BMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 1^ 12.2 I 1^ 12.0 m Lil _U |||.6 ^ 6" ► vQ <^ /J ^> *% .'>/ V r Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 4f^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHJVI/ICiVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Tochnical and Bibliographic Notas/Notes tachniquas at bibliographiquas Tha Instituta has attemptad to obtain tha bast original copy availabia for filming. Faaturas of this copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua, which may altar any of tha imagas In tha reproduction, or which may significantly changa tha usual mathod of filming, ara chackad baiow. Colourad covars/ Couvartura da coulaur p~| Covars damaged/ D D D D Couvartura andommagia Covars restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculie r~] Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.o. autre que bleue ou noire) r~~l Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ D Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reli4 avec d'autres documents Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte. mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ixi filmtes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires; L'Institut a microfilm* la meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a iti possible de se procurer. Las dtktails de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-itre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m^thoda normale de filmage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommagies □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaur^es et/ou pelliculies r~J\ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ ly ' Pages dicolor^es, tacheties ou piquees Pages detached/ Pages ditachees Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Qualiti inigala de I'impression Includes supplementary matarii Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible r~n Pages detached/ r~7 Showthrough/ |~n Quality of print varies/ r~^ Includes supplementary material/ r~~l Only edition available/ D Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Las pages totalement ou partieilement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure. etc., cnt iti filmies A nouveau de facon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiqu* ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X J 1 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X Th« copy film«d h«r« hu b««n raproduead thanks to tha ganaroaity of: Library of Parliament and tiM National Library of Canada L'axomplaira fllmA fut raproduit grica k la g4n4roaiti do: La BibiiotMqua du Parlamant at la Bibliothiqua nationala du Canada Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tha boat quality poaalbia conaidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in Icaaping with tha filming contract spacificationa. Laa imagaa auivantaa ont 4t* raproduitaa avac la plua grand aoin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattatA da Taxamplaira film4, at wi eonformiti avac laa conditiona du contrat da fllmaga. Original copiaa in printad papar eovars ara filmad baginning with tho front covar and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or illuatrat^ impraa- sion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original copiaa ara filmad baginning on tho finjt paga with a printad or illuatratad impraa- aJon. and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraaalon. Laa axamplairaa originaux dont la couvartura an paplar aat imprim^a sont fiimia an comman9ant par la pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la darnlAra paga qui eomporta una amprainta d'Impraaalon ou dllluatration. solt par la aacond plat, salon la eaa. Toua laa autraa axamplairaa originaux aont filmte an commandant par la pramlAra paga qui eomporta una amprainta dimpraaalon ou d'illuatration at •» tarminant par la damiAra paga qui eomporta una talla amprainta. Tha laat racordad frama on aaeh mieroficha shall contain tha symbol --^ (moaning "CON> TINUED"). or tho aymbol V (maaning "END"), whiehavar appliaa. Un daa symbolaa suivanta apparaftra sur la damlAra imaga da chaqua mieroficha. salon la eaa: la symbola — »> signifia "A SUIVRE". la aymbolo ▼ signiffo "FIN". Mapa. plataa. charts, ate., may ba filmad at diffarant raduetion ratkM. Thoaa too larga to ba antiraly included in ona axpoaura ara filmad baginning in tha uppar left hand comar. loft to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa required. Tha following diagrama illuatrata tha method: Laa cartaa. planchoe. tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre fiimde A dee taux do reduction diffArenta. Loraque la document eet trop grand pour itra reproduit en un soul clichA, il est fllmA i partir do I'angla aupMaur gauche, do gauche i droite. et do haut an baa. an prenant la nombre d'Imegee n4ceeaaire. Lee diagrammae suivanta illuatrant la mAthoda. i I t 2 3 4 5 6 i mm %^ si>be:om • ' ^^■• Diumip BT JOHN CHARLTON . M.P., mk tm mmi'^mimm, FBOM OFFlOIAJj BBBATBSS. HOITSS OF OOMiCOirS, SfiSSIOir 1883 ^J'f^l OTTAWA! Printed by MaoLiab, Room A Co., WelBngtoh Sttwi 188 J. ?**™ "»^' &<^^ ,jt>\3,^v*;^r:i*-^ MR. CHARLTON'S SPEECH ON TAX GOVERNMENT LAND POLICY IN THE NORTH-WEST. HOUSE OF COMMONS, Wednesday, 12th April, 1882. Mr. CHARLTON. Before you leave the Chair, Mr. Speaker, I wish to submit to the House a resolution on the Government land policy in the North- West. 1 may say that I regret that circumstances compel me to move in the way I am about to do to-day. At an early date in the Session, returns were called for with reference to the land question. The information sought in these returns was necessary to an intelligent discusssion of the question I am about to lay before the House. It was found it would be impossible to get these returns in full, and an attempt was then made to get the information in a summarized form. This information was promised from time to time, and fragmentary portions of it have been received, but owing to the delay in receiving it, the time has passed for putting a notice on the notice paper in the usual manner, and pro- ceeding to the discussion of this question on that motion, and I am reduced to the necessity of moving, as I do to-day, in amendment to a motion for Committee of Supply. The question under discussion is one of very great importance to this country. We have in the North-West A VAST REGION, the capabilities of which are just beginning to be fairly understood. We have in that country. Sir, a region of probably seven or eight hundred miles long by four or five hundred miles in width adapted for settlement and ctiltivation. It embraces two of the great river systems of this country, the Mackenzie Eiver and the system flowing through Lake Winnipeg into Hudson's Bay It has a chain of lakes almost equal in size and import ance to the great chain of lakes upon our borders ■l I' between us and the United States. It is a oountry, Sir, which, as we become more intimately acquainted with its resources rises in our estimation. Its value is much greater than was supposed some years ago. As to the question of what population that country will support, I presume, from recent investigations, that we are justified in supposing the North-West will maintain a population of 25,000,000. If that is the case, Mr. Speaker, the bearing of the management of that territory upon the ques> tion of our national development, upon the question of the ultimate power and position this country will obtain, is one of very great importance as compared with other public questions of the day. It overshadows in importance the question whether we have, by our Trade Policy, succeeded in adding a few thousand operatives to our population, whether we have added a few cotton mills to our industries, or whether our people pay 3, 5 or 10 per cent, more taxes than they did upon the various wares they buy. Of this country we may well say with the poet, Whittier : "The rudiments of empire here are plastic yet and warm And the fragments or a mighty Stitte are rounding into fonn." A- BBST MODE OF DEVELOPMENT. Well, Sir, the development of this country must be brought about, not by speculative movements, not by specu- lations in corner lots, or in town sites or in land even, but it must be brought about by the labors of the actual tiller of the soil. The country lying in its present state, a wilder- ness, is not an element of Htrength, not a source of power to Canada, and it can only become an element of strength, a source of power, when its soil is brought under cultivation, and that can only be done by the labor of the husband- man. Consequently, I hold that the interests of the settleix of the class that are to till the soil of the North-West, should be, in the