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TO AUTHORILZE SALARIES VOTED COMMISSIONERS THE ~ . IS$ RETROACTIVE Meant to Remedy Alleged Irregularities Dating Back to 1920 R EPC sidipiw IILLIC, Uiii, --@s Pre-- mier Drury called the amendment to the Ontario Power Act, was dis-- cussed for three hours in the Legis-- iature last night, and at>9 o'clock the debate was adjourned, with the promise of the Premier that the bill would be considered again on Wed-- nesdav. On Friday afternoon at a few min-- utes to six the Premier moved that the House take into consideration the second reading of the amend-- ment, which, he saig, would be put through in a few 'minutes. The House adjourned because of lack of a quorum. Sections two and three of the amendment provide for the imcrease of the salaries of two members of the Hydro Commission, Messrs. Car-- michael and Lucas, to $6,000 a year. The change is made retroactive to January 1, 1920. Premier Drury gave an explana-- tion as to why the clauses were there. It was felt that more money should be provided for these men. and the money had been voted to them, since January 1, 1920, by the directors of the Ontario Power Com-- pany, which company was acquired by the Hydro--electric Commission in 191. Power Directors Exceeded Rights. Subsequent to the Government consenting to this increase the legal aspects of the situation were secrutin-- ized, and the Government came to the conclusion that the directors of the Ontario Power Company had no right to vote money at all. This opinion is held by the Attorney--Gen-- eral, who is of the opinion that the Ontario Power Company ceased to be a corporation when its stock was acquired by the Hydro Commission. "The Government endeavored to get the records of the Ontario Power Co. It has not been successful to this day in getting the records. The Government has no official knowl-- edage of the salaries paid. The Gov-- ernment does not know what the situation is," said the. Attorney--Gen-- It came out in the discussion that a sum of $6,000 a year had been voted to the Chairman of the Hydro Commission, Sir Adam Beck, by the directors of the Ontario Power Com-- pany since 1917. Mr. -- Ferguson wanted to know why, since the Gov-- ernment was validating supposedly improper payments made to the other members of the commission, it dAid not also validate the payments made to Sir Adam Beck. -- The Attorney--General said that the Government was not concerned with the Chairman's salary. Noth-- ing had been asked for in this re-- gard.. The Government considered itself under obligation to clear up the salaries for which it was re-- sponsible. "So far as the other sal-- aries are concerned we are in the hands of the House," he said. Cannot Get Company's Records. "Are you going to ratify a portion of the payments you say are illegal and refuse to ratify the others?" asked Mr. Ferguson. The "simple little bill," 1UESDAY, «APRIL --26, 1921. Mr. Forgugon said that the books could be a' at the office of the company. y Government@*Will Not Spy. '"It is maffifestly most improper," said the Pre§fnier, "for a Minister of the Crown taigo to an office of a com-- mission, no matter how strong, to in-- quire into Wooks pertaining to the Government® We had a certain part in this mattér which we put right. If the othe 'iparty will come to us and give inf@rmation we will put it right. We &#te not going to spy on those books by the Minister with-- out portfolio|or in any other man-- Mr. Raney read the correspon-- dence ho had with the Ontario Power Co. last August. The Secre-- tary of the company replied even-- tually that the directors had decided that Col. Carmichael would take up the matter with him personally. Deniecs Being Prompted. "If the debate is adjourned, my voice and vote will be that neither sections two nor three shall be en-- acted into law. I am opposed to the validation of what appears to be an illegal act or improper appropria-- tion of mouey." He said that in committece he would ask that the sections be \_l£th'dx'awn. 4 The Promifer said that there was no doubt that when the money was voted by the dlirectors it was done in good faith. || The Government also, when it app¥foved the increase, act-- ed in good fgith. Later on the Gov-- ernment sa reason to think the arrangement| might be doubtful, and in order to put' on a proper footing that part of@the arrangement it was responsible r the bill was brought in. They knkpw nothing of the other part. No afcess was to 'bhe had to the books. y is t o as eral. Mr. G. G. Halcrow, East Hamil-- ton, asked Cot. Carmichael whom he dealt with when he made inquiries concerning the minutes Mr. Raney had asked for. ""\Vh'atrcnommission. the Hydro Comm#g'bn?" asked Mr. Dewart. . _ '"Certainly. What other commis-- sion would there be?" said Col. Car-- michael. Helthen named the mem-- bers, Sir Ada*\ Beck and Hon. I. B. Lucas. '"'That's wh(tt I wanted to know," said Mr. HaldGeow. "I didn't %t 1 cue," 'said the Colonel heatédly. "For all I care, you can see Ithe note the Premier handed to me." "A member of your Government has access to all the records of that company," said Mr. Ferguson. "Why shirk the situation?" Mr. Raney wished to know if the Hydro wanted the payments to the Chairman ratified. "I understand that their own advisers say it is per-- fectly regular,'"' he said. _ _ Mr. Raney--That is on i ion. 1y my/epP!n '"'The commission," *Baid Col. Car-- michaQl. », Then Col. Carmichael said it was considered by the commission that it was not proper for the minute book to leavé the eustody of the On-- tario Power Co. He said that in-- formaétion was sent the Attorney-- General that he could have free access to th@ books at the office of the company _ _ Mr. Ferguson--The Attorney--Gen eral says it is not regular. "I did not uinderstand your ques-- tion," said thkb Colonel. '"Didn't getkyour cue," suggested Mr. Dewart, ferring to a note that had been harf@ed to Col. Carmichael by the Premier. »newart Oppbses Ratification. J. M. W&bster, West Lambton, moved the &djournment of the de-- bate, and MiF. Dewart said that he was sorry torsee the debate shelved. Before the idebate was adjourned, he said, they should have the atti-- tude of the Attorney--General on the matter. Thg@ member for Grenville (Mr. Forgus@n), he said, had asked for the ratifigation of the remunera-- tion to Sir Adgam Beck and other offi-- cials paid ini'the last four years, the amount of fhzich the Government had no knowledge. "I must take my stand againgt such a position," he "I did no to see the b« Dewart Opyp said. Saiu. F2 Mr. Dewart said he would like to move a six months' hoist of the bill, but he felt he could not do that be-- cause the lagt clause dealt with the validating of:certain by--laws of sev-- eral municipalities. nev x¥ uB0 een tEAW travel out of my way ks," said Mr. Raney.