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For two hours the Conservatives fought the Government's bill giving the Securitiscs Commission new and powerful investigatory authority, and midway in the bill's passage the Premier interrupted the onslaught of opposition to declare: "I'm not surprised that my honorable friends are trving to cover up a lot of crooks." When the House resumed at 3 a'clock Mr. Henry rose with a copy of an afternoon newspaper in his hand. He read from the report of the morning's proceedings and de-- clared that the chief organ of the Government reported the Prime Minister as saying: "I am not sur-- prised that my honorable friends are trying to cover up a lot of crooks." At one time in the stormy session a threat was voiced by J. H. Clark tLib., Windsor--Sandwich»), Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, to report Arthur Ellis (Cons., Ottawa Bouth) to the Speaker for imputing motives to rulings by the Chair. The Premier argued that the very tact of continued opposition tended to protect crooks who would evad» the law, but the Opposition howled in protest against the remark and demanded a retraction. None was given. With clocklike regularity the House voted down six amendments to the:-- bill, four of which were pro-- posed by Wilfrid _ Heighington (Cons., St. David), and the other two by W. A. Baird (Cons., High Park) and Hon. Leopold Macaulay. Allegation Denied. An angry roar of protest greeted his remark and after a furious twenty minutes the Chairman of the committee ruled there was nothing in the Premier's remark g;at cast reflection upon any mem-- r. Furious -- Conservative _ rebellion azainst a charge by Premier Hep-- burn that the Opposition was "try-- ing to cover up a lot of crooks," stir-- red the Ontario Legislature vester-- day to a fresh outburst of uproar end angry, turbulent debate. Although no action was taken, such procedure could lead to a mem-- bor being "named" by the Speaker, and, on the vote of the House, his bseing suspendecd from debate. Conservatives Protest. "I wish to point cut that when we were in Committes of the Whole House we sought to have the ques-- tion referred to you, Mr. Sveaker, for a decision." said Mr. Henry. "We were denied this privilege by a Chairman who is usually very fair, but who, on this occasion, ignored the words used by the Prime Minister and which are now published in the chief newspaper organ of this Government. Premier Hepburn, in reply, said his day would not be complete with-- out annoving the Leader of the Op-- P R EM IE R'S C H A RG E "We denied the charge. and the newspaper report quotes the Prime Minister saying: "The shaft went home.' "It would zo home to any man who had fseelings of honor and de-- cency," thundered the Opposition Leader. Threat of Suspension From Debate on Amendment Giving Securities Com-- mission New, Wide Power Levelled at Ellis During Stormy Session _ f Attempt to Crooks' Laid to Cover Activities Opposition _ The row started following the in-- troduction of the second amendment proposed by Mr. Heighington and Mr. Ellis, to restrict application of \the bill to companies only and re-- move its application to persons "I sald that by opposing this measure the Opposition were put-- ting themselves in the way of pro-- tecting crooks," said Mr. Hepburn. "Thet's not whet the . . ." heran Mr. Henry, but the Premier inter-- rupted him with the statement: "I am not responsible for what the press says, any more than I was iresponsiblo:- for what the Telegrara said about my honorable friend | from St., Andrew (J. J. Glass, Lin.) l and for which they had to publish l & retraction. T repeat, that oy op-- posing measrres of this kind the | Opposition are placing themsse!ves in the position of protecting 1 cronks," _ The Premier's remark about the '«Opposition "covering up crooks," came as he reminded the House that (his Government had co"~cted $27.