Newfoundland in 1897 - Rumbolt

126 NEWFOUNDLAND :
also exclusive jurisdiction over such matters as the
public debt and the public property ; raising money on
the credit of the Colony by loan ; taxation ; postal
service ; trade ; commerce ; fisheries, etc. The Government
is also the custodian of the public funds, from
which are disbursed the expenses of the various public
services.
There are at present eighteen electoral districts, send-
ing thirty-six members to the House of Assembly. The
voting is by ballot, and manhood suffrage is now
established by law. The Governor, who is also Com-
mander-in-Chief in and over the Colony and its dependencies,
has the power, in the Queen's name, to commute
the sentence of a court of justice ; to summon, open,
prorogue,
and on occasions dissolve the local Parlia-
ment ; to give or withhold assent to, or reserve for the
Eoyal consideration, all bills which have passed both
Chambers. The Legislature must meet once a year.
In reality, the electors govern the country, as they
choose the members of the Assembly, who, by their
votes, maintain in office or overthrow the Government
of the day. The Governor may be said " to reign but
not to rule." He is supposed to act in harmony with
his responsible ministers, unless in some special cases
in which he may consider the principles of the Consti-
tution or Imperial interests to be imperilled.
On the whole, responsible government has worked
well in Newfoundland ; and under it the country has
made great and substantial progress. The boon of selfgovernment,
by which the. people obtained the power of
making their own laws, expending their revenue, and