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CALLS COMMENT UNFAIR Resigned Directorate. Mr. Hepburn recalled particularly how the late Senator had "resigned from the directorate of the Toronto Electric Light Company and severed his connection with the privately own-- ed distribution service, lest that con-- nection should embarrass The Globe ln"lts advocacy of the public power "It was unfair to a supporter of public ownership," said Mr. Hepburn of a statement made on Tuesday by Mr. Henry regarding the late Sen-- ator. Justice to the Senator's memory, the Premier added, demanded a re-- buttal, which he then proceeded to offer in a review of Senator Jaffray's record. As for Mr. Lyon, then editor of The Globe, the Premier pointed out that for forty--eight years he had been Hepburn Cites High Stand-- ard of Ethics for Henry known and recognized as a firm ad-- vocate of the use of water--generated power in the interests of the people. Rebuttal Necessary, "The statement," Premier Hepburn said, "of the former Premier of On-- tario, Mr. Honry, in the Legislature yesterday regarding the attitude of Senator Jaffray Sold Holdings In Public Weal Electric Light Company. I find that the records say that The Globs wasn't enthusiastic in those days--that Rob-- ert Jaffray as director was more in-- terested in his other responsibilities.' As for Mr. Lyon in his early days, 'for years his enthusiasm would re(lect' the enthusiasm of the Senator for pri-- | vate interests, and it was years after-- ward that Sir Adam got The Globe over as a consistent supporter.' the late Senator Jaffray respecting public ownership and operation of the water powers of the Province is so wide of the facts that, in justice to the memory of the Senator, some re-- buital is necessary." "Mr. Henry is quoted as saying: 'I find that when Sir Adam started his work there was one Jaffray--owner of The Glot» and director of the Toronto "Any one who has known Mr. Lyon's relations to public affairs in Toront> during the past forty--cight years knows that throughout--long before Sir Adam Beck emerged on the scene --he publicly advocated the retention, development, and use of the water powers of the Province in the inter-- ests of the people.' "The suggestion that these views were submerged, so that in the col« | umns of The Globe, in so far as he had any access to or consrol of them.: the enthusiasm of Senator Jaffray for private interests was reflected in Mrl Lyon's writing, is not in accordance| with the facts as known and pub--} lished from day to day, and year| to year. CHAMCTERIZING as unfair and incorrect former Premier Mentry's criticism of Hydro Com-- mission Chairman T. Stewart Lyon and the late Senator Robert Jaff-- ray, former President of The Globe, Prime Minister Hepburn, in the Ontario Legislature yesterday, launched into a spirited defense of the two men as champions of Hydro and the public interest. "Perhaps the best answer to Mr. Henry's statement is to be found in a Globs etlitorial writteon by Mr. Lyon, on the day of Senator Jaffray's crath, on Dec. 16, 1914, before the Government of Ontario gave its con-- sent to the first public development at Niagara Falls, and while the Whit-- ney policy of power purchase from private corporations al the Falls and ; distribution to the municipalities for | local consumption was si'll fully in force, In that editorial Mr. Jaffray's | connection with the electrical industry and with the projects for providing power at cheap cost from Niagara Falls was thus referred to: " 'His was an eager mind that never ceasoed to range forward. When incan-- descent light was still a toy, he was one of a little group of Toronto citi-- zens who laid the foundations of Can-- ada's greatest electric manufacturing enterprise. Many years afterward, wheon long--distance transmission was beginning to change the entire power outlook, as one of the Commissioners appointed by the Provincial Govern-- mont to control Queen Victoria Park at Niagara Fa'ls, he took keen interest, togcther with Chairman Langmuir, in ending the monopoly powers of the original concessionaires, widening the Editorial Is Answer. range of competition among the pro-- ducing companies, and securing a large annual revenu»> for the public from the power franchises. " *Still later, when public operation came to the front and plans were formulated for covering Ontario with a network of power--carrying wires owned by the people, Mr. Jaffray, rather than stand in the way of prog-- ress, resigned from the directorate of the Toronto Electric Light Company and severed his connection with the privately owned distribution service, lest that connection should embarrass The Globe in its advocacy of the pub-- lic power policy.'" "When?" asked the Opposition. "Before the Whitney Government sponsored public ownership," the Pre-- mier answered, with a reference to tm first public development at Ni-- agara. "I don't think my friend should let that stand," he told the Leader of the Opposition. "It was unfair to a supporter of public ownership." Mr. Menry Explains. on The Globe staff about 1905 he was not free at that time to give support to public ownership he otherwis> would. I did not want to impute that Mr. Lyon has not been a staunch supporter of public ownership. "I thought I made it plain yester-- day," Mr. Henry declared, "that as far as Mr. Lyon is concerned I felt he is and had been a consistent supporter of public ownership. But as a junior "Robert Jaffray," continued Mr. Henry, referring to the days before Mr. Jaffray became Senator, "was not an ardent supporter of public ownership." Ho had. the former Premier declared, "qualifying shares" in the electric company and a greater holding in the transmission company. "I had no thought of reflecting on the present Chairman of the Ontario HMydro Commission," Mr. Henry em-- phasized. March 24 Shortweighting Checked in Bill Tax--Exempted Land Limited by Bill PFirst reading was given in the On-- teario Legislature to a bill introduced by Morgan Baker (Liberal, North York), designed to remove exsmptions on properties of colleges, seminaries and other institutions whose area °x-- ceeds twenty acres. He explained that these exemptions worked a hardship on & number of school sections seeking to ralse sufficient funds by taxation. The measure was explained by H. L. Cummings, Deputy Minister of Mu-- nicipal Affairs, and also by C. M. Col quroun. City Solicitor. The latter de-- clared that as the law stands a man could be convicted frequently of short weight, yet no action could be taken to cancel or suspend his license, Appearing for several large coal com-- nanies, J, C. McRuer, K.C., explained that his clients were thoroughly in favor of the legislation. The principle of cancelling or sus-- pending licenses of coal and coke dsalers convicted of selling short weight was approved by the Municipal Law Committee of the Ontario Legislature yesterday morning when a bill along these lines, sponsored by Coloncl Fraser Hunter (Liberal, St. Patrick), was reported. "If a man is cheating on his coal weight," the Minister declared, "why shouldn't he have his license can-- celled?" J. J. Glass (Liberal, St. Andrew) opposed the measure, maintaining it would be used "as a whip" to enforce a present by--law in Toronto, which he termed unjust. This by--law provides for the weighing of fuel in the yards of the dealers. Hon. David Croll, Minister of Pub-- lic Welfare, was strongly in favor of the bill. The measure, if finally approved by the Legislature, will give the right of cancellation or suspension of licenses to Police Cemmissions of citics over 100,000 population and to Councils of townships or cities bordering on cities of the same size. Hon. David Croll Strongly in Favor of Hunter's Measure