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i That clause is going to be given ;some considerable attention from ithe Oppositions it yesterday's pre- 'liminary skirmish is any evidence. 'The question may be asked if this {clause is to provide the Drury Gov.. 'iernment's substitute for Hydro- iradiais or rapid traction between town and country? The contro- ', "way did not have a chance to de. lxciop yesterday, hut it surely will iconic when the bill reaches the I committee stage. I Mr. Riggs. who has attained a troal Parliamentary manner. went ' into the merits of motor bus travel. ' During the present winter. he said, in motor busses had operated out got Hamilton. and not a trip had to the cancelled because of snow or weather conditions. He proposed l to allot franchises on a gross earn- 'ing basis, and have the bus com- _ panics make bids for certain routes. 'These routes would be over roads i built and subsidized by the Govern- , ment. He stated, in reply to a inuestion, that no franchises would ' be given tor town or city streets. so i that there would be no usurpation ! ot municipal rights. ', One Amendment Coming. Col. J. A. Currie. Southeast To- route, who swung into real action for the first time yesterday. pro- tested. He claimed that a portion of the earnings should go to the municipalities through which the busses travelled. and the Colonel said he intended moving an amend- ment to that effect. Col. Currie also wanted to know about Ottawa. Would not Ottawa demand a share, since the Federal Government was aidirg in good roads building? Thoughts of Parliament Hill near the Chaudicre and the Laurentian linger in Col. Currie's mind. even though he is now in the Legisla- ture. To this question. however, Mr. Biggs had a neat reply: "On. tarin is paying $1.12 for every dol- lar we get back so tar as Ottawa is conrtrned." It was evident that he did not intend that any money from granting exclusive motor bus franchises should go to Hon. Mr. Fielding}; treasure chest. but should all help the Ontario high- way improvement fund. Mr. Biggs' bill states that even an exclusive franchise does not pre- clude the granting of another tran- chise if the department thinks the needs of the traffic require addi- tional vehicles. Again the depart- ment claims the right to fix, or at least approve, the tolls to be 1 charged, and may also revise these l tolls at any time. . I Gov-ent-operated, Too. In addition, Mr. Biggs Wants the privilege of Government ownership and opention of such vehicles, as is no particular objection to those portions of the principle of the bill, but Mr. Biggs proposes giving ex- clusive franchises, for public vehicles. The following clause grants such a privilege: "The department may issue per- mits conferring special exclusive or limited rights with respect to public vehicles as licensed and with respect to any highway or highways or portions' thereof named and described in the said special permits." Substitute for Radials'.' Hon. Prank Campbell 31883- Minister ot Public Works and High- ways, got his Pill to regulate the operation of public vehicles through the secend reading stage in the House yesterday, but'he is going to have a fight, on his hands before the bill; or what may be left ot it, becomes law. A public vehicle is defined as a motor vehicle operated to carry passengers or express. The motor busses of street railways are not affected by the measure. All other public vehicles are required to take out licenses. So far there IN QUEEN S I And so the opportunity is provid- i'ed for local traffic throughout On- i tario over those long. smooth strips I of cement of which Mr. Biggs is so l proud. Perhaps such a scheme will l be dangled before the electorate f during the next few months as the real remedy tor Hydro-radial need, and the expense of the two plans :,contrasted, all for the political thenefit of the present Government. 3 "Biggs' busses" may yet become as ! familiar a name in this Province as 3 "Grand Trunk." So far no person ihas written to find out. what Sir l Henry Thornton will say. Perhaps t the Premier or Mr. Biggs will claim {that motor busses will be only ' feeders for the National lines. If i any such argument is required lots g0! material will he found in the files iof Toronto papers printed during i the, last municipal campaign. A IUI'VV'Jv- Mr. Dewart's other bill would do away with the necessity of securing a fiat trout the Attorney- General before a Hydro-electric railway can be sued for damages. As the lawyers are 'fond of saying, it would do away with a certain amount of legal circu'inlocution. Everybody seemed to be in favor of anything that prohibited circumlo- option. so that, all in all, Mr. Dew- art could consider he did a good atternoon's work. Quite a number of questions were cleared off the order paper, but' most members seemed a little! agitated? and kept looking at their watches,' because the trains which carry them homo for the week-ends would not wait on M.P.P.'s. Ad- journment came at 4.45, and the third week ot the session ended without any person being politically much wiser. ices in any year in which a dividend of less than 5 per cent. is paid shareholders. He also wants all company statements filed with the Provincial Secretary and sent the shareholders. Hon. Mr. Nixon, Provincial Secretary. agreed that shareholders should be given such statements. Col. Currie again thought of Ottawa. and claimed that the effect ot such publicity would be to drive companies to get Dominion ineorporations, and pass up Ontario. and Ontario's fees. Strange to relate, Premier Drury agreed with Col. Currie in this respect. . u Numerous clauses are devoted to the regulation of public vehicles, most ot them designed to safeguard the travelling public.. "Publie highway" tor the purpose of the bill is designated as "any public road maintained wholly or subsi- dized by the Province of Ontario." Page Sir Henry Thornton. More will be heard of Mr. Biggs" plan to relieve the transportation problem in this Province. The Minister. too, will be criticized for keeping his eye solely on the High- way improvement Fund. instead ot letting some of the money go to other public coffers. Mr. Dewart's Busy Time. "The department' may operate a public vehicle service on any public highway. may obtain ex- elusive rights therefor, may pur- chase or aequire vehicles and equipment for such purpose, and collect toll for such service." The cost of such Services is to he voted by the Legislature. while any surplus goes to the Consolidated Revenue Funds, and an equal amount credited to the Highway im- provement Funds. During a brief visit to the House yesterday Mr. H. H. Dewart was given quite a busy time. The Lib- eral member for Southwest Toronto had hardly got his nose inside the door before the Premier called one of his bills. Mr. Dewart wants the Companies Act amended so that no payment can be made to Presi- dents, Vice-Presidents or directors outside of salaries tor actual serv- ices in any year in which a dividend the following clause testifies: