The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1882-05-20

AAutO ~ laws ~
The new repression bill introduced
in the House of Commons, and passed
to a first reading in that body, is n
of the most sever and unjust meas
ures enacted in any civilized country
in modern times. IL sweeps away at
one fell stroke every vestige of hu-
man liberty and places the lives,
property and rights Of the people of
that unfortunate country Iii the hand
of a single mantle Lord Lieuten ant.
Trial by jury is denied, the right of
an irresponsible and brutal constab-
ulary to kill, MAIN and tyrannize in
offensive people is upheld. The pas
sage OF the law and its enforcement
cannot but repeat in Ireland the his
tory of the bloody times of Elizabeth
and Cromwell, and If dynamite and
the other destructives OF modern sci-
ence, are not taken advantage of by
the d~own-tro@den people to revenge
their wrongs, then indeed the patience
of the Irish is more than human.
Following is a shade wing OF the new
repression bill, as indicated by the
London dispatches.
The Government has therefore n
cluded it is necessary in those places
where the ordinary law is not OBJ
served TO institute special tribunals,
consisting Of three Judges, to be APP
pointed by the Lord Lieutenant, to
try cases without a jury. The judg-
ment of the Court must be unanimous.
An appeal can be made 10 the Su-
preme Court; the judgment of the lat
ter 10 be given by a majority of the
Judges. The Supreme Court may
diminish but cannot increase the Sc
verify Of the sentences, and Parlia-
ment will be asked to provide special
remuneration for special Judges. The
bill also contains the following pro-
visions: 1t gives power to search for
secret apparatus for murder, such as
arms, threatening letters, etc., power
TO enter houses by day or night,
under the warrant of the Lord Lieu
tenant; power oarrest persons prowl-
ing around at night and unable TO
give account of themselves, who are
to be dealt with ~sumnlarily; power to
arrest strangers, as crimes are gener-
ally committed by foreign emissaries,
the hospitality of England not being
for such persons as O'Donovan Rosa,
aud power TO remove foreigners con-
sidered dangerous to peace. 1hs
Government, therefore, intends to re-
vive the Alien Act. Secret societies
are to be dealt with summarily and
membership thereof to constitute an
offense. The Act also treats cases OF
aggravated assault in a summary
manner. Power is given 10 repress
intimidation and unlawful meetings.,
the latter to be dealt with summarily.
Newspapers containing seditious aud
imhammatory matter are 10 be sup
pressed and the proprietors required
10 enter into recognizance not to re-
peat the offence. Justices can CON-
pei the attendance of witnesses about
to abscond, and the Lord Lieutenant
can appoint an additional force if ne
ceSSary, at the cost OF The districts
concerned. Compensation for MUIR
der and outrages will be exacted from
the districts in which they occur.
Outrages will be dealt with summar-
lily by the courts, which are to consist
of two stipendiary magistrates. The
Government reserves for eonsidera-
ton any further alteration OF the jury
system. The Home Secretary ad.
mitted the bill was extraordinary,
but necessary to meet extraordinary
circumstances. The operation of the
bill is to be limited to three years.
The Government would do all in its
power to prevent innocent persons
suffering from the action Of the bill
which placed almost unlimited au-
thorty in the hands of the Lord Lieu
tenant. Harcourt concluded by stat
ing that the measure will probably
be followed by one dealing with ar
rears of rent.
The House, by a vote of 1927 to %,
passed the Repression bill to its first
reading. The minority was composed
entirely OF Home Rulers.
H onahs a. ha AHouaal H., III Gs-a..