October 15, 1867

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

It is being discussed as fact that when Parliament convenes on November 6, it will be for a short sitting of just one month. The politicians will then reconvene in February when the main agenda will be pursued.

MONCK’S MONTREAL TROUBLES

His Excellency the Governor-General Lord Monck finds himself assailed in the Montreal Gazette for failing to invite members of the House of Commons to dine with him at Rideau Hall.

The Tory paper grumbles that the Governor-General is paid well enough (some $10,000 a year) that he should be entertaining more — one might add especially now that the Government has paid so much money to renovate the new vice-regal home. For what, if not the service of “roast beef and burgundy” to the esteemed members of our new Parliament, who are expected to approve such expenditures on the Governor-General.

The Globe runs the theory that the regular attacks on the Governor-General by the Gazette are the payment of the Messrs. Cartier and Galt, who remain upset that their honours were of lesser prestige than that conferred upon the prime minister. The Globe theorizes that the two men must believe that Monck remained silent when a word from him might have elevated them to the rank they believe they were due.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

The Montreal Herald pans a rumour reported by the Ottawa Citizen that Hon. Alexander Galt (Finance) will introduce legislation fixing the value of the American dollar at 80 cents and the half-dollar, quarter, dime and half-dime fixed at forty, twenty, eight, and four cents respectively.

The Herald does not believe that the problem of American silver will be dealt with in this way, arguing that it would see the removal of the currency from the country altogether which pose an inconvenience greater than the nuisance it is meant to solve.