estimation of the Government, paramount in importance to all other interests in tieating fhis matter. The speculator will take care of him- self. It is not necessary that the Government should look after the interests of the speculator or pay very groat regard to his interests, but it is necessary to look after the interests of the settler. The operation of the speculator in many cases is not good for the country. At the present moment, I believe the speculative movement in the North-West is a source of danger, and at the best, Sir, the profits of the speculator in lands causes a loss to the yeoman. If the speculator invests in lands and sells at an advance to the settler, whatever the speculator may gain, that class who should be the first in the consideration of the " : i^ 8 Government and whose interests the Government should look after very carefully, will lose to that extent. My hon. friend the First Minister spoke of the state of things in the North-West as a " land craze." I think he very justly • characterized the present movement. TUB SPECULATIVE MIVEaIENT has reached very crreat development, and there is- ' danger of its rosuliin:^ in ii mania similar to the South Soa manin, o>' tliu mania of spo^uiation . which brought about tho prostration of credit in the United States in 18>7. The indications now existing all point to such a danger. We have the city . of Winnipeg filled with a horde of speculators; wo have town sites advertised fur sale in all parin of Manitoba anl ' the North- West ; wo have anxious and feverish activity ii> those speculative ventures with fancy pri».-eM n^t based upon intrinsic value ; and in all the^e tho caret ul observer seei ' danger. It is in many respects like tho land speculation in the United States, and it would, perhaps, bo well to care- fully state the facts in connection with that movement. In 1835 it commenced. The average sale of public lands each year, from 17i)6 to 1881, has been $2,400,000, but tho speculative movement in 1835 ran the sales of thtit year up to $I4,'75'7,000. In 183«, the land sales amounted to $24,877,- 000. The East was flooded with lithographed maps of sites, of towns and of cities to be built at such places as the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi, and the junction of tho Missouri and Mississippi, and of various streams of the West. Almost r'^^ry place that could bo ])ointcd out on the map as a good geographical point was marked off as a town pito, and town lots wore sold even in Bwampy places whore no building was then, and where no builaing has ever been. These sales amounted to enormous sums of money, and loans were actually made in the east upon tho title to places of this character. For instance the site of the present city of Milwaukee, then a wilderness, was sold by its owner for a sum of money which he lost in less than three months iii speculating in lands in the city which then had no existence. A NOTE or WARNING. If we look the case carefully over I think we will find that the circumstances in the United States, and those in this country at this time, present the same features, and I have very great apprehensions that the result will be here as the result there was, a ? eerious coUup^o of jiublic and privaio credit, and the Infliction of loss and injury upon the country. The effeots already, of the removal of vast amounts of capital from Ontario to the North-West are being sensibly felt, and they will bo more seriously felt in the course of a few months. The effects too of the migration of thousands and tons of thousands of the best class of the population of Ontario to the North-West are being sensibly felt. The value of property in the Province of Ontario is being depriciuled, farms are being forced upon the market, causing a deo'ino in prices, and there is no doubt that what will be a gain to Manitoba in this respect will be a loss to the other Provinces. I presume the Government will be disposed to claim that this specula* tivo rush to the North-West is an indication of great prosperity, and that it is also an indication of wisdom on the part of the Government in the policy they have adopted with reference to this matter. 1 hold, on the contrary, that this high speculation, which threatens a speedy collapse, is largely promoted and fostered by the policy the Govern- ment have adopted, and that that policy will ultimately prove to have been mojst pernicious in the interest of the Dominion of Canada. The Government — and they will learn the truth of the assertion I am about to make — should avoid adopting a policy calculated to facilitate and pi'omote the schemes and aims of the speculating class to the detri- ment of the honest and hardy yeomanry of this country. The aim of the Government should bo not to secure t^l)eculutive sales of land, but to secure for THE HARDY SONS OF TOIL these wild lands, on which they will enter and com- mence cultivation. Its aim should be to foster and promote the interests of this country and let the speculators take care of themselves, and carefully hold themselves aloof from the pioniotion of all speculative movements. If this should be the policy of the Government, it then becomes a serious question for the Government to determine what shall be the degree of liberality that they shall exercise toward the settler in the inducements offered to him in order to get him to emigrate to the North- West. This question should be looked at from two stand-points. It should be looked at from the stand- point of what in iibclf per se is right and proper in the matter ; and if the policy which the Government believes to bo a just policy is calculated to secure settlement if no other obstacle is in the way. The next thing for the Government to consider is whether there is any competitor in the market seeking I f, 1 for emiflfrntlon to sottio its now Iannis, or if it Is offering bottor terms than wo are offorinjf . The fact will confront the (xovernmont at this stage that there is a com- petitor for emigrants ft*om Europe for its great wast© of unoccupied lands, desiring to secure settlers upon thooo lands and pushing westward its nettlomonts which has al- ready reached far beyond the Mississippi. The Government will next enquire what are the inducements which this com- peting Government offers, and if the Government of Cana^ia wishes to bo a successAil competitor reason will teach Ihoni at a glance that it will be at least necessary that they will offer equal indncemonts to those, and probably even greater, because the United States territory is more accessible. I hold that our policy hitherto has not been of such a char- acter as to secure a large amount of immigration, bjcuuso ic has not been as liberal in its provisions as THE POLICY OP THE UNITED STATES. When the United States Tonsus was tukon early in 1880 — almost two years ago — the Canadian population of the State of Minnesota was 29.631, and that of the Territory of Dakotah was 10,678, or a total Cunadiaa popu- lation in that State and Territory ol" 40,309. If wo add to this the number of those of English, Scotch and Irish nativity who had emigrated from Canada to those States, I have no doubt that the population drawn from Cana la would exceed 50,000 souls. One year later our own Census was taken, an I that Census gives a population iti Manitoba of 65,000. I presume to say that one year later the Cana- dian population of Dakota and Minnesota was tit tc'st equal to the total population of the Province of Manitoba. This shows, I think, conclusively that tho United States bad offered superior inducements, and through the operation of these superior inducements thny had secured a much greater volume of immigration than we had. I propose to examine briefly what these superior inducements are, and why it is that the United States land regulations are preferred to our own. In tho first place, all unappropriated lands in the country are open to homestead and pro emption. There is no exception to this rule. There is no certain number of sections or townships set apart for special purposes, but wherever the settler can find (suitable land he can homestead and pre-empt upon it. Then, in the United States outside of the railway belt, public lands are sold at $1.25 ])er acre uniformly, and in all parts of the country. While in our own case, outside of tho railway belt south of the Canadian Pacific Eailway, we sell o la nd at $2.50 per acre, or twice the price, and north of ail way belt at $2 per acre, or 75 cents per acre higher I than the Government of the United SlateH charges the Betllor or invoi^tor. Then in the United States they adopt a very liberal proviuion with regard to timber culture, by which upon the planting of ten iicrea of timber the Hettlcr HocureH