Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-05-18
CURBING CRIME.
A Bill for the Repression of Crime
in Ireland.
Measures of Extreme Harshness to be
Resorted to.
A Bill so Vigorous as to Call forth a
Storm of Protest.
Unhappy Ireland,
THE NEW REPRESSION BILL.

LONDON, May 12.-In the commons.
last night, Harcourt, home secretary,
| introduced bill for the repression of
crime IL Ireland. He characterized
the prevalence of crime there as ma
tiOnal disgrace. He said the time has
arrived for the entire house 10 unite in
taking steps to repress it. The case
we deplore to-day is not solitary.
Crime is a plague spot on Ireland, and
l believe the Irish people desire its re-
moval. II springs from secret societies
and must be extirpated. The main
spring of crime is the expectation of
immunity, which is only too we'll
founded. The government has there
fore concladed it is necessary in those
places where ordinary law is not OBJ
served that special tribunals consisting
of three judges be appointed by the
lord-IIeutenant to try cascs without
jury. The judgment of the court must
be unanimous. An appeal can be
made to the supreme court, the iudg-
ment of the latter to be given by ma
Jority OF the judges. The supreme
court may diminish but cannot in
crease the severity of sentences. Par
lament will be asked to provide spec
ial remuneration for special Judges.
The bill also contains the following
provisions: 1t gives power to search for
secret apparatus Of murder, such as
arms, threatening letters, ETC.; the
power to enter houses by day or by
night under warrant of The lord lieu
tenant; power to arrest persons PROV
ling about at night and unable to give
an account of themselves, who are to
be dealt with summarily; power to ar
rest strangers, as crimes are generally
committed by foreign emissarles, the
hospitality Of England not being for
such persons as agents of O'Donovan
Rossa, and power to remove foreigners
dangerous to peace. The government
therefore intends to revive the alien
act. Secret societies will be dealt with
and membership thereof
constitutes an Otfense under this act.
Cases of aggravated assault will be
treated IN q summary manner. Power
Ia a&iXff &&iXfq qeeF8HFes fe JiRjiGitdt etioG5D G5D 6 6dgt
with summarily. Newspapers, con-
tanning seditious, inf1ammatory matter
will be suppressed and the proprietors
required to enter into recognizances
not to repeat the offense. JUS
tees can compel the attendance
of witness about to abscond.
The lord lieutenant can appoint
additional police, where necessary, at
the cost of the district concerned. Com
pensation for murder and outrage will
be required of the districts where they
occur. Outrages will be dealt with
summarily by courts, which are to con-
sist of two stipendiary magistrates. The
government reserves for consideration
any further alterations of the jury sys-
tenn.
The Home Secretary admitted the
bill was extraordinary, but necessary
to meet extraordinary circumstances.
The operation Of the bill will be linn
tied to three years. The government
would do all in their power to prevent
innocent persons suffering from the
action of the bill. He added the bill
placed almost unlimited authority in
the hands of the Lord Lieutenant and
concluded by stating the measure
would shortly be followed by one deal
ing with arrears of rent. Harcourt
stated the government had considered
the question of instituting military
tribunal, but bad come to the conclu-
sion that resort to such measure was
undesirable. There was ample testi-
mony that the heart of Ireland was
sound, but Ireland was suffering from
secret societies. The Lord Lieutenant
is to have power to proclaim districts
to which this act may be applied.