New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-08
1nISn IINn RER0RM

The Irish land controversy has been re-
opened in the English Commons by states
man of singularly lucid intelligence and pro-
gressive tendencies. The new Land Acts may
not offer a permanent solution of this COM
plex agrarian problem, but Mr. Gladstone may
fairly be said to have mastered the subject,
aud il is a fortunate circumstance FOR both
England and Ireland that he has Been enabled
with unimpaired vigor to conduct this great de-
bate on the opening night. 1t will he profitable,
before discussing either the speech or the
first of the remedial acts which the Liberal
Ministry have drawn up, for Us TO ascertain
what are the m ain conditions OF IRISH tenant
law as it now stands The tenancies, as
rule. run from year to year. Before 1870 the
tenant could be elected with or without cause
at the end of a year upon six months notice.
and if his rent were year IN arrears he could
be ovicted without notice at any time. Under
the Land Act OF that year tenant who re-
ceives notice to quit can file with the local
court schedule Of any improvements made
by himself or his predecessors, and he cannot
be elected until the landlord pays the amount
awarded. When eycted on any other ground
than years arrears OF rent he Is entitled
to com nensation not only Tor the I'm
proyements, but also for the disturb
ance. the award for the latter cause
ranging from one TO seven years rent. If the
holding be given up from his own choice. he
receives full compensation for the improve
ments. A tenant can be elected summary. If
he be empowered To do 40 by special clauses
of the lease, and under the common law
tenancy can be brought TO an end whenever
the rent Ia n year IN arrears, or on formal no
tice served six months before the day OF the
year on which the agreement was made.
The Land Act OF 1870 gave the IRISH tenant
CONDENSATION for his improvements under any
circumstances, and compensation for disturb
ance whenever evictions were made capri
cously for any cause except long standing ar
rears Of rent. Ii did not open the way for
readjustment Of rents. IL did not give him
fxity Of tenure. IL did not involve distinct
recognition of tenant right rs II Is understood
in Ulster. The present land agitation Is
grounded mainly oil what was lett undone
eleven years ago In order to be considered
reasonable and fair by the Land League, rcnis
will have to be scaled down far below tho
present valuation and when such a rate Is hlt
upon. the tenant must have the privilege of re-
naming i'm pOssession as long ms he chooses,
without regard for the owners wishes. At
the same time he would be invested with the
free sale OF his tenant right-a right which
might become almost as valuable Is the own
ersAip of the land itself. These are the
Three F's Pair Rent. FiKity Of Tenure
and Free Sale-a system of land reform which,
IN the estimation OF the great mass OF land
| owners, is equivalent to contscatioD.
If the outline OF the Laud Act which has
been telegraphed from LONDON Is substan-
tally correct, great advance has been made
from the Act of 1870 Tho compensatious
for improvements and disturb ,nce provided
for in the earlier measure are extended. the
! latter class being adjusted on a sliding scale
| in proporton to the rent itself hut this j. q
| feature of subordinate interest. The conces-
sions made in the direction OF the " Three
| F's y arc far more significant. Whenever the
| tenant and landlord cannot agree upon the
| rent the local court is to decide what sum u
reasonable. the decision relating TO the future
| but not to the past This Is "a most important
| provision for securing a gradual revauatiOn
| of holdings When such "A rent II liked 1t
cannot be altered for fifteen years. This Is not
absolute fxity of tenure, but il IS a great stride
toward II. Whenever n rent is adjusted by Il
court, or a new tenant takes farm, he will
have fxity Of tenure for fifteen years, subject
only TO the ordinary statutory conditions, such
~ punctual payment Of rent. AT the end of
| that period the estate viii he subject TO reyal-
uation-an event winch some partisans of
land reform view with unwauantable uneas-
ness.
The most complex factor in the problem re-
mains to be considered Thus is Free Sale.
The provisions of the act are So obscurcly out
| lined that il is not easy TO determine precisely
how far this principle has been recognized in
the new bill. The sale Of tenant right seems
TO be permitted under conditions which will
tend to prevent its recurrence The tenant
can sell. but the landlord must have the first
j Offer and upon grounds which the local court
may consider reasonable he can prohibit the
sale altogether The landlord, in his turn,
can raise the rent, and the tenant can either
take the lease or sell his holding. receiving in
return the increase multiplied by ten and the
| purchasing tenant can demand from the land
| lord a similar amount CAPT talized These PRO-
visions will give both landlord and tenant
privileges of which they will find it inconve-
nient to avail themselves. The tenant will not
want to sell his holding, and the landlord will
find il expensive and hazardous TO raise the
rent. This may make the whole system more
stable.
RELSEY'S THIRD TERM
Against the advice and consent of the Sen
.+o ~ Naw-Jersey Governor Ludlow ha,