JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 35 
‘ 
was to speak. But Trevor had a ‘‘squint,’’ and often two 
members in different parts of the house were convinced that 
they had ‘‘ caught the Speaker’s eye.’’ ‘This led to confusion, 
and for the sake of peace and harmony it became necessary for 
Trevor to call the name and it has continued the practice 
since. 
; After the opening ceremonies and before the Speaker 
reports the speech from the throne, it is the invariable practice 
of the leader of the House to introduce a bill and have it read 
a first time. Thus the Journals of last session read: ‘‘ Sir 
Wilfred Laurier introduced a bill No. 1 respecting administra- 
tion of oaths of office, which was read a first time.’’ For the 
twenty-eight years of my parliamentary life this bill has dis- 
charged this duty and is still fresh. This is done in assertion 
of the right of parliament to consider at once other business 
before discussing the matters referred to in the speech of His 
Excellency as representing the Queen. 
The duty of moving the reply to the Speech from the 
Throne is usually allotted to two of the youngest members, 
one English speaking and one French, who, while proud of the 
honor, dread the ordeal of facing an assembly of old debaters, 
although it is the kindest audience in the world to new mem- 
bers on these occasions. Except when the opposition wish to 
delay the other business of the House it has become the prac- 
tice of late years not to have much debate on the address but 
to pass it formally and proceed to more pressing business, 
although while it lasts it is lively and brings out a bright 
attack and reply from the leaders of the Opposition and the 
Government, 
As you are aware, with the large French speaking popula- 
lation of the Province of Quebec, both the French and English 
languages are used in the House. All official documents are 
printed in both languages, and a French translator is kept con- 
stantly at the Clerk’s table in the House whose duty it is to read 
every motion in that languageto the House before it is put from 
the chair. Of late years the use of French in addressing the 
House has been steadily falling into disuse, and is now in 
