Mr. FIELDING.

It is capable of meaning that.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

It does not call for examination, except of the surveys, plans and profiles made by those who are to build the road. There is certainly a looseness in the statute in that regard. I think the statute would be satisfied by the examination of those surveys, plans and profiles. Possibly: the government might consider whether there should not be some additional safeguard in that respect.

Mr. BARKER, I would suggest to the Minister of Railways that seventy per cent on half the estimated cost over $15,000 is rather risky ; the government might find it had paid a larger subsidy than it intended to pay. It seems to me a more reasonable proposition would be to allow fifty' per cent absolutely and hold twenty per cent for final

settlement. You would then run no risks. Take fifty per cent instead of seventy as a positive advance that the hank could count upon, and leave the other twenty per cent in suspense.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

The hon. gentleman said the other twenty, it would be the other fifty, would it not ?

Mr. BARKER.

I understand you propose to give them seventy per cent absolutely.

Mr. FITZPATRICK.

Seventy per cent on the excess.

Mu1. BARKER. Do you ever pay the balance of the half of the excess?

Mr. FIELDING.

Not if he accepts the seventy per cent.

Mr. BARKER.

The seventy per cent if accepted by him is taken as a settlement ? The danger is that you may have an overestimate which will cause you to pay him too much. For example, you would pay him too much if the estimate was 819,500 a mile and it actually costs $17,500. I suggest that instead of allowing seventy per cent on half the excess you agree to pay him fifty per cent, you are safe in doing that ; and if in the final settlement he is entitled to more, pay him the other twenty per cent as a final adjustment. Give him a right to collect the other twepty per cent.

Mr. FITZPATRICK.

That is substituting fifty for seventy.

Mr. BARKER.

Pay him finally exactly the sum of money as if under this proposal you gave him seventy per cent.

Mr. EMMERSON.

Why would not sixty and forty per cent be right.

Mr. BARKER.

I think seventy is too high.

Mr. EMMERSON.

Put in sixty and forty, and retain forty per cent for safety.

Bill reported, read the third time and passed.

FIELDING (Minister of Finance) moved the adjournment of the House.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

Some documents were placed on the table with regard to the report of Mr. Justice Britton along with the Order in Council, cancelling the concession. Some suggestion was made this morning that these documents should be printed, but that was not acquiesced in. Then the Minister of Justice was to give some information or a report as to the diversion of traffic from the Intercolonial. The minister will not forget that.

Mr. FITZPATRICK.

I will give my hon. friend a copy of the letters I have received ;

that is all the information I have. In addition to that, I have a statement of claim that I will hand to my hon. friend in the morning. I may say that the measure of damages and the mode of estimating the damages are not here. That will depend on correspondence.

Mr. R. L. BORDEN.

What business will be taken up to-morrow ?

Mr. FIELDING.

We will take up in the morning the resolution respecting the Canada Eastern, and perhaps other resolutions on the Order Paper ; and later in the day, supply will be moved. The Postmaster General will move, the third reading of his Bill, and after three o'clock, the Militia Bill.

Mr. FITZPATRICK.

And my Election Bill. I stated to-day in the absence of the leader of the opposition, that I intended to drop the reference to Algoma so far as Ontario is concerned, and confine the Bill merely to British Columbia and the province of Quebec.