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. OPP SI RISES N TO VEHICLES BILL ON SECOND REA DING .ince. John A. dGiriiaso intimated intention of moving an amendmer I... "_,, A- A' Three bills passed second reading in the Ontario Legislature during Friday's short session. among them "lon. F. c. Biggs' measure to regu- 'late the operation of public vehicles, (which represents the opinions of a iHouse Committee which considered 'the whole traffle problem at great _, length during the recess. """- "no ..... unicuuuient TO Mr. Dewart's Companies Act Bill. It was all right, he said. to make com- pulsory the distribution of informa- tion to shareholders, but it was not right to compel filing with the Pro- vincial Secretary. whose data were open to the public. It would have the effect of forcing companies to take out Ottawa charters instead of On- tario, and lose revenue to tho Prov- inn: -"e _-_.. -w..vu nu ulllVB at Just that conclusion. On other points be commended the proposed measure. Under the terms of the bill Hon. Mr. Biggs proposes to regulate in every detail the operation of bus ser_v1_ces in Ontario. During the discussion Hon. G. S. Henry made a statement to the House in which he declared that the recommendation as to exaction of a. percentage of gross earnings of bus lines operating under departmental enfrtutchiaemeAt could not be con- sidered as the studied opinion of the committee. It had failed to arrive a} {I'gb 'LAL -- . _ On another point Hon. Mr. Riggs gave assurance to the House that it was not proposed to assume author- ity on the part of the department to grant franchises to motor bus lines operating on roads other than those Provincially built. Urban mu- nicipalities had nothing to fear in this regard. Measure Also Commended. Hon. Mr. Biggs' bill met with some considerable criticism from John A. Currie and Hon. G. S. Henry, who, in connection with the proposal to exact a percentage of gross earnings from motor bus com- panies operating over public high- ways, accused the Minister of grab- bing revenues some of which be- longed to the municipalities. Both Opposition members pointed out that the department, which proposed to take all the revenue for wear and tear on the roads. did not contribute all the funds. The municipalities and-the Dominion Government made contributions. Mr. Currie stated his intention of moving an amendment in committee. The other two were Poth sponsor- ed by H. H. Dewart, 1CC.,---one to amend the Companies Act so as to make company information acces- sible to shareholders and the invest- ing public and prevent distribution of company capitalization funds in directors' fees; and the other to make possible civil action against Hydro-electric radials without a ttat from the Attorney-General. Biggs' Bill Is Criticized. WANTS SAFEGUARDS F OR SHAREHOLDERS Proposal to Take Percen- tage From Motor Bus Companies Meets Criti- cism of J. A. Currie and Hon. G. S. Henry-Tum Bills Sponsored by H. H. Dewart Also Given Seo. ond Reading s A ring an amendment to ompapies Act Bill. It AY, his ARY, 10,"? Mr. Nickle'a address was a resume of his criticisms of the th1aneea of the Government made from time to time in the Legislature. The mul- tiplication of commissions, of roads costs in tho face of _pre-electton pledges of economy, and of forms of taxation new and old had laid upon the shoulders of the people a burden such atrthey had never be- fore been called upon to bear, he claimed. His speech concluded with a dec- laration that the Drury Administra- tion is moribund and dying, and that it will be swept from omce at the next appeal to the electorate, leaving himself-and his colleagues enthroned In Queen's Park. not merely with the largest group, but with a. clear majority. Mr. Drury and Mr. Hay, he said. have a clearly obvious working arrangement to beat the Tories, but he thought that that will not avail. Scores Government Finances. His biting references to his "little friend," Attorney-General Ramsy, concluded with a declaration that two thousand years ago a fellow raised his voice to heaven to thank God he was not us other men. and that down through the ages to the present day can be traced the in- fluence of heredity. The Sutherland and Gregory Commissions were deliberately set to work, and were given a million dollars to spend for the definite pur- Pose ot wrecking the public xowner- ship in Ontario. he said. while the timber probe, he claimed, was for no other purpose than to "get Ferguson." In this pursuit, he claimed, they have failed. 'n dinner held at Smuilmnn aill Intrum's in their honor, Mr. Fergw Hon criticized tho Governnent for "xtrturti.vance, especially in its road- building program, but in " general way in all matters that have con- tributed to what he termed a "riot of extravagance." which has sent ordinary, extraordinary and capital expenditures to new high levels. Criticizes Chutttttitttiiurts. FERGUSON ORlTlOlZES GOVERNMENT RECORD London, Ont., Feb. 'J.----). G. Howard Ferguson and w. I". Nickle, K11, worn the feted guests of tho Chmsorvativcs of western On- tnt-io constituencies at a, rally hold "we today in conjunvtmn with the rmnm'ul of the local Conservative club to now quarters. Tonight 1% 2': dinner held at Smuilmnn am Claims Drury Administration ls Extravagant, and Is Doomed to Die (Staff Correspondence of The Globe