a grant of 160 acres of Government land, and above all other things the United States Government makes no diNcrimination in favor of great landed pro> Srietors. They never adopted a policy by which land can d purchased and held by the payment of one- tenth down, nor by the operation of which colonization companies, and speculators can secure large blocks of townships and exclude tne actual settler from those blocks unless the lands are purchased upon their own terms. So much for the superior inducements offered by the United States. Just hO long as that country continues to otter superior inducements, just so long as the settler can fiecuro a grunt wherever ho can find unappropriated land for a homestead, just so long as he can buy land at one-half the price, jubt so long as the Government fosters speculators and shows more regard for corporations speculating in large tracts than it does for the actual settler, just so long the United States will secure the fullest shai e of emigration from the old world, and will hecui-e a larger proportion of that from the older Provinces going to the West. sia John's land policy criticized. to the past policy upon the Treasury A few words with reference pursued by the hon. gentlemen Denches with regard to its land ' regulations. One thing in reference to that policy which must strike almost every obr=erver at a glance is its vaccillating character. This in itself would have worked serious injury to the interests of the country. In July, 1879, my hon. friend the hon. the First Minister issued a set of land regulations which were to come into force on 1st August. These land roajulations were allowed to remain in force for two and a-half months, at the expira- tion of which time the criticisms of the most powerful newspaper in this Dominion, fairly compelled the right hon. gentleman to chantre the features of his land regula« tions, and on the I4th Octo'ier we had another set of regu- lations introduced. These regulations continued in opera- tion until 25th May, 1881, when we had another set of regulations introduced. These regulations were allowed to remain in force seven months, and on 23rd Decem- ber last another set was introduced. How long these will be allowed to remain in operation, time will show, but in the ordinary couree of events, after being modified i i I 1 1 I \ by OrdorH in Council from week to weoii, and after existing fur a few months^ wc shall have an entirely now Het of regulations. With respect to the sot of regulations of July 9th, coming into force on Ist August, 1879, by these regU' lations a .supposed lino on the Canadian Pacific Railway was laid down and five belts were laid out on each side oi the line. The first belt A was five miles wide, the second fifteen mites wide, the third twenty miles wide, the fourth twenty miles wide, the fifth fifty miles wide, or in the five belts 110 miles on each side, or a ti*a3t of 220 miles on both sides of the assumed line cf the Canadian Pacific Hallway. Homestead and preemption entries were not allowed at all in belt A, tie first of these belts. In that respect the policy of the irovernment was different from that of the United States, which allowed homestead entries in all belts, \Thether in the railway belt or outside of it. In the second place, the Government restricted homesteads to eighty acres each, and pre-emption to eighty acres, outside of belt A. The settler would pass through the United States, where he uld obtain a homestead entry of 160 acres, whereas in the North-West, where the inducements are less and the distance greater, he could only obtain one-half as large a tract as in the United States. The inducements were not very great, and settlers did not flow in very rapidly. A OOMFULSORr CHANGE OP POLICY. The criticisms of the great journal to which I have referred, compelled the Government, in two months and a-half, to change thoir policy and issue a now set of regulations. Then, by the regulations adopted in this country,only eight sections in each township of thirty-six wore set apart for homestead entries or pre emption, and, in that respect, as I pointed oat a few moments ago, the policy of the Government was less liberal than that of the United States, and continues to be less liberal. Then, the price charged for pre-emptions in belts B and C, under these regulations, was $2.50 per acre, while in the United States the price charged for pre-emption entries similarly situated was $1.25 per acre. In belt I) the price was $2 while in the United States it was $1.25. So, wherever a comparison was instituted by the settler between the policy of the right hon. gentleman, with respect to homesteads, in size, price, or location, and that of the United States, it was unfavorable to Canada, and would be calculated to divert immigration from the North- West. In addition to this ieature, the right hon. gentleman introduced another and a still more pernicious feature — 8 THE STBTEM OF CREDIT SALEt). He offered land on credit, a payment of one-tenth down being required, and the balance in nine equal annual instal- ments. In the fifty mile belt, 8peculatoi*s, by paying 10 cents per acre, could secure control of the land. It was a magnificent opportunity when $100 would secure 1,000 acres, and it was an opportunity of which speculators availed themselves with avidity. It was an opportunity which, whatever its advantages might be to speculators, was sure to work lasting injury to the country and to the interests of those who wished to till the soil. The effect of this policy, as I pointed out a few moments ago, was plainly visible in the Census returns of the two countries. The I4th of October came and we had another set of regulations, and those regulations made the farms of homesteadin^ somewhat more liberal, very much more liberal as regards the quantity of land. They allowed the homesteader to enter for 160 acres, and allowed him to pre-empt another 160 acres. They also opened belt A to the operation of the homestead and pre-emption law, but they did not increase the area in each township allowed to be homesteaded and pre-empted, nor did they remove the discrepancy in price between the pre-emption entry in Canada and the United States ; and the regulations alsa continued the pernicious system of credit sales, and in these three respects the position of Canada as a field for immigration was much less favorable than the United States. These regulations remained in force until the 25th of May, 1881. THE GREAT RAILWAY SWINDLE. In the meantime we had consummated an arrange- ment; a bargain which, I fear, will not cover hon, gentlemen opposite with honor, and will not, I fear, bring upon them the blessings of posterity. We had, in the meantime, made arrangements by which it became no longer necess^ary to hold that reserve of 100,000,000 acres of land for the purposes of the Canadian Pacific Eailway. We had made an arrangement by which we gave to a company, in completed road and surveys, a sum three-fifths as great as that which they were called upon to pay for the con- struction of the balance of the Ime ; by which the company were given, in cash, one-half as much as the cost of the completed line; by which they were given a grant of land worth, according to the valuation of hon. gentlemen opposite, which is three-fifths of the rate at which the [Syndicate are selling lands at the present time, one and a-Lalf times the cost of the con- 'f 9 struction of the line. This favored company will receive two and a-half times the cost of constructing the line, besides the transportation monopoly and various other per- qaisites and privileges which made this, I was going to say, the greatest railway swindle of the age—but I will not say that — but made it a very soft thing for the gentlemen who made this bargain with the hon. gentlemen on the Treasury benches. This arrangement having been made, it became necessary, of course, to adopt I NEW REGULATIONS, and these were passed on 25th May, 1881. By these roguid- tions belts were laid off on each side of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and projected branches, twenty-four miles in width. In those belts alternate sections wcr ' j^ranted to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. \u ilio alternate sec- tions not granted to the Railway Conujuny, the same conditions as regards homesteads and pre-emptions, wore observed as under the former regulations : 160 acres for homestead and 160 acres for pre-emption claims were allowed, and the price of the pro-ompiion claims in the railway belt was fixed at 8^.50 per acre, which was exactly equivalent to the price in the United States within railway belts. Outside of the railway belt eight- thirty-sixths of each township were