permission for the purpose of enlistment." Sir Robert is especially wise
when he mentions how only the trained men of the Mounted Police could do
certain duties. Men with less tact, firmness, fairness and discipline
would have had the whole country in a turmoil a dozen times over during
these recent decades. For during this period the West has been seething
with an inrushing tide of polyglot people who have been naturally
disposed to consider that the liberty of a new land gave them
unrestrained licence to do what they pleased. Under proper oversight
they have found their feet without losing their heads.

That year, 1916, Commissioner Perry reported that the Mounted Police had
subscribed $30,000 to the Canadian Patriotic Fund. This later reached
$50,000.00. These men were serving on a small wage, but if they could
not get away to the Front they were going to help the cause to the limit
and when the opportunity would be given they would show their readiness
to go themselves wherever needed.

That year also the Commissioner reported the death of Assistant
Commissioner A. E. R. Cuthbert, to be followed a few years later by the
sudden demise of one of his successors, Assistant Commissioner W. H.
Routledge. Both had given splendid service. Cuthbert had been thirty-one
years with the Force and had served with distinction in South Africa.
Routledge had served in all parts of the West, including the Yukon. He
was a master of detail and system, and did work of unique value in
arranging the reports and working out orderly methods in the use of
documents. In the same report the Commissioner expressed the regret of
himself and the Force at the retirement of Mr. Lawrence Fortescue, who
had joined the corps at the very beginning, had made the trek to the
West and then was recalled to Ottawa to assist with the work of the
Department there. At the time of his retirement he was Comptroller of
the Force. The corps has been fortunate in its Comptrollers, the men who
are official administrative heads and have the general oversight of
expenditures. Lieut.-Colonel Frederick White, who for long and faithful
service was given the C.M.G., was the first Comptroller--a man of great
ability and indefatigable disposition. The present popular and able
Comptroller is Mr. A. A. McLean, a sturdy Highland type from Prince
Edward Island, who was a prominent lawyer and legislator for years. Much
of the steady frictionless movement of the whole department