Canadian Affairs.
Up in Canada they are still telling the story of the habitant who, when told that the Queen was dead, asked, “Who is Queen now?” He was told that there was no Queen, but a King had ascended the throne, whereupon the admiring peasant exclaimed, “My, what a pull he must have with Laurier!”
The Canadian parliament assembled at Ottawa on Nov. 22—four months earlier than usual—with its Liberal majority practically unimpaired, and the Premier continues to hold the pre-eminence in Canadian affairs indicated by the artless tribute of the habitant.
The Dominion has not escaped the muck-rakers, and the Conservatives are bringing wholesale charges of corruption at the polls.
On Nov. 29 Minister of Finance Fielding introduced his long anticipated tariff bill. Briefly stated, this measure provides for an intermediate tariff, the rates of which shall be between the preferential rates conceded to the mother country and the general tariff which applies to other countries. This intermediate tariff may be held out as a basis of reciprocity negotiations with such countries as show a disposition to meet the Canadian government half way.