for homesteads, and an equal quantity for pre emption entries ; and the price of the pre-emption land was $2 per acre, or 7i> centa per acre higher than the corresponding lands in the United States. Under the two preceding regulations. Sir, wo had the evil of credit sales and of violation, to a great extent, I believe, of the Statute with referonco to the restriction of sales to 640 acres to each individual. We had, under the restrictions of the 25th of May, 1^81, a new danger. Credit sales had ceased, and I pret*ume the sales to speculators of any amounts greater than 640 acres, have ecasoJ ; but there is a new and dangerous feature in this system, a feature charact- erized as colonization schemes, but a plan which should be characterized as one that facilitates the creation of great estates ; a plan for ROBBING THE POOR for the benefit of the rich; a plan for depriving the settler of the opportunity of purchasing his land at first cost in order that speculators and landsharks might compel him to pay such a price as they might be able to squeeze from him. The chief outlines of this fccheme were as follows: In the first place, it was necessary to obtain the Government's consent to the purchase of lands without limit as to quantity. If the settler went to the Land Office to purchase one aero or a quartei^section, ho would be charged the full price, but the speculator goes there and makes his bargain with the Gov- ernment. Ho pays : ' I want this block often or fifteen or twenty townships on the terms which you have been gra- cious enough to accord to us, viz., at half the price you ■would sell it to the hardy son of toil." The company binds itself to certain conditions. If these conditions were kept, at the end of five 3'oars the sale was consummated. If these conditions were not kept, then the Government might either , pre-emption sales, cash sales, and sales for scrip, of $3,56 J,60 J. The other calculations of the right hon. gentleman were equally widely astray. He estimates that the sales of lands for 1880, apart fro.n homesteads and railway lands, would amount to $1,440,0 JO, and by a ratio of increase which ho gave us, that the sales for 1881 would amount to $1,725,000; yet we find that the sales for 1881 amounted to $191,626. He also estimated that 3,000 homesteads would be granted each year — and he comes nearer in that estimate to the truth than in other cases, because the actual number granted last year was 1,754, a little over one-half what he estimated. REPOET DEFICIENT IN INFORMATION. It may be pertinent to the question at this stage to make a few remarks with regard to the report which the hon. gentleman laid on the Table a few days ago. That report is singularly deficient in statistical infor- mation; all the statistics contained in it could easily be placed on one page; but so as to pad it out and to make it a volume of the size it is — and it is a very small volume at that — field notes wore thrown in extensively ; nine-tenths of the report consists of surveyors' field notes. Well, they may possess considerable value, but the informa- tion given in tbom might bo placed in a more condensed form. I would suggest to the hon. gentleman, if he will permit the suggestion, that we ought to have in this report the following information for each year since the North- West was acquired: A statement of the total number of homestead entries in each year, the total number of pre- emption entries, the receipts in detail, the number of acres surveyed, the cost of surveys, the cost of the Land Depart- ment, land offices, and various incidental expenses, the timber licenses granted ani the revenue from the royalty on timber, the pasture leases granted, the colonization plans and the revenue from such, and the amounts outstanding from the sales of land. I 14 think if the hon. gontloman will give us a report in each year embracing the information to which I have briefly allulod, it will make the report valuable to the country and interesting to the House, and this can easily be done. It is well known to all heads of Departments that the character of our reports is such that they will admit of groat im- provement, and they would not then be in a condition of perfection. Now, Sir, I come to the consideration of the PRESENT LAND REGULATIONS, and with regard to these regulations, Mi*. Speaker, we can only judge as to their character by ihe regulations which I hold in my hands. The right hon. gentleman informed us last night that a set of agreements had been prepared — I think he told us— which made these regulations very stringent. Well, there may be con- ditions in these agreements which may somewhat alter the character of the regulations, as they appear on the surface ; but in the consideration of this matter, I shall be governed by the language employed in these regulations. The conditions which are set forth in these regulations, I shall assume are the conditions which are in force, whatever qualifications may be made by these papers which are to be brought down. Under these regulations, Mr. Speaker, the public lands in the North- West are divided into four classes — classes A, B, C, and D. Class A consists of the lands within twenty- four miles of the Canadian Pacific Eoad, or of any of its branches. Class B consists of lands within twelve miles of any projected line recognized by the Governor in Council, other than the Canadian Pacific line, or its branches. Class C consists of all lands south of the main line of the Canadian Pacific road, not embraced in classes A and B. Class D con- sists of all lands north of the main line of the Canadian Pacific road, not embraced in classes A and B. As before, pre- emptions and homestead entries are permitted in sixteen sections out of the 36 sections in these townships ; that is, eight sections are devoted to homestead entries and eightto pre-emptions. The lands in class C, that is outside of the railway belt, south of the Canadian Pacific Eailway, are held at $2.50 per acre, double the price at which pre-emption entries are held in the United States where pre-emption lands of similar situation are held at $ 1.25 an acre. The lands in class D are held at 75 cents an acre higher than pre-emption claims in corresponding localitiesin the United States, and the disparity of price in these public lands is the same. Public lands are sold to actual settlers in class C at double the price which is asked for relative situations in the United States, I I, » 15 and the public lands in class B arc sold to actual settle) s at 75 cents an acre higher than the prices of public lands in relatively the same situations in the United Statei^. Sir, in addition to this restricted area which is set apart for home- steads and pre-emptions, we have under these regulations a i*ule for colonization schemes, which will give to speculators^ at one half the price, all lands that are reserved for home- steads and pre-emptions in this groat region, which i» embraced in Class I). By colonization plan No. 2, 1 repeat, that all lands in Class D, which covers more than one-half of the public domain of the NorthWest, may bo retired from the market and placed in the hands of speculators ; while homestead settlers and pre-emption settlers are excluded entirely from this vast region. And, Sir, upon the whim of the Minister, homestead lands and pre-emption lands may be withdrawn from cntrj' and put up at auction, sale, under section 2, sub-section C, of these land regula- tions. Now, here are two plans, by which the interests of the homestead settler and the interests of the man who wishes to make a pre-emption entry, are placed AT THE MERCY OF ONE MAN — at the mercy of the hon. the Minister of the Interior. The hon. the Minister of the Interior may give up the whole of that region to the operation of these per- nicious colonization schemes, or he may withdraw the homestead lands and pre-emption lands in the whole of this belt D, from settlement and entry, and put these lands up for sale at auction. I hold, Sir, that the placing in the hands of any one man a power as great as this, is an act fraught with danger to the interests of this country. I hold, Sir, that no rn.an should be invested with a power so despotic — powers that may bo used to the injury of the great maris of the people of Canada in the manner in which these powers may be used ; and with regard, Sir, to the' authority for this scheme of colonization — the authority under which it is proposed to place millions upon millions of acres of land in the hands of speculators — the authority under which the whole of the public domain of the North- West outside of the railway belt may pass away for ever from the operations of a settlement policy conceived in the interest ot the