18 20th August. A. 1896
The Honourable t h e Speaker commanded t h e Gentleman Usher of t h e Black Rod t o proceed t o t h e House of Commons a n d acquaint t h a t House,-" It is H i s Excellency's pleasure they attend him immediately i n this House."
W h o being come with their Speaker, The Honourable James David Edgar said :-
M A Y IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY, -The House of Commom have elected me as t h e i r Speaker, though I a m b u t little able t o fulfil t h e impartant duties t h u s assigned t o me.
I f , in the performance of those duties, I should a t any time fall into error, I pray t h a t t h e fault may be imputed t o me, and not t o t h e Commons, whose servant I am, and who, through me, the better. t o enable them t o discharge their duty t o their Queen and Country, hurnbly claim all t,heir undoubted rights and privileges, especially t h a t they m a y have freedom of speech i n their debates, access t o P o u r Excellency's person a t all seasonable times, and t h a t their proceedings may receive from Y o u r Excellency t h e most favourable interpretation.
The Honourable t h e Speaker of t h e Senate thcn said :
Mit. SPEAKER,-I an1 commanded by H i s Excellency t h e Governor General t o declare to you t h a t he freely confides i n t h e d u t y a n d attachment of t h e House of Com- mons to H e r Majesty's Person and Govet nment ; and not doubting t h a t their proceed- ings will be conducted wit11 wisdom, temper and prudence, he grants, and upon all occasions mill recognize and allow their constitutio~lal privileges. I a m commanded also t o assure you, t h a t t h e Commons shall have ready access t o H i s Excellency upon all seasonable occasion\, and t h a t their proceedings, as well as your words and actioi~s, will constantly receive froln him the most f,~vourahle constructioii.
H i s Excellency t h e Governor General was then pleased t o open t h e Sessio~l 1,y a gracious Speech t o both Houses :-
The necessity of making provision for (,he public service has cormpelled me t o summon you together at this somewhat inconvenient season.
It is i ~ ~ ~ p o s s i h l e to lap b e f o ~ e you, a t this session, t h e public accounts for the past year ; or, indeed, any of t h e reports usually submittetl t o Parliament.
U n d e r these circumstances, and i n view of the f a c t t h a t .uu will be required t o re-assemble early in t h e ellsuing year, i t does not appear expedient t o invite your attention to any measures beyond t h e paspage of the sul~plies.
The operat iou of t h e tariff will be made the subject of careful inquiry during t h e recess, wit11 a view t o the preparation of such a measure :LS may, withuut doing ir~,justice t o m y interest, materially lighten t h e l ~ u r d e n s of t h e peopl*
.
Immediate steps will be taken t o effect a set,t.le~nent of t h e Manitoba School question, and J have every confitlencr t h a t , when P:~rli:~nlent next asselnbleh, this important controversy will have been adjusted satisfactorily.
G e n t l e w ~ e n o f the H o u s e o j Conznzoms :
The Estimates for the current year will be laid before you forthwith.
Gemtlevzen o f the H o u s e o f Conzmons :
I hope t h a t when you will have given t h e necessary attention t o the consideration of t h e year's supplies, I may be able t o relieve you from t h e d u t y of further attendance a t this session of Parliament.
