The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

118 ed a périod of three or four months' would elapse before the subject of the recommendation was finally discharg-- . ed. The Attorney--General said that he had no objection to offer, and that the point had long been a subject of re-- mark and discussion by the Warden of the reformatory. . HMe recalled the fact that when Sir Oliver Mowat was Pre-- mier correspondence had passed be-- tween the Government and Sir John Thcmpson on the subject of allowing the Province full control of the cases of inmates of these institutions who were serving indeterminate sentences. This view had not been assented. to, but it was agreed that in these cases the recommendation for a pardon should be taken up promptly, and in-- stead of a formal communication a tele-- gram should be sent to expedite the action to be taken on the recommen-- dstion. He was not aware if there had been a relapse into the old condition of cireumlocution and delay, but he would 'second the motion for the return. Local Improvements. _ Mr. Pattullo's bill to allow munici-- palities where the local improvement act has not been adopted to carry on certain permanent improvements was read a seeond time, > * Hawkers and Pedd_lers' Act. --Mr. Pardee moved the second reading of a bill imposing the following fees upon hawkers and peddlers: $100 for a two or one horse waggon, %25 for carry-- ing a basket or pack, $25 for a push cart, and $1 for carrying a basket, the licensee to carry his license with him at all times. The Attorney--General agreed to the bill going to the Munici-- pal Committee, although he pointed out that the meagure would be prohibiting in its effect. > * Mr. Mutrie moved the second reading of a bill providing that the financial year of municipalities, excepting To-- ronto, should begin on December 1 each year, and that the auditors' statement should be filed on or before December 10. He said that the bill was before the Munieipal Committee last year, and as a result of inquiries subsequently made 376 municipalities had pronounc-- ed upon the measure, and of these 249 were in favor and 117 against the bill. Mr. Pattullo thought the present municipal elections were held at a very inconvenient period. It would be bet-- ter if they took place about the last of January or the first week in Febru-- ary. The Attorney--General supposed the municipal act would never be in such a condition that it would prove entirely satisfactory to everyone. There would always be some originator of ingenious Hon. J. R. Stratton said that at the Municipal Committee the general opin-- ion was that any such change would lead to great confusion. @ Mr. Whitney thought no injury would result to any municipality if the muni-- cipal act was left untouched for six years. If the act was constantly tam-- pered with it might need eventually to be destroyed, and a new law con-- structed by experts, under the direetion of the House. i The Municipal Year. were absolutely necessary to the work-- ing out of the law. A great many of the bills introduced deserved to be pooh--poohed, but others again contain-- ed useful suggestions. He did not ap-- prove of the present bill, and thought it ought not to be referred to the Muni-- cipal Committee. Mr. Mutrie said Mr. Stratton was mistaken in supposing the Municipal Committee opposed the bill. Mr. Hardy last year considered it a radical change, but suggested that the feeling of the municipalities be tested upon the bill. That had been done, and two--thirds of the municipalities had expressed them-- selves in its favor. However, if the House was opposed to the bill he would withdraw it. The bill was then withdrawn. Mr. Tucker's bill to provide for the equalization of union school assess-- ments every three years was with-- drawn, on the suggestion of the Min-- ister of Edueation. Width of Waggon Tires. An interesting discussion took place upon Mr. Fox's bill prohibiting the manufacture in Ontario, save for ex-- port, of wheeled vehicles drawn by horses and intended for the carrying of a burden of 2,000 pounds, with tires of geslst "\)vlldth than three inches, after July Mr. Dryden conceded that the object of the bill was right, but doubted whether it could be accomplished in the way suegested, and especially on such short notice. Hon. Mr. Stratton was also in sym-- pathy with some action that would bring about a uniform construction of waggons of a certain width within a reasonable period. The diffieulty, how-- ever, was how to arrive at the dé-- sired end. ¥ 4 4 The bill was read a second time and referred to the Municipal Committee. _ Changes in City's Government. | Mr. Foy explained the provisions of'. his bill making changes in the gov--| ernment of the City of Toronto. 'The bill adds one member to the Board of Control and makes that body an elec-- tive one, the members being elected by the ratepayers at large. The Mayor's dcuble vote is abolished, and the num-- ber of Aldermen to be elected from each ward is reduced' from four to three. The property qualification for Mayor and Aldermen are abolished, ex-- cept such qualifications as are required for a voter in municipal elections. The qualification for a voter is reduced from $400 to $300, and the date of the muni-- cipal elections is fixed on January 1, or the next day if that date falls on Sun-- day. The power of the police to is-- sue licenses to vehicles regularly used for hire is extended by the striking out of the word '"regularly," and the Chief of Police is given the power. to stop sparring exhibitions when an ad-- mission fee is charged, such exhibitions being prohibited, except when a permit is obtained from that official. The city is given power to "purchase or develop" as well as manufacture light and heat, and the provisions of the municipal act where a by--law is to be pussed for the construction of any gas, electric light or water company, incor--