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OPTIONAL TAX REFORM BILL IS APPROVED BY COMMITTEE MORRISON A RASPUTIN, SAYS LIBERAL MEMBER Legislation Giving Municipalities time Right to Reduce Assessment of Improvements is Sure of a Majority Condemning J. J. Morrison, United Farmers of Ontario Secretary, as the "Tsasputin" behind the Drury Gov- ernment, Ps. It. Hall, Liberal mem- ber for Parry Bound, arose in his seat in the Legislature yesterday and Iemapdttskthat the Government take steps to "suppress the letter-writing activitiey of that gentleman." ' The Municipal Committee ot the Legislature yesterday passed the act Allowing local option in taxation. It gives the municipalities the right to wipe out assessments on improve- ments by a graded scale of reduc- tions provided for in a by-law to be submitted to the ratepayers: . The bill was not adopted unani- mously by the committee, and there will be a further fight when it reaches the House again. Both Hon. Geo. B. Henry and H. H. Dewart, Liberal Leader, were opposed. On a vote of the members ot the com- mittee. eighteen voted in its favor and nine against. The bill, which has already been explained. gives to municipalities the opportunity to make a change, For the last several days, declared the fiery Northerner, "I have been re- ceiving letters asking that I should vote in a certain direction, that I should vote against the Honorable Premier's bill and against the Gov- ernment. It seems to me a very high- handed proceeding. It seems to me there is something wrong some- where. and'hafter making inquiries I find that t is thing emanates from one man. The key to the whole situation will be found in The Farm- er's Sun in the last issue, where we find a letter over the signature of one J. J. Morrison." Mr. Hall proceeded to read a cir- cular letter which he had received from the U.F.O. Secretary, which concluded: "We hope and pray you will do your best to defeat the bill," referring to Bill 181, regarding superannuation allowances for civil servants. _ Will Think for Himself. "I have no desire to defeat that bill," he continued. "I have spoken in favor of it, and I am not going to retract. But there is something behind it that is important to the Government. It is a matter of government in or government out. . Hall of Parry Sound Wants Premier Drury to Stop Letter-writing Activities of J. J. TIIURb'IMY. , " Jfv1 Y r,,'. by making provision for a. petition to the Municipal Council by the ratepayers, and then the submission of a by-law. The by-law muat state the percentage of assessmentto be taken off. It cannot be less than 10 per cent. or over 25 per cent. at one time. Here are men who say the present Government is their Government, that they elected the gentlemen to the positions which they now fill, and here we mave a man behind the throne. the 'Raspuun' of the Farm- ers' Union, a man who assumes the role of dictator, a man who is not satisfied to dictate to his own class, but who undertakes to dictate to those who are not ot his class, and also to dictate to those who are farmers and who are not in the pay of somebody else to obtain a liveli- hood. I farm for my living, 3nd I Those in favor of the bill argued that it would encourage people to improve property. _The opponents said that it would prove a. failure, iiiiriiot Iaiirtrioehiiit J. if." Morri- son to think for, me: - . as it had done in Western Canada. All the Conservatives in the com- mittee, with Mr. Dewart, opposed the bill. All in favor were farmers. except C. F. Swayze (Labor) of Niagara Falls. Several Liberals and a few Conservatives support. the bill, which, with the solid support of Farmers and .Labor; ls assured of a majority in the House. "The bearing of this conduct on the Government is a very serious matter for the Province at large, as well as for the Government. It the people responsible for this thing would think for one moment what irineans these letters would never have been issued. It means this bill, which they hope, and actually pray, I will have common sense enough to oppose, and to vote against, means the defeat of the Government, it there are enough of us here to pro- nounce 'on the bill in that direction. It would be tantamount to a vote of want of confidence, and no self-re- specting Government could remain in ottice. It would have to go back to the country, and the country would be put to the turmoil and ex- pense of a new election. "1 think," he concluded, "it is up to the Government to do something to suppress this kind of thing. It is worse than newspaper talk. I hope somebody will teach this man a little common sense, if he has not got it." 1920.