 Despite calls from Clarke for the federal government to use its power of reservation to stop the legislation , Bulyea granted royal assent December 16 . Sifton , in his capacity as provincial treasurer , immediately tried to access the money ; the Royal , Dominion , and Union banks , where the funds were deposited , refused payment . Attorney @-@ General Mitchell sued the banks ; on November 4 , 1911 , Justice Charles Allen Stuart of the Supreme Court of Alberta found in the government 's favour . The Royal Bank appealed this ruling and unsuccessfully petitioned the federal government to use its powers of disallowance to strike down the provincial act . In the meantime , Sifton announced a new railway policy that would see eight new lines constructed by private companies with the assistance of provincial loan guarantees , including several pioneer lines ; this policy , in its resemblance to the Rutherford policy , met with the approval of the Cross faction , and the Liberals were once more united . 
