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Mr. Brackin's amendment to the Natural Gas Act, which would have repealed the 1921 legislation appoint- ing a Referee with wide powers re- 'spectinx contracts. was killed on Sec- ond reading. Mr. Brackln would not wither his measure at the request of Hon. Harry Mills, who pointed out that Government legislation was mending by which a hoard of three Upon the very firm statement of the Attorney-General that Mr. Brackin's bill to' amend the Com- panies' Act required more serious consideration than the Legislature at this session could give it, he con- sented to withdraw the bill. It pur- ported to compel a company holding controlling stock in another company to distribute the stock among its shareholders upon the application of any shareholder. ot three. would handle the gas situation. Mr.! Bracicin held the view that Pte would be no advantage in taking the) control out of the hands of one' Referee and placing is in the hands' Then several ot Mr. Brackin'a measures came up for consideration, among them his proposed amend- ment of the Assessment Act as af- fecting distillers, which he agreed to allow to go to the Municipal Com- mittee. - Legal members pointed out that London had its remedy for possible default on the part of the railway company in the Ontario Railway Board, which could order such im- provements as it my fit. . ' Charles McCrea. K.C.. and R. L. Brackln, K.C.. pointed out that there had been the fullest discussion in committee stage, when the same amendment had been discussed and disapproved. The London Street Railway Bill, au- thorizing a five-cent fare on the London Street Railway, was the next order. and, although Dr. II. Steven- son (London) offered strong opposl- tion, it finally passed committee with- out amendment. An amendment moved by the London member to make the five-cent fare condition upon the railway company carrying out certain obligations in the way of improvements was lost, Hon. Walter Rollo voting for it and other Minis- ters of the Government against. A handful of Farmers were with Dr. Stevenson in his battle. After strong representations had been made by Messrs. Pinata, Mageau and Evanturel the Minister consented to alrow the bill to have second reading and go to Committee of the Whole House for further dis- cusslon. Hon. Ax'. H. Ferguson thought it went further than perhaps its spon- sor intended, and destroyed any dis- cretionary powers the Roman Catho- lics might have as to where their school taxes should go. Hon. R. H. Grant, Minister of Education, opposed the measure on the ground that it sought "to make the guardian who is not a Roman Catholic act as though he were a Roman Catholic." J. A. Pinard, Ottawa, found some support in the Legislature yesterday for the principle of his amendment to the Separate School Act directing that taxes derived from a Roman Catholic miner's property should be paid into separate school funds, al- though the child's guardian might be a Protestant. Messrs. Brackin. Curry and Dewart were inclined to agreed that it was a fair principle. but they desired the opportunity of modifying the verbiage of the meas- ure as introduced. BATTLE B LOST RATIFIES SALE BY LONDON MAN ()f RURAL LINES Bill to Authorize 5-cent Fare Passes Legislature in Committee After several members had ex- pressed views on the measure, Mr. Ferguson consented tO'have it go to a special committee for consid- eration during the recess. E Foremost in interest, if not in gen- Ieral importance. among the many bills dealt with by the Legislature yesterday afternoon, was Hon. G. Howard Ferguson's measure to do (away completely with spotlights on lmotor cars. In the Conservative Leader the spotlights found a severe critic. Not only, he said. were they not an item of necessity in motor car equipment. but, so far as his personal observation went. he found that. they were used by the more reckless type of drivers, who wanted some extra illumination to permit them to travel at higher speed. He was supported in his contentions by Hon. G. S. Henry and to some extent by the Premier. Hon. F. C. Riggs. Minister ot Public Highways. however. endorsed the spotlight as a useful bit of auto- mobile equipment. Danger lay. not in tho use of it, he said, but in the abuse of it. He disagreed entirely with a suggestion made on the floor, that there was less nuisance. occa-l stoned when they were ftxed rigidly on the right-hand side. of the' car. The Minister said the proper aide of the car was the left, from which the beam of light should slant across the roadway to the right-hand edge of the roadway. He rather agreed, however, that it might be well to compel motorists to limit the beam! to I. 60-foot range. Premier Introduces Toronto. Suburban Measure in Legislature BIGGS ENDORSES LIGHT TORY CHIEFTAIN , RAPS SPOTLIGHT; Ferguson's Measure Affect- ing Auto Equipment Goes to Committee In conformity with his promise when the new Hydro-radial bill was introduced. Premier Drury present- ed to the Legislature for first read- Ing yesterday legislation to authorize the purchase and operation of the Toronto Suburban Railway Company by the Hydro-electric Power Com- mission on behalf of the city of To- ronto. Mr. Drury stated that it was prac- tically the old legislation with the necessary changes to make financ- ing possible. power being given to the commission to hypothecate the bonds. while provision was made also for taking in municipalities along the route. which might desire. later to come in as partners in the under- taking. In reply to Hon. G. H. Ferguson. Hon. Mr. Drury said that he hoped the difficulties (blazing consumma- tion of the clean-uri" deal would be straightened, out in a. very short. time.