goverement would decide oo whch they would take; here the nar- rowness of the Island renders that course unnece sary, A maio traok, with a few branches. would embrace tne whole Island, acd | hope Government will ex end -the beo fits of railway communication as far ag possible. Progress reported. Fi

Frivay, Feb, 24.

Petitions were received against the return of the Third Blectoral District of Prinee County, also against the retura of the Hon. D. Davies, for Chariottetown and Roya ty, which, baving been received and dealt with in the usua! manuer, were made the order of the day for Monday next.

Hon Mr Wightman asked leave of absense for a few days. Hon. Leader of the Govern- ment would be sorry to oppose the reques: ef

the hom member, but thowzhtit advisable that .

each hon. mewber should be in his ‘place when the House would go into Cummittee of Privileges and Hleetio.s on the petitions which have been reeaived.

Hon. B. Davies and Hon. Mr. MacEachen also thouzht the bon. member shouid remain until those questions were disposed of.

House adjourned unts three e'clock. G-

AFYERNOON SESSION.

P.ivileges and Elections.

Hon, Leader of the Government said that before movinz that the House go into Com- mittee of the whole to consider the petition of WW. Sullivan, Esq and others against the return of Hon PF. Keily and H. Beer, Esq, he would move the following -—

Resolved, Tnst a message be sent to the Legis:ative Council, requesting that House to permit the Hoo. T. H. Haviland one of the members, to attend and give evidence before the Committee of Privileges and Elections, on the consideration of the Petition of Wm, W. Suilivan and others, complaining of an andue Election and Return for the Vhird Electoral District cf Queen’s County.

Before going into Committee, he (Hon. Leader of the Government) would state the practice of the Iumperial Parliament in such cases ag the one which would come befvre the Committee, Immediately atte going into Committee on Privileges and Elections the Conrmittee were duly sworn to give an im- partial decision on the matter to come before them ; the Clerk was also sworn, The piactice was to investigate the subject with closed doors; ard he thought that all delibera. tions of that kind should be done with closed doors, because it was not necessary to repart the in@ividual opinions of members on their oath. He pestmed that all the members of the Housa were satisfi-d to conform with the rules of the }mperiai Parliament, in referencs to the subject to eome before them, No witness was aflowed to be present whon another witness was being examined by the Committee,

Hon. Arry. Gexsrat said that the authority quoted by the Hon. Leader of the Government was @ correct one. The practice had hitherto be-a to diseuss such matters with open doors ; and it would be ubderstood that the Hen. Leader of the Government was not particular what course the House might adopt m reference to it. As faras he (Hon. Atty, General) was concerned, it made no difference which rule was adopted. The Comorittee would aet as judges on ‘the matter which would come before them.

Hion. Mr. Wicutman asked if the sitting members. for the Third Distriet of Queen’s County weuld retain their seats on the Com- mittee while the case was being decided ; for there was a distinct rule on the matter, which stated that hon.. members who were concerned in such a case shall retain their seats auly du:ing the introductory debate, while the evidence was taMhg, ahd not while the case was being considersd- He did not think the petition would affect Hon. Mr Kelly at all, but the returns were one ard the same, and

_therefore, both of the sitting members should

be governed by the rules of Parliament.

A message was yeceived from the Legisla- tive Council, through their Clerk, to the effect that leave bad been goven the Hon, Cc S-cretarg to atiend and give evidence before the Committee of Privileges and EHiectioas,

Hon, Lavnge or Tax Govennent stated that as neither of the hon. members for the Third District of Queen's County had a vote ox the Committee, they would both retire while the matter was being considered.

Hon. Mr. Duncan obtained leave of ab- enc, oa account of iiness for ome day.

The House then resolved itself into a Come mittee of the whole on Privi'eges and Elec- tions, to take into consideration the petition of W, W. Salivan, Esq., and others. against the return of Hon. F. Kelly and H. Beer, Fsq., members for the Third Electoral Dis- trict of Queen’s County.

W.. W. Sullivan, Esq., appeared at the Bar of the House as Counsel for the petitioners against the return of Hon. F. Kelly and H. Beer,members for the Third District of Queen’s County, and addressed the Committee on the allegations set forth in the petition. Several Witnesses. were also examined, After some time spent ia Committee, the Sneaker took the Chair, the Chairman reported progress and obtained Jeave to sit again.

House adjourned till ten o’clock to-mor- row. 1 0.

SatorvaY, February 25th.

