Dependencies. From Cuba there was no news of importance. In Porto Rico the November elections—the quietest on record—resulted in large gains for the Republican party, which desires American citizenship and eventual admission to the Union. It obtained sixteen seats in the Lower House of the Legislature against nineteen held by the anti-American party. The United States Government had previously appointed two natives of the island to the Executive Council, giving the natives the majority in it, and a Bill for giving the island popular Government had been favourably reported in the Congress. In the Philippines Governor Burton Harrison's concessions to the natives, and the reductions of official salaries, which drove many Americans to retire from the service, roused severe criticism in the United States, and a Bill promoted by the Administration, promising the islands independence, "as soon as a stable Government shall be established in the Archipelago," was passed by the House of Representatives (Oct. 14) by 211 to 59, but was not taken up by the Senate. At Christmas an unimportant and abortive rising, promoted by an agitator named Ricarti, was reported to have been suppressed at Manila.
II. CANADA.
Parliament met on January 14. Seven new members were introduced, six of them supporters of the Government. Among them was Hon. Arthur Meighan, the new Solicitor-General.
In his speech from the Throne, H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught expressed his gratitude for the public sympathy extended to himself and the Duchess during her serious illness. Reference was also made to the financial stringency from which the country had been suffering, but which was passing away. The necessity for readjusting the representation of the people in Parliament, after the last Census, was stated. An increase in the number of Senators from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia was foreshadowed. No mention was made of any Naval programme. The debate on the Address began on January 19. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Opposition leader, moved an amendment regretting that, while the Speech admitted that business is in a depressed condition, there was no indication on the part of Ministers of a determination to take any steps towards relieving the situation. Replying to him on January 20, the Finance Minister, Hon. W. T. White, so far indicated the policy of the Government as to point out, (1) that "Free Food," as advocated by the Opposition, meant Free Trade; (2) that Free Trade had long been abandoned by both parties in Canada; (3) that the Government did not propose to depart from a policy of reasonable Protection; (4) that the remedy for the high cost of living—which was universal—was an increased universal production; (5) that the Government had voted $10,000,000 for the purpose of increasing production.
On January 21 the two Houses adjourned in token of respect to the memory of Lord Strathcona (see post, Obit.). The Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition joined in eulogising the late Peer; and the Prime Minister read to the House of Commons a despatch from the Colonial Secretary conveying the deep sympathy of the Imperial Government, and closing as follows:—
His name has been for many years a household word among us embodying to all the thought of Canada and her marvellous progress, as well as of his own notable career distinguished by large public usefulness and magnificent liberality, and his memory is assured of an honoured and abiding place in the annals of the Dominion, to which he devoted his faithful service to the end.
Laudatory speeches were delivered also in the Senate.
The absence of any mention of a Navy Bill in 1914 was commented on by the Opposition as proof that no "emergency" existed to justify the Government's Bill of 1913 (A.R., 1913, p. 473). The Government replied in effect that it was useless to bring in a Bill in 1914 in the face of a determinedly hostile Senate; but that the policy and promise of 1913 would be carried out in due time by the Government.
The first division on the Amendment to the Address was taken on January 27, giving the Government a majority of 44. A second amendment was at once moved, regretting that the Speech gave no indication of any intention to take steps to secure free access to the markets of the United States for the wheat and wheat products of Canada, by removing the duty on wheat and wheat products coming into Canada from the United States. This was defeated (Jan. 29) by a majority of 45.
On January 27 the Postmaster-General announced that the Parcels Post system, which had been long under consideration, would be put into operation on February 10. The first parcel was mailed to the Duke and Duchess of Connaught at midnight on February 9.