landless and those who are to become settlers— I say, Sir, the legislation upon which this vast policy rests, it seems to me is entirely insufficient. The little clause in this Bill upon which this policy is predi- cated, Sir, is as follows : — " Provided that no piirchase shall be permiited at a less price than $1 an acte ; proTided also that except in special cases, where otherwise 16 ordered by the Oovernor in Oouncil, no sale to one person shall exceed a section of 640 acres. Sect. 2 1." Well, Sir, are these special cases? Are these the except- ional cases ? Are these the inisolatcd cases, where sales of more than C40 acres are to be permitted — cases that are to cover the whole country — cases that are to sweep away from the possession of the tettler and the landless, not an isolated tract heio and there, but the whole of belt 1> possibly, and all lands outside of the belt of the Canadian Pacitic Ivaiiway. I hold that the assumption baiiied on this little clause is a monstrous one, and that the policy of the Government in this respect is one pernicious in its character, and one not warranted by the character of the legislation which is contained in that Bill. Well, Sir, what are these plans ? What are the features of this plan lHo. 1, and of this plan No. 2, contained in those regulations, by which THE SETTLER MAY BE DEFRAUDED OF HIS RIQIITS ; by which corporations may be invested with dukedoms and kingdoms; and by which the manipulations and operations of speculators may be made the curse of the whole of this vast region in future years? Here is plan No. 1. 1 understand that it is the popular plan at present, simply because it requires a very small payment in cash, a payment of one- £fth down, and the balance to be paid in four equal annual instalments; and as it is provided that interest, at the rate of 6 per cent., is to be charged upon past due instalments, it is to be supjjosed that no very serious consequences will ensue if the speculators allow their payments to fall into nrrear. Hero is the plan — lands may be granted under this plan in bolt D, and there is no restriction as to urea. It may consist of lots and it may consist of townships. It is left entirely within the discretion ofthehon. gen I Ionian whether four townships, or ten, or thirty or forty townships aio granted. He may, if he chooses, give to his favorites one-half of that great region, there is no restriction whatever ; the grants are to be made in belt D and the price is to bo $2 an acre, and the payments, one-fifth down, or 40 cents an acre, and then the balance in equal annual instalments during four years without interest. The requirements of the scheme are as follows : the party pur- chasing the land is to place in each township thirty-two settlers on homesteads, and is allowed, as in previous cases, to advance 8500 to each settler and take a mortgage on his claim at 6 per cent, interest ; thirty-two settlers are to be placed on Government lands, two on each section, making in all sixty-four settlers, which the company has to place -< i It in each township, and upon which they are to receive a rebate of one-half the purchase price, or $1 an acre, leaving the net cost of the land at $1 an acre. The time they have to fulfil these conditions is five years, and in each year upon the placing of a settler in this town- ship they receive a rebate of $120. Year after year as they place settlers, they receive at the expiration of the year a rebate of $120 for each settler. At the expiration of the time, if the full number of settlers are there, they receive the full rebate of one-half ; but if the full number is not settled they receive in the same proportion as if they were. They ai-e to receive a rebate of $160 for each settler, but it is provided my hon. friend may say thai unless they fulfill the conditions contained in this colonization plan of placing sixty-four settlers in each town- ship their rights may be declared forfeited and the land taken from them. The right hon. the leader of the Government said, last night, however, that the forfeiture condition was of very small consequence. I presume it is. I imagine that the cases where rights of colonization companies will be declared forfeited, in consequence of their not having ful- filled the conditions of this agreement, will be exceedingly rare. DANOBB OF OORBUPT PRACTICES. But there is a bad feature here. It strikes me it is a dangerous power to place in the hands of a Minister of the Crown, to say of a company whether their rights, involving possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars, shall be forfeited or not. It strikes me that, under such circumstances, there is a chance of Introducing those influences which it was charged a few years ago, were used with Judges in the city of iTew York. I recollect reading of a case where a suitor, who was extremely anxious as to the result of a suit, in the course of adjudication had called upon one of the Judges. He had heard that Judges in New York were open to corrupt influences, and was a little doubtful whether in this particular case it would be safe to assume that was the case. After some conversation he said hesitatingly and fearfully : " I suppose, your Honor, it would not answer for me to make any sug- gestion as to compensation, or any thing of that kind in this matter ?" The Judge said : " The sooner you get rid, my friend, of scruples of that character the more likely you will be to win your case in Court." There is danger in a matter of this kind when one man has power to declare whether rights will be forfeited or not, of corrupt practices being used. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD. I call my hon. friends attention to sub-section B, of section 10, of the regulations : 2 18 "But if it should be found that the full number of settlers required by these regulations are nut on the tract, or are not placed on in con- formity with Hub-section B of clause 9 uf those regulations, then for each settler fewer than the required numbor, or not placed in conformity with the said sub-section, the i>arty shall forfeit one hundred and sixty dollars of rebate." Mr. CHAKLTON. 1 am discusHing, at present, the col- onization plan No. 1, and I am dwelling upon section 10, sub-section C, which reads as follows : — "If at any time during the existence of the contract the party shall have failed to perform any of tho conditions thereof, the Goyernor in Council may cancel the sale of the land purchased by it, and deal with the party as may seem meet under the circumstances." The hon. gentleman will recollect that last night he told us the forfeiture conditions were of very little con- sequence. 1 imagine it will be found they are of very little consequence under that sub-section which gives permipsive power, and does not make it man- datory upon the Minister, I hold the door is opened for corruption, aud that these regulations should say definitely what should be the duty of the Minister, and that there should be no choice in the premises left to him. POSSIBLE PROFITS TO SPECULATORS. Now, 1 come to deal with the possible results. Of courfse, speculators will examine carefully these regula- tions, and calculate what may bo done under this or that condition of things, and what possible results they may be able to attain. Let us look into that question for a few moments. If sixty -four settlers are placed in each township, the company acquire their 10,240 acres of land for « 10,240. That, then, is tho inducement to fulfil the condition of placing the full number of settlers there. Now, if they sell to thirty- two settlers 160 acres each, at 82 an acre, they receive the amount of their investment, $10,240, leaving them 6,180 acres free of cost. But if they sell to that num- ber of setllers 80 acres each at $2 per acre, it leaves them T,680 acres, costing $5,120, or 72 cents per acre. If they sell to thirty settlers 40 acres each, at the Grovernment price of $2, it leaves them 9,680 acres, costing $7,680, or 85 cents an acre. If, however, they should sell, as it is highly probable they will, land at, at least, $4 an acre — I understand the Canadian Pacific Railway is selling lands at $5 an acre - they will have, after eelliug to thirty-two settlers 160 acres each, at $4 an acre or $20,480, will have remaining one half the lands of the Townships and $10, 140 besides. Should they sell thirty-two lots of eighty acres each at $4 each, $10,240, they will have remaining three quarters of the land of the township free of cost. Should tibey dis« ;■' pose of thirty-two plots of forty acres ofich to thirty-two settlers at 84 an acre, which will crivo thorn 85,120, they will still have loft 8.960 ncrew, or thoy will havoscvon. eighths of the lands