Mr. FITZPATRICK.

As I said some time ago, we are dealing with three different chapters of me Revised Statutes. We are dealing with the chapter which has reference to the control of government work, that was a Bill I had myself in my own name; then we are dealing with the chapter which has reference to the Public Works Act, and in addition to that, we are dealing with the chapter which has reference to government railways. That is the Bill we are now dealing with. Row, with respect to government works generally, provision was made that all public works should be let by tender, that was the original provision, with two exceptions: The first was with respect to works of an immediate and urgent necessity, and the next exception was in so far as the work was carried on by the servants of the department-I forget the exact words. Now, under the law as it stood an Order in Council was passed authorizing the minister to deal with a work in which the amount involved does not exceed $5,000 without inviting tenders. That Order in Council was passed in 1880 or 1881. Finding that there was no legislative authority for that Order in Council, 1 deemed it advisable to amend the law accordingly, and I did amend it some two sessions ago, but only with respect to public works, not with respect to the Department of Railways and Canals. Therefore, it is necessary now to amend the law with respect to tfie Department of Railways and Canals so as to make it conform with the Order in Council, and also with the general provisions applicable to the Public Works Act. The amendment was made with respect to the Public Works Act two years ago by 3 Edward VII., chapter 52, and the intention is to make that principle, which was then made applicable to the Public Works, now applicable to the Railways and Canals.

Mr. HAGGART.

There is no limitation in case of emergency ?

Mr. FITZPATRICK.

No.

Mr. FOSTER.

Then what seems to be necessary under that, would be to define the term ' servant and officers,' and that the minister will take into consideration before the third reading.

Mr. FITZPATRICK.

I thought I would inauire as to what the practice has been in

the past, not the practice of recent years, but since the Act has been in force, so as to find out how far we can make an amendment which will conform to the practice itself. '

Mr. FOSTER.

I would rather see the Order in Council abolished.

Mr. FITZPATRICK.

It never had any

existence in law.

Mr. HAGGART.

If I remember rightly, cases of emergency, by the rules and regulations, are decided by Council.

Mr. FITZPATRICK.

No, by the minister. My hon. friend has the experience of a min-inster in that department, whereas I have not, but I think he will find that the practice has been that the minister decided.

Bill reported.

Hon. L. P. BRODEUR (Minister of Inland Revenue).

There is an increase of $16,156.25, made up as follows:

Increase. Decrease.

Inspectors $ 200 00Collectors

1,088 75Deputy collectors, class ' A ' 1,088 75 Deputy collectors, class 'B' 1,820 00 Special class, excisemen.. .. 1,550 00 First-class excisemen.. .. 10,100 00 Second-class excisemen.. .. 3,017 50Probationary class

2,000 00

Accountants and bookkeepers 490 00 Stenographers and typewriters 20 OU

Third-class excisemen $5,380 00

Messengers 780 00

The aggregate amount of the increases is $22,316.25 and the aggregate amount of the decreases $6,160, leaving a balance of $16,156.25. I may say that most of these increases are in accordance with the law and the regulations of the department. The case of the inspectors, for instance, is determined by law. In regard to the deputy collectors, class A and first-class, excisemen, these increases are in accordance with the regulations which have been in existence for about fifteen years.

Mr. FOSTER.

Is that increase of $16,156 an increase in salaries under the regulations and not due to an increase in the number of officers?

Mr. BRODEUR.

It is not due to an increase in the number of officers but last yen r we had what we call promotion examinations among the officers, and it is

' Mr. FITZPATRICK.

determined by the regulations that all who succeed in passing these promotion examinations receive promotion to the class to which they are entitled by the number of points they get in the examinations. The largest increase is $10,100 given to the first-class excisemen. These men were second or third-class excisemen, but having passed their promotion examination they are entitled under the regulations to the promotions which they received.

Mr. FOSTER.

What is the system which the hon. minister at present carries out in reference to these widely distributed officers and the inspection of them in the performance of their duties? Have you here in Ottawa and throughout the Dominion a system of inspection to ensure that these officers are looked after in their work ?

Mr. BRODEUR.

We have inspectors in all the provinces. Take for example the province of Quebec; there are two inspectors to look after the head offices and the out offices. We have in Quebec five divisions. We have two inspectors to look after these five divisions. Each of these divisions has a collector who is the head of the division, but besides these officers we have also two inspectors, one for the Quebec district and another for the Montreal district. These two inspectors are obliged by the regulations and the law to go and inspect all the head offices and all the out offices in the province.

Mr. FOSTER.

How often are these visits of inspection made?