CHAMPAGNE (Wright) presented the eighth report of the 'Select Committee appointed to supervise the Official Report of the Debates of the House of Commons, as follows :

Your committee recommend that Mr. Robert G. Dunbar, who has from the 19th August, ult., been employed in a temporary capacity on the reporting staff of the Official Report of the Debates, be appointed on the said staff at the same salary as that paid to each member therof,

i.e., $2,000 per annum, and that his appointment and remuneration date from the above mentioned date, viz., 19th August ult.

Mr. L. P. DEMERS (St. John and Iberville) moved :

That the report of the Select Committee appointed to confer with a similar committee of the Senate, for the purpose of revising Rule 51 of the House of Commons and Rule 49 of the Senate, be amended by striking out the words ' over the name and address of the solicitor for the applicants,' in the eighth and ninth lines, and inserting in lieu thereof the following : * signed by or on behalf of the applicant, with the address of the party signing the same,' and that the report as amended, he adopted.

Mr. SPEAKER.

With reference to the revising of the rules, it has been the custom in the past-I do not know if it is the regular procedure and whether it is in conformity with our rule-that resolutions of this kind 'should be considered in Committee of the Whole. Perhaps the hon. member foist. John and Iberville (Mr. Demers) should first move that I leave the Chair for the consideration of these resolutions. Here is what is said in Bourinot at page 261 :

When this committee has reported, its proceedings will he ordered to be printed, generally in the votes and proceedings, and after some time has been given to members for the consideration of the proposed changes, the House will resolve Itself into a Committee of the Whole on the report.

Therefore. I would suggest that a motion should 'be made that I do now leave the Chair, in order that these resolutions may be considered in Committee of the Whole.

Mr. CLARKE.

Might I ask the right hon. Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid. Laurier) if he is going to proceed with this motion Y

We will not proceed with it to-day, but will take it up on another occasion.

Mr. CLARKE.

Might I ask the Prime Minister if he will fix some day, because I wish to offer an amendment ?

I think that before we fix a day we should dispose of the business with Which we are now engaged-the Transcontinental Railway Bill and the Redistribution Bill.

Mr. CLARKE.

1 am asking something to suit my own convenience. I will be absent for a couple of days next week, and would not like this to be gone on with in my absence.

We are now engaged in some business which ought to have precedence of all other business. As soon as it is disposed of we can take up this question.

Motion withdrawn.

1. What lands for ooal mining purposes have been applied for and granted between Frank and Cowley, on the Crow's Nest Pass Railway, and the district extending thirty miles north of said railway, within the last two years ?

2. Have the applicants complied with the regulations ?

3. Has the government extended the time for payments to be made ; and if so, how often has such extension been made, and to whom, and for how long ?

It is impossible to give at present the information asked for as all the files: have to be consulted and they are very numerous. I would ask my hou. friend to let the question drop and renew it later on.

1. Yes, lease dated July 25th, 1900.

2. Lots 9 and 10 on west side of Rideau canal basin In the city of Ottawa, Ont., for 21 years at an annual rental of $230.

3. It is renewable on, August 1st, 1921, for one term not exceeding twenty-one years.

1. What was the total amount of duty collected on tobacco for the year ending 30th June, 1903 ?

2. How much of this amount was due to the additional duty imposed in the session of 1897?