at a coat of 57 cents por acre. But they may place thirty-two tenants upon thoir own lands, and if these are to be considered settlerH. they get thoir 10,240 acres at 81 an acre. These rocjnlation-^ provi'le thit a company shall havo the privilofjo of obtainint^ all proomp- tions in townships upon certain conditions. The home- steads settlers may. through advances or othei'wiso, be plaf'ed somewhat under the influence of the company, and if they fail to have their pre-emptions entered within three months of the time of their failure to secure their rights in that respect, these corporations may stop in and l^rab every pre-emption claim in the township. It is a beautiful arrangement in tho interests of the speculators. I think my hon. friend in making this arrangement must havo been aided by suggestions from hon. gentlemen who well understood how to manipulate matters of those land speculations, and make a handsome investment with their money. This colonization plan No. 2 founded upon that little three line clause, in this Bill, for exceptional occasions in which sales of more than 640 acres may be made, is hold to enable the right hon. Minister to take himself authority to alienate to speculators the whole of the land in belt D. By this plan all lands in townships, except those reserved for Hudson's Bay, or for school purposes, may be sold to a company. A company may buy all public lands, all homesteads, all pre-emption claims, in a town- ship, and make a sweep of the whole thing, except four sections reserved for tho Hudson's Bay Company and for school purposes, and these purchases may bo made in unlimited quantities ; they may extend over the whole of belt D, which embraces half of tho North- West Under that three line clause tho First Minister has the power to deprive the settler, in the whole of this section, of his right to homestead and pre-emption, and to pass tho whole of that vast region over to the speculators. IT IS A 3I0N8TR0U8 PLAN and it strikes me as most singular that hon. gentle- men opposite are so unfortunate in the policy thoy adopt. What necessity is there for them to adopt a plan like this, which is sure to be so unpopular, which is sure to work such injury to the country, and which can do no good to themselves as a party or as individuals? Well, Sir, the company having bought the lands under this scheme at $2 per aero, is allowei a rebate of 8120 for every settler it 20 places on the tract. It has a period of five years to place the settlerB within these towtitjhip.s. At the expiration of five years, if it has placed 128 seltlers in each one of these townships, whore it hm the whole land, homestead and pre-emption, it then has a rebate of one-half the pur- chase money it has paid and gets the land at the net price of $1 per acre. But I do not notice hero any stipulation as to the number of acres that each one of those settlers shall occupy. I do not notice any stipulations as to the location on which the settlers shall be placted. It does not say they shall be placed on alternate sections, that they shall have 160 acres each. They may all bo placed in one corner of the township. A blacksmith may buy one acre and bo counted a setiler, and the laborer who goes there and culti- vates two or three acres of land given to him by this monopoly is a settler. The settler who goes there and buys forty acres is a settler. They may complete the conditions of this bond ; they may place there 128 settlers in each township, and these settlers may not occupy eight sections of land. These settlers may be so placed in the township as to give to the speculative company three-fourths of the land in that township in one continuous body. Well, lot us see now this thing, to use a slang expression, will pan out— this rich thing; and the only reason that people are not availing themselves of this plan in preference to the other is that it requires a little larger outlay of money at the start. "Under plan No. l,the Company gets possession of the land at 20 cents an acre ;' under plan No. 2 at $2 per acre. But in the event of having to deal with the settler it is a much better plan than the other. Ultimately the result will be more advantageous to the prot^gds of my hon. friend, the spec- ulators. COLONIZATION PLAN NO. 2. Let us see how it will work. If eight sections in each township are sold to settlers in forty-acre lots, at $2 per aero, the company receives for the sale $10,240 ; it gets in robato for tho 128 settlors at the expiration of five years, $30,480. The result is it obtains 15,360 acres for $10,240, or 67 cents per acre; but if it sells to the 128 settlors, in eighty acre lots making sixteen Sections, at $2 per acre, the Government price, the result is it gets fron the amount of sale and the rebate, at the expiration of five years, $40,968. It retains 10,240 acres of land, costing it nothing except the cost of surveys, 5 cents an acre. But if it sells 128 forty acre lots at $4 per aero, which is more likely to be the case, it receives $20,480, and retains 15,360 acres, or three-fourths of the tract free of cost. It receives in rebate and in money received for one-quarter of the f tract sold, tho sam the whole tract ooAt. Bat if it Bells 128 eighty-acre lots to the 128 settlers at 14 an acre, it reoeivoM $40,960 in money and $20,480 in rebate for half the tract, leaving? $20,480 in cash at tho expiration of five years, and 10,240 acres of land. Well, Sir, if the company sells its lands at $2 an acre, the proflti are 100 per cent; if it sells the land at $3 per acre, the proBts are 200 per cent.; if it sells at $4 per acre, they are 300 per cent ; if it sells at $5 per acre, the profits in the transaction are 400 per cent. This matter mav be arrancrod so as to sell half the land in each township and leave a block amounting to over 40,000 arren in one solid block taken out of a block of four townships. We were told last night by tho hon. gentleman — at least I understood him to say — that the grants made already cover some 7,000,000 of acres. I un- derstand that the applications made would cover the country twice over and would roach from tho Red T?iver to tho Rocky Mountains and back again. I would like to inquire of the hon. gentleman whether he is leaving a neutral zone between the Licensed Victualler' grant and the Temper- ance Colonization grant. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD. For my hon. friend's occupation. Mr. CHARLTON. Well, I am afraid there will be future difficulty. Mr. MILLS. That is for the police to look after. Mr. CHARLTON. Well, I am happy we have been able to learn as •much as wo have with regard to the amount of land granted and with regard to the number of applications. I have heard rumors floating around the Department that there were a vast number of them, heard, some days ago that over 300 had been made. CAUTIONING THE GOVERNMENT. I do not know, but I have been led to suspect that the hon. gentleman's supportors behind him were some of them, figuring in these transactions, and I am afraid it will give rise to reports floatincr around the country that political influence had been sold by gontleraen whose votes are essen- tial to hon. gentlemen on the Treasury benches, in the promotion of this scheme. I am very much aft-aid of it. Of course, I would not imagine for a moment the thing was possible — 1 do not assert it is possible ; but I am afraid the character of the hon. gentleman will suifer by the circula- tion of reports of that kind in the country where their probity and honor are not as well known as they are here. d2 Sir JOH'N' A. MACDONALD. Who circulates the reports ? Tho hon. gentlemen ? Mr. CHARLTON". No ; I say that T fear such reports will go into circubition and obtain credence. Sir JOHN A. M AODONALD. Who starts the reports ? Is It the hon. gentleman ? Mr. CHARLTON. I may remind the right hon. gentleman Ihat the eyes of the whole country are upon him. The people are aware of the fact that there is a great rush Of speculators to t ho North-West, they are aware of the fact that the supporters of the Government have already had some influence on former occasioni? in matters of this kind, and there is danger that these reports may obtain circulation and credence. li I OBJECTIONS TO THE TWO C0LONTZ\TI0V PLANS. Well, Mr. Speaker, the objections to these two plans may be very briefly stated. Plan No. 1 deprives the settler of the chance to purchase any land except pre- emption at Government pi-ices. It deprives the settler, I repeat, of all chance to purchase any public land at Govern- ment prices, the only lands he can purchase are pre- emptions ; all the other public land in the country is granted to these companies, it passes into the hands of speculators whose interest