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Mr. Whitney had complained that the Attorney--General did not institute pro-- ceedings with regard to the corrupt practices. No sooner were they in-- stalled and settled in office than they at once proceeded against the persons charged with corrupt practices, begin-- ring in South Ontario. It was no fault of the Judges nor of themselves that no further prosecutions had been made. -- There were other prosecutions to be made. The Attorney--General's Department was acting as it never act-- ed in an election prosecution before. It was the first time in the history of the country that the intervention of the department had led to prosecution for corrupt practices. Nineteen persons were convicted and sentenced to penal-- ties. More would be taken in their turn, which would show the Govern-- ment were disposed to enforce the law. He declared that the hon. gentlemen opposite were equally to blame for their non--activity in proceeding against those accused of corruption. . Why did they not proceed against the Conservatives in South Ontario ? (Cheers.) If AMr. Whitney thought Mr. Cummings guilty, why did he not prosecute him himself ? Was he exermpted from the dutics and the responsibilities of citizenship ? The Government were not seized of his guilt, they had no Judge's report to that effect. They could not act on newspaper reports, nor until the Judge's report was laid before the House. (Ap-- plause.) Mr. Rosgs explained the short-- age of ballots at the polling booth in Fast Middlesex as due to the munici-- pal authorities putting a larger num-- ber of voters than usual on the list for that subdivision, a cireumstance the Government had nothing to do with. There was nothing to show that any evil resulted from it. Mr. Wahitney magnified a single speck on the escut-- cheon of the Liberal party into a moun-- tain. If he were as sincere in purg-- ing the body politic of corruption there would be no electoral immorality, (Min--« isterial cheers ) f Mr. Whitney interrupted to say he had declared the report inaccurate. Mr. Ross accepted his denial. Government Did Its Part. _ Continuing, Mr. Ross referred to Mr. Whitney's Arnprior speech, in which he declared the commission to be a farce. "I am glad my hon. friend the mem-- ber for North Toronto (Mr. Marter) says 'We will join hands.' His assist-- ance will be useful. I am confident that honest men from all over the coun-- try will join us in endeavoring to so improve the law as to render it more and more difficult for corrupt practiees to prevail, and perhaps render it more easy to punish the offenders. I repeat what I said at Whitby. I believe in the political as well as the moral integrity of this country, and 1 shall be disap-- pointed in our efforts to promote the political -- morality of this country if I do not find active co--operation from a great many of the hon. gentlemen op-- posite." (Ministerial cheers.) the purity of the party, that our object is to do right, and to maintain the po-- litical morality of this country. (Min-- isterial applause.) Will the Opposition Co--operate ? Mr. Ross then pointed out that, while the Opposition had denounced a man in West Tigin who was alleged to have. corrupted 100 voters, they had no con--. demnation for the "brawling brood .of bribers'" who came within the sacred precinets of the Legislature and en-- deavored to corrupt members of, the. House. -- (Ministerial -- applause.) Mr. Whitney clamored for the appointment of a commission, and when one was appointed he took the ground that it was a farce. It was difficult to satisfy the leader of the Oppositon. The Gov-- ernment were not to be stampeded into doing their duty, but had gone about the matter just as soon as they were able. Mr. Ross drew attention to the reputed refugal of the Conservative Executive in West Elgin to testify be-- fore the commission, and asked why they did not take advantage of the election trial in June last, when there were 250 charges presented against Mr. Macnish, and the whole machinery of the election law was available for the purposes of investigation? As to the burning of the ballots, if the Op-- positon had evidence upon the matter why did they not bring it before the commission. Mr. Carscallen professed to believe that the ballots had been deliberately burned. If the Oppositon had evi-- dence that such had been done, let them produce it.. All the evidence was to the contrary. What . motive could there be for such a thing? Leayv-- ing out the question of morality, no person who had--any judgment would, in the interest of any party or Govern-- ment, have suggested such a thing as the burning of ballots. Mr. Ross then pointed out that there had been num-- erous opportunities for disclosing the fact that the bailots had disappeared if the Oppositon had only taken advan-- tage of them. _ 'tThe news of the burning of the ballots bhad been published months ago, and 'The news of the burning of the ballots had been published months ago, and he had been prepared to make a state-- ment on the matter during the bye-- election campaign had he been asked to do so. There was no attempt at concealment. e Mr. Ross argued that the scope of the commission was large enough. For instance, it investigated the burning of the ballots, although not specified in its instructions, and it could examine rmny person whose name was mention--. ed before it, the same as any ordin--. ary court of law. (Ministerial cheers.). In spite of the censorious remarks of] Mr. Whitney, the Crown counsel would discharge his duty honorably. ' To Safeguard Ballots. exmeinemenmiicts s ouc As to the amendments suggested by Mr. Marter, Mr. Ross said they were nearly all covered by the criminal code. In spite of that, he hoped the hon. member would be prepared to as-- sist the Government to make sguch amendments as would be of benefit. He thought they could properly amend the 'elecuon law to provide that ballot 'boxes in controverted cases should be \ kept in a.separate vault, and in this 'way reduce their chances of destruc-- An Insane Act.