On motion of the Hon. Leader of the Government, the House resolved itself into a Committee of Privileges and Elections. Having spent some time there‘n, House re- sumed, progress was reported, and leave given to sit again. ;

Adjourned for ona hour. G.

AFTERNOON SESSION,

Hon. Mr. Wightman obtained leave of absence for two days.

House in Committee on Draft Address.

Mr. A ©. McDonald in the Chair.

The eleventh paragraph, relating to the expediency of the construction of a railroad, Was read,

Mr Howat did not disprove of railways, but he would oppose their construction by the Government. If a company would un- dertake the work, he would not oppose @ grant from the public funds to assist them. In coantries of vast extent, like the United States, railroads were a necessi'y, and all the reads in that country had been con- structed by companies. As the railway question had not been once named at the Jast Election, and as the building of a rail road would cause the levying of enormous tazes upon the people, the {loase would not, at the present time, be justified in forcing it upon the country. He had heard of come parts being in favor of it but believed that by taking the whole E-land, a consider- able majority of the people were strongly opposed to its being undertaken by the Gov- eroment The matter should at least, be laid. over till the nex> meeting of the Legislature, in order that the people’s views

* might be more correctly ascertained in re-

ference to it. The question had been brought before the House wi bout a mo- ments waruing, so that there had mot beer time to discuss it as its merits deserved. He was of cp nion that the extent ef the trade of the country would not warrant the undertaking of so vast and expensive a work. He had a+ked « mail-carrier, to the west of Summerside, what the averege uumber of passe: gers conveyed by hiw was, aud was answered that it was only ene pa-senger per week. If the people of tte western part of the Island were twenty jesrs behiad Bedeque, as regards improvemen! end pros- perit; —and he believed they were—be saw no reason to justify any (overnmest in carrying Out so Yast as undertaking, Even the trade between Charilottetowa and Summerside was not sufficeut to keep a railway properly employed, Alter the fall shipments were over, there would be scaree- by anything left for the railway to carry, for it was ouly occasionally that farmers ever traveled far from home.

Hoo, Mr. Perry said there was no doubt that people who livd far from ha:bire would receive the greste-t benefit from a railroad; but it was unfair for bon mem- bere, whose constituents had received large sums fr dredging and other pubic works, to oppore the construc ion of a ruilway that wou'd benefit those who lived ip the inverior, and did not eujoy the direct advantages of good harbors, wharves, &. People who lived far frém shipping places should not be denied an opportunity to improve their con- dition any wore tras those who lived near navigable rivers and good harbors. He had atrended two meeting in the First Dis- triet of Privée County, and found that the people there were fully prepared to support the building of & ratiroad, and to be taxed for the cost of its construction The peo- ple there were in earnest, and desired ways aud means t) develop their resources, If the whole Revenue of the Coony were apent in maeadamizing the common ro.ds, the means of travsport would not thea be up {0 the requirements of the country. He had attended a meeting iv Ku-tico the oiber evening, and jound that the majority of the peopie were oppesed ‘0 a rai way, be- cause they lived pear a pretty yood harbor, where they could ship their pioduce. The people bad come to the necting devermined to oppose the rai'road, and would not listen to any party who spoke tm favor of it; but there was no doubt the people of the back cettlements would allow the:r representatives to take up the subject and ascertain what the cost of buildig it would be, When the question of contiructing railways was first agitated in otber coun ries, 1¢ had a!~ ways met with. the most violent 0, position, but after a time the peop e dixeovered thas the advantages which they derived from railroads wee indispensable. kt was be- yond a doubt that a raliway would be one of the best means of develop g the resources of such a country as this, where there was such a large quantity of wood to be sent to market, and such vast qua tities ef limestone imported or the use of farmers who lived far from barbors ard shipping places If our farmers enjoyed the advautage of a rail- way, their property would, be beiteved, in- increase in value 100 per eent, They would thus be in a better pesition to pay their taxes, aud the Colony would derive a larger revenue. He did not suppose it would lessen the expenditare on our public roads te any extent, lor if thousands of pounds were spent upon them every year, they would uot be good after a'!, Many parte of the Island were far Irom beds of mussel-mud sad otber kinds of manure, but, with the advantages of a railroad, it might be transported to those interior dis~ tricis {or the purpose of euriching 'ue farms. Without this means of conveyance farmers would, io maby cases, be ob ize to haul mapure ten or fifieen miles, or du without it, to the impoverishment of tucir farms. Phe hou. member for Tryon had siated that to the westward cf Suawmersue the mail- earricr bad, on the average, only One pas~

cenger per week, He (tov, Mr. P.) did

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