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"to be brought in under the conditions imposed by the bill. Mr. Mageau }save it as his opinion that the value of the timber on the million acres was $21,000,000. The whole scheme was a timber proposition. He thought the timber should be sold in that case, even at $1 per thousand feet. So far as the land was concerned, he would be willing to give it to the rallway, as he had faith in the future of the country. | Mr. J. C. Elliott (Wost Middlesex) deplored the attitude of the Govern-- ment towards the tack combine. Evi-- dence on file in the Attorney--General's Department, which was taken at the investigation some time ago, showed that there was an absolute under-- standing between tack manufacturers fthat they would agree on the prices of their products before selling any : of their output:; also jobbers had been limited as to both buying and sell-- ing prices; men who cut the combine prices were put out of business, and output was deliberately restricted in order to maintain excessive prices. The Middlesex Liberal's position was endorsed by Mr. T. R. Atkinson (Norfolk), who thought the high cost of living was partially due to com-- bines. The time had come, %r. Elliott said, when the House and the peo-- ple of the Province should have the assurance of the Attorney--General's Department that these evils, instead of being smiled upon, will be investi-- gated and remedied. Mr. Rowell told the House he was credibly informed that the combine is being investigated and prosecuted in the United States, where it also operates . "If a merchant under-i takes to buy thread from any other company, this trust has stated to dif-- ferent merchants that they must dis--| continue the sale of this other thread or not have theirs. It means th.ey' must completely cease to deal wltni others. They are controlling the, thread market, they are compelling; merchants to buy exclusively from| them, and they are fixing the prices! at which retailers must sell," said, Mr. Rowell. '"I submit they should| be investigated and prosecuted," ne! added in conclusion. | Attorney--General Declares There is No OQccasion for an Inquiry, Although Mr. Rowell Points Out One is in Progress in the United States. Housekeepers will be compelled to continue paying excessive prices for thread because of the failure of the Ontamo (Government to prosecute the combine which largely controls the sale of thread in the Province of On-- tario . LIBERALS MAKE AN APPEAL Liberal members of the Legislature appealed to the Government last evening to investigate the operations of the trust, but the appeal fell on deaf ears. lon. Mr. Foy declared there was no occasion for the de-- mands of the Opposition. Ontario Government Declines to Investigate THREAD COMBINE TO HAVE ITS WAY } A disquieting _ disclosure in the Public gAccounts Committee was the supplying of milk from tuberculous cows to public institutions in Whitby and Toronto. Mr. Robinson, who had 'charge of the cattle, told of the removal of diseas-- led cattle from a Provincial farm to Whitby 'There the cows were milked, and the milk was lmixed with the product of healthy animals for 'distribution to public institutions. The Toronto JAsylum was supplied with some of this tainte1 milk and some was used in Whitby. There was [a strenuous effort made to weaken the effect of [this evidence, but the more the witness was ques--| tioned and badgered the more glaring was the | 'derelidtion disclosed. It is in such things that. the toleration of incompetence brings the severest ; penalties. A Province endowed with vast re--| sources can endure Governmental incompetence . for years without noticeable resultant hardship. | But there is always a danger that circumstances': will arigse demanding activity, energy, and ability, | and threatening calamitous results from incom-! petence or neglect. } | The Premier has pleaded guilty, on behalf of his colleague, to one of the most serious and sinister acts of which a public representative can |be guilty, There is no denial of guilt. Why is 'there further concealment? Are there still more 'serious offences which the Premier has hope of concealing? The withholding of the Elk Lake telegram from a return to --the House shows the subterfuges to which Sir James can descend. He has admitted a grave offence when exposure was imminent. Why is there further concealment, | and what is there to conceal? | The Premier has already admitted that the . iProvincial Secretary took money for election pur-:; poses from a man who had a contract with thej Province. This is a grave public scandal and aA | deep disgrace for the Ministry. There is even | further significance 'in the continuation of the scheme to use the Public Accounts to suppress instead of to disclose information. What is be-- ing concealed? Hasty, eleventh--hour legislation, inimical to the rights and interests of the municipalities of Goderich, Kincardine, Ashfield, and Huron town-- ship, was averted by the vigilance of the Lib-- erals. A bill to vest the property and franchisge of the Ontario & West Shore Electric Railway in a trustee was drafted without providing -- safe-- guards for the interests of the local municipali-- ties which had guaranteed the company's bonds. . Mr. Proudfoot and Mr. McDonald promptly sup-- ported Mr. Rowell in explaining the special needs and circumstances to the House and securing amendments safeguarding the local interests. It is fort==ate that there is independent supervision in the rush which Ministerial dereliction pre-- cipitates 'as the session draws to a close. NOTES FROM THE LEGISLATURK. It developed at the hearing that the Nipissing Central) Rail-- way was running a semi--pro-- fessional baseball team, and that cows condemned as tuber-- cular were shipped to the Hos-- pital for the Insane at Whitbv. At yesterday's session of the Public Works Committee there was a repetition of last Friday's farce, when Mr. George -- E. Taylor of Taylor, Scott & Co,. declined to answer . questions asked by Mr. Wm. Proudfoot, and was upheld by «the com-- mittee. The Farce Continued more the witness was ques-- the more glaring was the It is in such things that