is to obtain the utmost farthing they can, and they will do it. That is, in a word, the objection to plan No. 1, a plan conceived, not in the interest of the masses, but in the interest of the few. ^he objections to plan No. 2 are still more serious. It sweeps away the homesteads, it sweeps away the pre-emption claim, it sweeps away the public land, it sweeps into the remorseless maw of these colonization schemes the whole public domain. It leaves the settler no foothold. no pre- emption, no homestead, no possibility of his buying of this paternal Government, one foot of the public land at the regular Govornmcnt price. As I have said before, applications cover the whole country twice over. The hon. gentleman has acknowledged that he has alienated "7,000,000 acres of the public domain fn* the benefit of speculators and to the injm'y of (ho people who are ultimately to fill up the land. Ho has been remiss in his duty. He has forgotten the millions in remomborin;.': the intorcst of the few who come hei'e to seek favors from him and perhaps promise him their support. What are the consequences to follow this? The settlers are obliged to buy the lands from specu- lators perfectly reraorsoless, whose sole and only object is to make money. A> 33 Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD. Hear, hear. Mr. CHARLTON. My hon. friend may laugh, but I do not imagine that these men are actuated by any philan- thropic motiveH in the investments they are making. Their desire is to place money in theif own pockets, and they are going to adopt the course that will best load to that result without reference to the wishes or iriteiests of others than themselves. Then, Sir, another objection to plan No 2, is that it oft'ers great FACILITIES FOR CREATING GREAT ESTATES. estates. As 1 pointed out, the conditions of this land grant may be complied with, by placing 128 settlers in one corner of the township, and that secured, the company retains three-quarters of the land in the township in one body. It offers the best possible advantages for the creation of great landed estates in the North- West, and our hon. friends opposite seem to display a great degree of anxiety to create an aristocracy in this countiy. My hon. friend the Minister of Finance justifies his policy of taxation that builds up monopolies m this country, by broadly asserting that it is a fine thing for the country to have the wealth of the country in the hands of a few, who may live in large houses, keed fast horses, and fancy dogs, and allow the masses of the people to remain poor in order to benefit a few great men. My right hon. friend, a few nights ago, spoke of the creation of great landed estates and enormous farms as something to be desired. He said that on such farms we could have the advantage of maintaining the best kind of agricultural implements and keeping the choicest stock, that we could have the lordly owner riding in his carriage and his sons mounted on blood horses. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD. Who said that ? Mr. CHAELTON. My right hon. friend. Sir JOHN A. MACDON ALD. I ? Mr. CHARLTON. Yes. A few days ago. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD. Hear, hear. Mr. CHARLTON. My right hon. friend, speaking of the great wheat farms in Dakota, said it would be a great blessing to have a policy that would lead to the establish- ment of great estates, thousands and thousands of acres farmed in one body, and thus we would have the best kind of agricultural development, and expensive, processes of enriching the soil, expensive machinery and everything of that kind. But did it ever occur to my right hon. friend that the reverse of that picture might have some attractions 24 i i»'» I >i to present — that the placing of thousands of freeholders on small holdings would be more conducive to national strength and national growth than the gathering together of nabobs holding gi'eat landed estates. I think it would bo better for the country to adopt a policy that would foster the creation of small freeholds, rather than enormous estates such as those which plan No. 2 is calculated to create. Then, Sir, another feature I have to refer to is the remissness of the Government in posting these regulations. VAOILLATINQ BEGULATIONS. We have, first of all, the fitful vacillating character of these regulations, and that feature has been condemned in no uncertain tones in the west by the people who understand best the operation of this policy. The policy of my hon. friend has been condemned, and will be universally condemned in the west by the men who go there to make for themselves homes, and who seek to identify themselves and their posterity with the growth of that country. Not a man of the millions who will ulti mately people that country but will curse the policy which has brought such evils. The Government has also been remiss in informing the people of the changes in their regulations, and the agents knowing nothing about them the lands are withheld for sale. What for ? 1 understand very well the advantage to the speculator of withholding these lands from sale and tiring out the actual settler, who is without means and who cannot afford to dance attendance for weeks and months on the agents and finally leaves in disgust. But the speculator with thousands at stake can afford to wait. He can enter into collusion with the authorities to procure delay and to drive from the country those, who come there to settle, and who would interfere with his speculative in- vestments. The true policy of the Government is to dis- courage speculation, to wash its hands of those men who seek to control tens of thousands of acres of the public domain for their own selfish purposes, who seek to get this land into their hands that they may charge the settler vastly more than they give the Government. I' »f THE TRUE POLICY. The Government should allow no middlemen to come between itself and the men who are to till the soil. It should consider that domain a sacred heritage and itself the trustee charged with the management of the estate for the benefit of its wards, the people of the country. Its policy should be the greatest good to the r i greatest nnmber. It shonld look to the Aitare and strive to adopt a policy that will inure to the benefit of the millions of settlers, and not to establish a system that will result in the aggregation of vast fortunes in the possession of the few. There are other bad features in the Govern- ment land policy in addition to its provisions regarding colonization. In fact, Sir, the land policy of the Govern- ment abounds in bad features. We have the pasturage lease policy, a policv by which the Government is permitted to grant leases of great tracts of land, to the extent of 100,000 acres, to their favorites. And having granted these leases the Government has the power, at the mere whim or caprice of the hon. First Minister, to give two years' notice to terminate any of these leases. It can hold the rod over the leaseholder and compel him to become its supporter, and to do many things which a free man would not do. Then, with reference to the timber berths. The Government may let them without competition to its favorites. That is a bad policy, and a policy that every man should condemn. These franchises should be put up to public competition and sold to the highest bidder. There should be no hole and comer work, no dancing attendance in small cliques at the o£Sce door of my right hon. friend, seeking the favors which it is within his power to dispense under this policy. THE DOOR OF CORRUPTION IS OPEN WIDE, I do not say designedly, but is opened wide by the policy of hon. gentlemen opposite. Private members may lobby for the promotion of various claims, they may sell their influence to procure grants under coloniza- tion plans No. 1 and 2; they may themselves become members of colonization companies under either plan. The result is that a corrupt influence is brought to bear upon the Government. Then, Sir, they may sell their influence again in favor of companies regardiug which the Govern- ment has to decide whether to cancel their claims, they having failed to fulfil their engagement, or to make them Say and allow them to retain their lands. Here are two oors open to corruption on the part of private members, and when the door is open there will surely be some person to enter. In the nature of things wherever corruption is invited corruption will exist. Then, Sir, corrupt influences may be brought to bear upon my right hon. friend to with- draw pre-emption and homestead lands, for settlement and advertize these lands for sale at auction. I can easily con- ceive of circumstances in which it may be in the interest of colonization companies to make bogus returns as to the number of settlers — to report that they have 128 settlers 3 m II when they have not a dozou, or when perhaps not half of the number are actual bona fide settlers. Corrupt influences might be brought to bear in making false reprosentatious which would enable the company to got a rebate of 81 per acre when they are not entitled to it. I can imagine eases where corrupt influences might be brought to bear in pro- curing timber licensos without having thohe licenses pro- perly put up to auction. 