Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-08
THE EVENING STAR.
GIadstone,s Relief hill.
HIS PLAN STATED BY HIMSELF EoR THB PRoTBC-
TIoN OF IRISH TENANT FARMERS

SIadStOnGsS Het1et
HIS PLAN STATED BY HIMSELF RoR THR PRoTKc-
TI0N OF IRISH TENANT FARMERS
In the British house OF commons, Mr. Glad
stone rose at $40 O'Clock p. m. yesterday TO In
troduce the land bin. He was much cheered
Inc house was exceedingly crowded. Mr.. Glad
stone, on introducing the bill, said that this
was the most dlfncult question he ever had 70
deal with In the course Of his political life He
felt satisfaction at exchanging the dresry WORK
OF repression for legislation OF an improving and
reforming character. The grounds which In
ductd the government TO deal with the land
question were not that The Irish landlords
are bad, not that appeals to the passions OF
the Irish people have been made by per
sons whose wild proposals are mtle removed
from schemes OF public plumber but because
the Irish land laws contain peculiar pro-
Visions which prevent the Irish tenant from
becoming prosperous. According TO the re-
port Of the Bessborough commission the Irish
people declare they do not desire the eNpro-
pTfation Of the landlords or the connscation or
the property Of others, but they do desire 10
cultivate In security the land OF the country
and enjoy the fruits OF their labor. paying
falr rent. These being the views OF the Irish
PEOPLE, we have broad basis on which we
may Iroceed 10 found legislation. Ii is not just
10 say legislation is necessary because OF the
iauits OF the Irish landlords. They have stood
tFial, ana, as rule, have been acquitted.
tDough The proceedings OF q limited number OF
mem nave been arbitrary, harsh, and cruel
ms is parity. but not solely. the reason for the
Necessity OF The legislation we are 10 Introduce "
MIR. Gladstone then referred 10 tue partial
fellure OF the Land act OF 1870 which he attriO-
uted mainly though not wholly to amendments
WAl2h the government had uisapproyei He
ten reviewed the reports CT the Richmond nd
Besseorough commissions. which, he declares
notwithstanding conflicting authorities and
let concentrations, had been OF the greatest ser
vice 10 the government. The Richmond COM
mission, with one disSentient, and the Bess-
borough commission unanimously, agreed TO
lecommendiDg the establishment of court TO
deal with the differences between landlord and
tenant regarding rent The two great Ques-
lions TO be dealt with are first the relations be-
tween landlord and tenant iD Ireland second,
advances from the public eXcheQuer. He de
| clared that never, as minister, had he SUBJ
nitted any measure with q greater sense OF the
enormous moment OF the topics and of the
! propositions involved; and he added: "Nothinr
| that can be legitimately done by government
| for the promotion OF legislation shall we hest
tate to do to procure the passing or an effective
| measure to deal with the land question:
He then examined and justified In detail the
i principles or the measure, beginning with the
| right OF assignment or free sale, which lie de-
| ciared already existed by common law and
which the tenant had TO assign was SO small
| as TO be worthless. Under that act the tenant
| right IN the shape OF compensation for diSGur-
bance became something sensible and con-
| siderable. 1t has been recognized by every
! member OF the Bessborough Commission. The
minority OF the Richmond commission ack-
nowledged it, and the majority had not a word
to say against It He continued: 1.-The present
bill does not introduce an unregulated tenant
right. Provision is made for preventing it
irCm passing into extravaganza and for pro-
tecting the just rights OF landlords by bringing
into fair competition the tenants right to as
sign and the landlords right &c get what his
lands reasonably worth. The salient point
and cardinal feature of the bill Is the
Institution OF court TO take cogni-
zance OF rent. and which viii not be
debarred from taking cognizauce OF tenure and
assignment. There are strong grounds for
making resort to this court optional instead OF
U n
Lot desire the Interference OF this court Every
existing tenant might call In the court to Xix a
judicial rent for fifteen years, during which
there could be no change. no eviction except
for breach of certain specified covenants. The
lister custom Will remain, as now, at the
tenants option, but the tenant will have the
protection OF the general provisions of the bill
lor controlling augmentation OF rent. Power
TO contract out Of the act is given where rent
amounts TO goo yearly. The court viii have
final authority over all land cases. 1t is TO con-
s1st Of three persons, one OF whom must be
Judge or ex-judge Of the supreme Court. It's
proper seat viii be at Dublin, but extra COM
stoneTs, may be appointed under the control OF
the central commission. The civil bill courts
Will be courts OF first instance.
1T Is proposed to assist tenants to purchase
their holdings, and to invest the courts with
power to purchase lands from landlords desr-
ing to sell, and resell them, retaining The title
as guarantee for repayment and against sub
division. Advances will be made 10 owners
tenants, and solvent companies formed for the
purpose OF retaining land or for other agri.
cultural improvements, on condition that the
advances do not exceed the amounts the boz
rover has laid out on his own behalf Advances
will also De mace to assist emigration. They
VIII oe uEd3r the control OF the land cOInniS
sion, subject to the consent OF the treasury
and will be made either TO colonial govern
merits CT 10 companies. Ii is Lot proposed TO
place any limit Oh these advances beyond
making them secure
Dir. Gladstone concluded by saying justice is
be the principle &c guid1 England IN regard to
Ireland. He completed Bis speech at o'clock,
and vas greeted With LOAD cheers on taxing his
seat.
Mr.. Parnell said he did Lot intend to express
an opinion On the bill at present, but regretted
that the power as to emigration was not accom-
PANIED by others enabling the land commission
to favor emigration to lands that might be pur-
chased for thatJpurpose.
The land bill was then read first time.