Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-05-18
Crime to be Repressed IN
Ireland in a Rigorous
Manner.
Almost Unlimited Power Given
the Lord Lieutenant.
The Measure Bitterly Opposed by
Parnell and Dillon in the
Commons.

THE REPRESSION BILL.

LONDON, May 13.-In the commons
Harcourt, home secretary, introduced
a bill for the repression of crime in Ire
land. Harcourt states that the gov
eminent had considered the question
of instituting a military tribun ], but
had come to the conclusion that resort
to such measure was undesirable, and
there was ample testimony that the
heart OF Ireland was sound; but Ire
land was suffering from the bane of
secret socities. He characterized the
prevalence of crime there as a national
disgrace. He said: "The time has
arrived for the entire house to 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 removal. 1t
springs from secret societies and must
be extirpated. The handspring of
crime Is the expectation of immunity,
which is only toe well founded. The
government has, therefore, concluded
that 1t is necessary in those places
where ordinary law is not observed to
establish special tribunals, consisting of
three judges to be appointed by the
lord lieutenant, to try cases without
juary. The judgment of the court
must be unanimous. Appeal can be
made TO the supreme court, the judg-
ment of the latter to be given by ma
jority of the judges. The supreme
court may diminish, but can not in
crease the severity of sentences. Par
lament will be asked to provide special
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, power
to enter houses by day or night, under
warrant of the lord iieutenant power
to arrest persons prowling about at
night and unable to give account of
themselves, who are to be dealt with
summariy; power to arrest strangers
for crimes generally committed by for
eign emissaries, the hospitality of Eng
land not being for such persons as
agents of O'Donavan Rosa; and power
to remove foreigners considered dam
gerous to the peace. The government
therefore intend to revise the alien act.
Secret societies will be dealt with
summarily, and membership thereof
will constitute an ofense under this
act. Cases of aggravated assault will
be treated in a summary manner
Power is given to repress intimidation
and unlawful meetings, the latter to be
dealt with summarily. Newspapers
containing seditious and infiammatory
matter will be suppressed, and the pro-
prietors required to enter into recog-
nizances not to repeat the ofiense. Jus.
tees can compel the attendance of wit
nesses about to abscond. The lord
lieutenant can appoint additional po-
lice where necessary, at the cost of the
districts concerned.
COMPENSATION FOR MURDER
and outrage will be required of districts
where they occur. Outrages will be
dealt with summary by the courts,
which are to consist of two stipendiary
magistrates. The government reserves
for consideration any further alteration
Of the jury system.
The lord lieutenant is to have power
to proclaims districts to which this act
may be applied.
The home secretary admitted that
the bill was extraordinary, but said it
was necessary to meet the extraordi-
nary circumstances. The operation of
the bill will be limited to three years.
The government would do all in their
power to prevent innocent person suf-
fering from the BILL He added that
the bin had plead almost unlimited
authority in the hands of the lord lieu
tenant, and concluded by stating that
the measure will shortly be followed
by one dealing with arrears of rent,