Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-04-15
Mr., GIaistcne's Irish Bill.

In introducing his Irish Land bill, Air-
Gladstone said that this question was the
most difficult one he had ever had to deal
with in the course of his political life, ami
that he had given the bill more attention and
more care than any measure in his Career
This was certainly no exaggeration OF the
difficulties of the question: question which
had been the despair of all his predecess'rs-
and his solution of it is one OF the greatest
triumphs of Mr.. Gladstones long and Illus
trious career. The London correspondents
say that no bill of such importance was ever
better received; that there is universal at
mration of the skill with which it has been
drawn and of the provisions whereby the
rights of the tenant appear to be protected
in every possible case without injustice to
the landlord and that the extreme Irish
members will probably take as much credit
as they can for having forced the measure on
the government, and will accept the hIll,
which will probably pass its second reading
about May /, by very large majority Some
of the.principal provisions of the h!l-whlch
is very long. covering twenty seven close
" printed folios - are aS follows; he
tenants right to COMPENSATION for improve
ments is guaranteed and it is provided
that tenants may apply 10 the court to fis
what is the fair rent. Only tenants paying
fl50 rent and over can contract themselves
out of the provisions of tie bill. Excepting
tent with its provisions are declared volt
This is departure from the fundamental
principles of British land laws, and 1t per
hans foreshadows the downfall Of the
law of entail and settlement Part OF
the bill provides that the Land Com
mission, out of the money in their hands
for the purpose, may, If satisfied with
the security, advance sums to tenants Tor the
purpose of enabling them TO purchase their
holdings where landlords are willing to sell
Such an advance is not IL exceed three
four,hs of the principal sum Where the
sale of holding is about II he made by a
landlord to tenant in consideration OF the
tenant paying fine and engaging L" pay tG
the landlord a fee rs farm rent. the commiS-
sion may advance a sum equal To half ihs
fine payable to the landlord ProvisioI is
also made 10 enable the commission u
give purchasing tenants Il Parliamentary
title at fixed scale of costs in order to avoid
the heavy legal expenses which attend the
sale and transfer of landed property under
the ordinary law Tenants can repay the
principal and interest by annual payment OF
50 per clO0, clearing the debt in thirty five
years. The treasury may authorize the
Board of Works to advance money To- COM
panies for the reclamation or improvement oi
waste lands on proper security The Llnd
Commission may from time 10 time with
the sanction of the treasury, enter into
agreement with any person or body OF per
sons having authority to contract on behalf
of the Dominion of Canada or OF any pr1-
vince thereof or on behalf Of any British
colony or dependency or any State or other
district in such Dominion, province. colony
or dependency. or on behalf OF any public
company or other public body with whose
security the Land Commission may be Salts
fled, for the advance, by the commission "
way of a loan out oI the moneys in thgiT
hands, of such sums rs the commission may
think it desirable ta eSpend in promoting
emigration from Ireland Provisions are also
made for tenants purchasing an estate whcre
three-fourths of the number are prepared Il
buy or are willing 10 borrow the necessary