or three countles to borrdow money on } debentures to a greater extent than is | now the case., | Assessment ExemDtions. | Bringing in a bill "respecting hotels," Colonel Price exvlained that it was a consolidation of legislation contained in various statutes having to do with ho-- tels. For instance it combincd the Innkeéeepers Act, the Standard Hotels Registrations Act and certain sections 'of the Liquor Control Act. An amondment to the Assessment Act introduced by Attorney--General Price provides, so he explained, for ex-- emption from assossment of moneys invested in the Province of Ontario. This frees certain legatees, whose money «is invosted in Ontario, from taxation. Such a provision was accept-- ed by the Statute Revision Committec, though not brought before the House heretofore. ~Some Penalties Reduced And Others Increased \In Liquor Law Revision s d ray --»My» cg--_ /2" One amendment provides that when the occupant of a rsoming--house is : convicted, or an offense against the act' is committed in such a house, all the ; roocms cease to be a residence within the meaning of the act for a period of , a year. However, the Liquor Control / Board may, "when satisfied of a bona | fide change of ownership or occupation, ; or when it is desirable to do =~ declare-- such premises to be a residence, and may grant a certificate to such effect." / While the changes in the penalties may be considered by some to be the out-- standing revisions contained in this bill, there are other interesting amend-- ments. Rooming--House Curb. Third or subsequent offense, impris-- onment three to six months, no fins. The introduction of the bill, which contains ten amendments to the act, came as somewhat of a surprise in the House yesterday. For from time to time during the past year statements have been attributed to the Government, and to the Attorney--General in particular, to the effect that there would be no changes in the act this session. As amondsd in this bill introduc=d yesterdav they will be: Second offense, $50 to $100; for default, one to two months. Second offense. imprisonment on to two months, or $200 to $500 fine; for default, two to four months' imprison-- ment. First offense. $10 to $50 fine; for de-- fault, not more than thirty days, At the present tiuc penalties stand as follows: First offense, $10 to $100 fine; for default, not more than thirty days. Third or subseauent offense, three to six months, no fine. But, while this section is a "stiffen-- ing up" of the act. the amendments of the penalties for drunkenness are ai{-- ferent. Present and New Penalties. One section, referring to a score of portions of the act providing a penalty for an offense of a fine of $100 to $1.-- C00, declares that in dcfault of pay-- ment the person shall be imprisoned for three months formerly one month's impriscnment was the time. Amendments to the Liquor Control: Act which, while they stiffen the| penalty in cases of imprisonment in ae--| fault of payment of fines, reduce the! penalties for first and second offenses cn drunk charges were introduced in the Ontario Legislature yesterday aft-- ernoon by Hon. William H. Price, At-- torney--General, Surprise Amendment Inlro-;'- duced by Attorney--Gen-- eral Cuts Down Fines Imposed jor First and§ Second _ Offenses on| Drunk Charges | ROOMING HOUSES ARE DEALT WITH W here Occupant Is Con-- victed All Rooms Cease to Be a "Residence" Within Meaning of Act --Liquor Must Not Be T aken From Province While this amendment is but briefiv ' touched on, a brief accompanying the * bill coniains teveral thoughts, and i reads as follows: | "If the occupant of a residence. or of | any part thereof, including the rooms or premises of any lodgers, boarders or tenants therein, or any member of the family of the occupant, is convicted of .. keeping a disorderly house, or of an ' offense against any of the provisions of | this act, committed in or in respect of | such residence, or in respect of any | liquor kept therein or removed there-- |-- from. the same, including the rooms or '. premises of any lodgers, boarders or !-- tenants therein, shall cease to be a resi-- ')dcnce within the meaning of this act || for a period of one year after the date !! of such conviction, and shall for such || period be deemed to be a public place ;. for the purposes of this acst:; provided _ that the board may, when satisfiecd of [ a bona fide change in ownership or oc-- / cupation of such premises, or when it is |! desirable to do so, declare such premises to be a residence, and may grant a cer-- || tificate to such effect to the owner or |_ occupant of such premises, and such i premises shall from the date of the !-- granting of such certificate, signed by \ the Chief Commissioner or Deputy | Chief Commissioner of the board, be a 'residence, and cease to hbe a public place | | within the meaning of this act." Another amendment is designed to prevent permit--holders taking liquor purchased on their permits to places outside of Ontario. Clauses Explained. In a bricf explaining the amend-- ments the Attorney--General says: "No. 2--This amendment will pre-- vent permit--holders taking liquor pur-- chbhased on their permits to places out-- side of Ontario. This is not a question of export at all, but deais with the in-- dividual taking liquor to a residence outside of Ontario. This amsndment will be of great assistance to law cen-- forcement. "No. 3--This amendment covers the case of rooming and boarding houses. If the occupant of a rooming house is convicted, all the rooms occupicd by tenants or boarders also become nublic places within the msaning of the act. Conversely, if a boarder or roomer in a housse is convicted the en-- tire premises become a public place within the meaning of the act. _ '"No. 4--After a permit has bsen cancelled all liquor purchased on that nermit which has not been consumed by the date of cancellation is automa-- tically forfeited to the Crown. _ _ _ "Mo. 5--In those localities which wish Government stores established before a vote is taken on the question, two months must elapse between the pass-- ing of a by--law by Council of the mu-- nicipality or the filing of a petition with the board and the polling dats. This is to allow ample time for a fair vresentation of the case by both sides. At present the petition must be filed on or before the first of Novembor in the year in which the vote is taken. As municipal elections are held carly in December. and sometimes in Novem-- ber, this does not give sufficient time for a fair presentation of the case by both 'sides, Curb on Permits. "No. 6--This amendment makes it an offense punishablse with six to twelve months' imprisonment for any cofficial who knowingly issues more than one permit to any individual, or supplies liquor to any individual whose bermit has not been acquired accord-- ing to the act. 5 C "No. 7--This makes it an offense for any one when applying for a permit to give a wrong or fictitious address. The penalty is from $100 to $1,000, or, in default, three months, and for & seco?d offense three months' imprison-- ment. ae