-- ((0,000 in succession duties. Under that act, he said. investigations were 'launched only where fraud was sus-- 'pectpd The Conservatives had op-- nosed the bill giving the succession 'duties office investigatory powers just as they were now opposing the present measure. "How much of it was due to fraud?" demanded Mr. Henry. "Put a question on the order paper and T'll answer it," was the Premier's reply. "Third Degree" Legislation. Mr. Henry: "I think we should change the title of this bill to read 'An Act to Provide for the Third Degree.'" Mr. Hepburn: "For crooks." Mr. Henry: "My friend, the Attor-- ney--General, agreed the other night that this is the third degree." position in some way. He reviewed what he had said earlier in the day, pointing out that he had empha-- sized the fact that the Government had secured much of its succession duties from estates because of fraudulent pract'~»s. FPremier Repeats Charge. Mr. Roebuck: "I said nothing of the kind, but I do say that it is in the nature of police investigation." Mr. Heighington: "T'll have the Prime Minister understand that the third degree does not apply even to crooks in this country." Mr. Henry _ said that the Premier's reference to the twentv-- seven miltions secured in succession duties, while spesking on an amendment to the Securities Act, gave the inference that much of the money was arrears due to fraudulent stsrto--men'ts by'the rep-- resentatives of estates. | _ Mr. Heighington: "I take offense at that remark. I ask the Prime \ Minister to have the graciousness | to admit for once that he was wrong land withdraw." ' _ Mr. Hepburn: "Mr. Chairman,. I'm "I'm not surprised that my honor-- able friends are trying to cover up a lot of crooks," said he. Heighington Takes Offense. The Opposition howled in angry protest. Mr. Henry jumped to his feet. "I ask you to withdraw that if you have any manhood in you at all." Mr. Hepburn: "Oh, you can't talk about manhood." Mr. Henry: "Nor can you." Mr. Hepburn: "You should be the last person to talk about manhood." Mr. Heighington, Mr. Ellis and Hon T. A. Kidd. former Speaker of the House, followed one another in protest and in demanding a re-- traction. Mr. Hepburn: *"That shaft went home." 7 Mar prepared to follow your ruling. Their opposition to this bill places them in the position of protecting a lot of crooks." Mr. Heighington again pr The whole incident. gnd s?mt;}:itig; cidents, made the work of a con-- scientious legislator in the House seem futile, he declared. It almost made him feel like quitting alto-- gether, he said. Asks for Support. ' A charge that Municipal Magis-- trates throughout Ontario were ex-- !ceeding their authority by with-- drawing charges against persons | brought before their courts, was 'made in the Legislature last night by Wilfrid Heighington (Cons., To-- ronto St. David). Mr. Hepburn: "Mr. Chairman, I know there are hovering around these buildings a lot of Conserva-- tives who are fearful that this bill will pass, because when it does we are going to collect a lot of money due to us " Mr. Ellis: "I hope you do." Mr. Hepburn: *"Then stop this opposition and give us the power t WMr.> Eillis: "I insist, Mr. Chair, man, that the Premier must with-- draw the remark." Mr. Hepburn: "I know that the Province has been deirsuded of $30,000,000 in the past five years. I know that when the Opposition throws up a smokescreen like th's they are in the position of protect-- ing a lot of crooks. We are entitied to their co--operation,. not their op-- position." . > + Mr. Heighington: "This thing is preposterous and insulting, and should never be allowed. I don't understand why we allow it to go on. It is a most disgusting and dis-- graceful thing." C t Chairman J. H. Clark <L1b., Wind-- sor--Sandwich) gave his ruling--that he interpreted nothing in the Pre-- mier's remarks that reflected upon any member of the Opposition. As he understood it, he said, the re-- mark meant that the opposition to the bill placed the official Opposi-- tion in the position of protecting crooks. Defeat Second Amendment. The allegation brought a prompt invitation from Attorney--General Roebuck to present the facts of any case in the privacy of his office. In one instance named by Mr. Heigh-- ington, the Attorney--General prom-- ised "someone will lose his job" if the charge was substantiated. Only the Crown may withdraw charges. A Magistrate must either find a conviction or dismiss a case. Mr. Heighington demanded that the Committee of the Whole House rise and report the incident to the Speaker. Mr. Ellis seconded the motion, but it was defeated by a Exceed Authority in With-- drawing Charges, Is Contention The Toronto Conservative -- also declared there were instances where men charged with arson had been granted parole agzainst the advice of the Fire Marshal of Ontario. To this Mr. Roebuck replied that no such thing had happened during the term of the present Fire Mar-- shal. > Magistrates Are Rapped a vote of the committee. Sam Law-- rence (C.C.F., Hamilton) voted with the Conservatives.