New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-16
I4vD REFORN IN ENGLAND.

LAND REFORM N ENGL1ND.
The British Commons in suspending Irish
LEXIS lation have not taken leave OF the vexalous
subject of Land Reform. The London Govern
ment bill has been temporarily deferred and the
Agricultural Holdings bill during the remain
der of the session will have the precedence over
all other Government measures. AS the Com
seryatives are lent upon trtterng away as
much time as possible in debate, and as the
Liberals arc 10 longer united III matters OF
party policy and discipline, it. is not probable
that more than one great measure can be
passed before the midsummer adjournment. Sir
William Iarcourt's well-digested measure for
the uni1catiOn of LOndon-that nation OF
four millions which is practically ungoverned-
may be introduced, but there will not be time
for considering so intricate measure when tho
farm ers' grievances have been redressed. The
Agricultural Holdings bill, if the Ministry can
survive the vicssitudes of It's passage, Will
probably be the outcome of the session, the
fourth in order which has been devoted mainly
to the subject of Land Reform AS the session
of next year has by common consent been re-
served for the County Government and Fran
chise measures, the London Government bill
has been practically abandoned by the present
Ministry.
The Tenant Compensation measure seems 10
have been awkwnrdly introduced by Mr.. bod .
son aud to have disappointed the expectations
of the most advanced. Radicals II embodies,
however, the chief demand of three of the most
influential agricultural associations in Eng
land The Chamber of Agriculture recently
affirmed that legislation was absolutely nee
cssary in order to secure 10 tenant-iarmels
compensation for Their uucxhausted improve
ments in all cases where il was not directly pro-
yidcd. This is the central idea of the proposed
measure and the Justice Of the demand has been
formally ronceded in the report of the Royal
Commission. The Farmers Club and the
Farmers Alliance have advocated the same prn
ciplc. the former stipulating for legal min
imum rate of compensation whenever II Is not
provided for in the lease or agreement and the
latter dcm1uding the fun value OF the tenants
improvements without limitations. The Coy
eminent measure is thus in accord with the de-
m.ndS of the representative farmers assocIa-
tious 80 far az there is common ground in their
resolutions and programmes. There a.c many
minor points Oh which these associations them
selves are not agreed, raneius from the abo-
tithcs To = compulsory revision Of rates
of railway fare AID transportation, and no
measure which could have been introduced
would have given uniform satisfaction % the
agriculturists represented in these councils
The Government seems TO have framed a mod
crate mcasurccontainng the main concession
demanded W the associations and already rec
commended by Parliamentary commissions.
The agricultural ca- Q in England and Scot
lard. having felt the strain Of continuous de-
preston for many years, naturally look to Par
Lament for some measure OF legislative relief.
The farmers associations from time to time
have directed attention to instances OF glazing
Injustice wherein tenants were either charged
additional tent To- the Improvements made at
their own expense, or were allowed no COM
pensation for such improvements when their
tcnancies expired The Royal Commission
also obtained sufficient evidence OF a similar
nature to warrant its recommendation that the
principle Of compensation ior Improvements
should he emboGitd in the common lan. Ac-
cordngly this is made the ground OF Parlia-
mcntary relief to a class winch, suffering from
the pressure Of harsh economic conditions,
cannot endure the additional strain of legal
injustice. In redrcsslng their grievances the
Liberal Government viii naturally siren CITIZEN
itself politically il the Scotch ard English
counties, and to some extent in the borough~
NJ well, where there arc suburban farmers.
The measure, therefore, is one which viii have
an excellent effect in many doubtful conotit-
although it may fail to satisfy the
OF every Radical below the Sangway.
American farmers Will not find it easy to APP
preciatc the Necessity ior this measure, thc!r
own property, when not owned by themselves,
rs is generally the case, il regulated by formal
leases and direct stipHlations. Under Amer
ican ~ under the French law, the tenant builds
or improve, at his own risk and peril and is not
entitled 70 compensation. In England, whore
two-thiids e tie land is not cultivated, as in
The United Stalcs ANA France, by those who
own it. the tenants improvements made with !
or without the owner consent are all that lac !
can call his own, and no now hopes to have |
those measre rights secured 10y law.