Pioneers and Prominent People of Saskatchewan

 

 

17

 

be held responsible for the conduct of public affairs a distinct advance on the road to responsible government.

 

In March, 1892, Premier Haultain visited Ottawa and succeeded in getting an appropriation in lump sum of $193,200, instead of an, itemized vote. This placed real power in the hands of, the Executive Committee. They could now use their discretion in spending the Dominion grant to meet the actual expenses of the country. During the Premier's absence in the East, H. S. Cayley, successor on the Executive Committee to James Clinkskill, who had resigned, held the post of acting premier. On Mr. Haultain's return to Regina in, June, Mr. Cayley resigned and formed an opposition party. Developments came when the House met in August. Mr. Betts, of Prince Albert, at the conclusion of the Premier's Budget speech, charged the Government with ignoring the members of the Saskatchewan district when choosing the Executive, and then moved a resolution, "That the Executive Committee does not possess the confidence of this House." The resolution carried on a vote of thirteen to twelve.

 

Remarkable was the parliamentary procedure that followed. The Executive Committee promptly resigned, and the new Committee, Messrs. Cayley, McKay, Mowat and Reaman, at once found it impossible to carry through their legislation. An amendment by Mr. Haultain, that a bill introduced by the Executive be referred back for amendment, was carried when James H. Ross came down from the Speaker's chair and voted with the ''yeas.'' Then the Speaker and Deputy Speaker resigned, leaving the House evenly divided, thirteen against thirteen, without a Speaker. Mr. Cayley moved that Mr. Sutherland be elected Speaker. What followed is tersely told in the Journals. "And the question being put by the Clerk, the members divided, and the votes being equal the Clerk declared that no election had been held, and the

 

17

 

Pioneers and Prominent People of Saskatchewan