1 can imagine cases where corrupt influences might be brought to bear in procuring pasture leases, and coal and mineral leases, and these corrupt practices might be engaged in by private members who might be induced to sell their influence with the Gov- ernment for corrupt purposes. My heart is filled with pain when I think of the temptations that my immaculate friend the hon. the Minister of Eailways may be subjected to. My heart is pained when [ think of the tempta- tions that the hon. the First Minister may be subjected to. We have a prayer which implores, "lead us not into temptation." The Government is adopting a policy that is cer- tain to lead ihem into temptation, and unless Divine strength is accorded them to deliver them from evil, they will be almost certain to fall into it. It tills my heart with pain to think that they should be subjected to such great temptations as inevitably await them under this policy. Let us see what these temptations are. Suppose the agent of a company desiring to make an agreement under colonization plan No. 1, finds that the gentlemen on the Treasury benches are not favorable to his proposition. Is there not danger that the man might be disposed to offer a consideration for the allotment of a few townships ? Is there not danger that, unless the hon. gentlemen were per- fectly immaculate,some hon. Minister might accept a bribe of that kind ? My hon . friend tosses his head, but I can tell him that corruption has existed in Governments before to-day, that corruption will be found in Governments after today, and that a policy such as this is calculated to pro- duce corruption and the people of this country will condemn this poliey simply because it invites corruption. We are all human, and this policy is excessively human. This corrupt influence might also be brought to bear by the speculator in inducing the withdrawal of lands from home- stead or pre-emption, and having them placed in the market at auction, thus depriving the settler of his chances of mak- ing pre-emption and homestead entries. Suppose there la a block of townships, sixteen sections in which are open to homestead and pre-emption, and speculators are desirous * ,'■ that they nhall be withdrawn by thehon. Firnt Miuiator from actual Hettlement, is there no possibility of conuption ? Is there not danger that a largo hiiin might bo otfoied for their retirement from hoTnostoad and pre-emp- tion? There is, iind it is wronfr that such a power should exist with the Government. The same difficulty exists wilh regard to the piovisions for timber leases and pasture leases. The door is open in every one of these cases, inviting the use of coirupt nicuns for the purposes of speculators SPECULATORS Fi,0CKING TO OTTAWA LIKE DOVES TO THfclR WINPOWS. I have seen about the Departments an unusual number of strange faces this winter. Sir JOHN A. MACDONALD. What were you there for? Mr. CHARLTON. I wm there, from time to time vairly seeking to get a summary of the information that the hon. gentleman promised to bring down before to the House, that would enable us intelligently to discuss this question. I was there in the prosecution of my duty as the represent- ative of a constituency, looking after the interests of my constituents, and it was then tliat I saw the things I am about to speak of. I did not go there looking after the interests of any colonization schemes. I did not belong to the right side. I find in the lists of stockholders of these schemes the names of many political friends of the hon. gentleman. I have seen hundreds ofstrange faces about the Department, men gathered together in knots and groups, and men singly. The doors of the Minister's Department have been beset, and it was difficult, to obtain an interview with the Secretary, much less with the Deputy Head or the Head of the Department. I do not know what they were doing there. I did not know but that some great public exigency had called these men to Ottawa, or that they were here from some patriotic motive, or in conseqi'ence of some great public danger. The lines of Whittier were suggested to my mind : " Wherever outraged nature aska tbougbt or action brave, Wherever struggles labor, wherever groans a slave. Wherever rise the people, wherever falls the wrong. The bounding pulse of freedom's heart finds answer i in his own. I looked at those faces to see if they would fill the Bill, and thought they were not the men whom 1 would credit with possessing characteristics such as those. On the con- trary, they were men who were evidently intent upon securing some gain for themselves, and it became evident to ,•^1 ! I: ( i If 28 mo that they were seeking favors in the wav of coloniza- tion grants, and that their operations were facilitated and promoted by the regulations which ray hon. friend has adopted, WHICH PIBMIT OHIOANEBT AND TRAUD, and political expediency to take away from the people what is their sacred heritage. We condemn the policy of the Gov- ernment because it permits those varied influences to exist. We condemn the policy of the Government because it forgets that- Canada is a free democratic land ; because it fJEtvors the speculator, and seeks to give him land at half price ; because it desires to create in Canada great landed estates ; because it introduces, or seeks to introduce, the tenant system in Ganada, because it would compel the bona fide tiller of the soil to pay vastly more for his acres than the Government receives, and because it loses sight of the future, and of the millions, and barters priceless inheritances and issues for the advantage of camp followers and gamblers. I beg to move the following resolution : — That Mr. Speaker do not now leave the Chair, but that it be resolred, — That the present Land Regulations provide that odd-numbered sec- tions in the Canadian North- West, outside of the Canadian Pacific Rail- way Belt, shall be open to sale without conditions of settlement. That the so-called Colonization Plan No. 1, provides that parties may purchase large tracks of land on credit at $2 per acre, with a pro- viso for the rebate of one half of the price on certain conditions, thus reducing the cost to $1 per acre | or one half the price oharsed to indi- vidual settlers for their pre-emi>tions, or other purchases in odd sections. That the so-called Colonization Plan No. 2 provides that parties may purchase large tracts embracing all the Government lands wiihin their area (from which homestead and pre-emption settlers are thus to be excluded), paying $2 per acre, without any express conditions of for^ feiture in caso of non-settlement, and with the additional advantage of a large rebate, amounting under certain conditions to $1 per acre from the price, in case the purchasers choose to effect a so-called settlement within each township, but without any provision as to the acreage to be given, or the interest to be secured to each so-called settler. That these regulations are calculated injuriously to affect the future of the country by faciliatatine the creation of large landed estates ; by placing extended areas of the choicest lands in the hands of specu- lators, who have favorable opportunities in securing them in anti- cipation of the settler, and who may hold them for a large advance to be paid by the ultimate settler, whereby the country will gain nothing in price, and will lose through the diminished ability of the settler to con- tribute to the public revenues. That in the opinio of this House our aim should be to people the agricultural regions Oi' the North- WeM. mi'i independent freeholders, each cultivating his own farm, and pajiiig therefore no more than the ■ public treasury receives ; and that, save in the case of town plots, or other exceptional cases, the sale of North West igricultural lands should as a rule be made to actual settlers only, on reasonable condi- tions of settlement, and in quantities limited to the area which can be reasonably occupied by a settler. Printed by HaoLiav, Rooib k Co., Parliamentary Printers, Wellington Street Ottawa. H^ .. ■•''^'KL' ./',-?•»?! ,• 1 ^ ■■■A, ■ >'*, .v; 4' ■''»Vi>>iL-«'>*"U ' Js3« i ' .'.*.i^^'..- X^\ . ■i*"'-™?^^, J ,** 1^!^'** ^ J14.»^ l„W^ ^7 "J. mp '•'■-