The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-09-23
MR.. PARNELL'S LAND BILL.
THE IRISH LEADER EXPLAINS THE
PROVISIONS OF HIS MEASURE.


in Moving the Second Reading Of the
Bill In the House of Commonwealth.
Gladstone Intends to Support the Bill
LONDON, Sept. 22.-The appearance of Mr..
Gladstone at Westminster was the signal for
an ovation, both inside and outside the house
Of commons. AS he entered the hall Of the
house and made his way to his seat he was
greeted with cheer after cheer many Liberal
Unionists joining in the tribute Of respect to
the ex- premier He was in robust health and
fine spirits
In the house of commons Lord Randolph
Churchill announced that the government
would at the next session of parliament in
troduce a bill to facilitate the transfer Of
land.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, chief secretary
for Ireland, said that since June Is 1000
families had been evicted in Ireland for nom
payment Of rent, f50 of whom had been re-
admitted to their holdings as caretakers
Mr., Parnell, in moving the second reading
Of the land bill, explained the provisions of
his measure and said that the bill, with the
exception of its second clause, was designed
for temporary operation In bringing this
bill he said he had intended to provide what
he hoped would temporarily serve the pres
ent emergency. He spoke of the prevailing
| depression of prices and deplored the fact
that there were no signs of their recovery.
"lndeed, he said, "t'.ere were unmistakable
signs that they were rapidly falling lower,
carrying with them large increase Of the
distress which is now felt throughout Ire
land"
Mr.. Parnell did not ask or expect the house
to adopt the bill as a whole at this time, but
| only asked that it would act upon that part
| in regard to the rents due next November
"Until the house is able to act upon the re-
port Of the royal commission" said he, ave
will abstain entirely from prejudging the
governments proposals. Owing to the great
depression Of prices since the judicial rents
| were fxed and the fact that the potato
| blight has affected the farmers to an alarm
ing extent, it behoove5 the house to apply a
| temporary remedy for their relief and not
wait until the royal commission has made its
report, when the government can take action
in the premises 1t would be impossible for
the government to act upon the commissions
report before November, 1887, and this will
be too laten
Mr.. Parnell made further proposal that
the tenant deposit half the amount of rent
due, leaving the courts to determine how
much there would be remaining for the ten
ant to pay and the landlord to lose. Under
arrears act of 1889 the tenant deposited a
third, the landlord lost a third, and the state
| advanced the remainder The only practical
| difference make is that the state shall not
be a loser
"In regard to the suspension Of evictions," !"
he said, "the bill again closely follows the
arrears act which worked justly and salts
factoriy to ALL In regard to leaseholders,
they have already waited long enough, and
will not be party to the horrible injustice,
and perpetually excluding them from the
benefit Of the act of 1882"
Mr.. Parnell disputed the accuracy Of Mr..
Beach's statement concerning the number of
evictions which had been enforced in Ireland
since June 10. The quarter ending with the
present month, he said,. would show higher
average of evictions than any quarter since
the year 1851.
Mr. Parnell spoke an hour and twenty
minutes, and was frequently interrupted by
cheers.
Mr. J. G.. Gibson, Conservative member
for Liverpool, opposed the bill in a brief
speech, and was followed by Mr.. Gladstone.
Mr. Gladstone said he was very sorry to
find III the course of the debate that there
was no signs that the two sides were approxi-
mating an agreement. The speeches of the
Tories, he said, showed that the government
side were uncompromising in their opposi-
tion to any measure designated to the relief
of the Irish tenants. Whether that attitude
was justified they ought to decide, and then
vote for the second reading of the bill.
Replying to the question when the inability
of the Irish tenants to pay rent was first dis
covered, Mr.. Gladstone said: ut was first
discovered when the government first ad-
vised the queen to issue royal commission
to inquire whether the fall of the prices of
produce had affected the rent-payiug capac-
ity of the tenant farmers. 1t is too late now
to argue that it is impossible to distinguish
between those who are really unable and
those who are merely disinclined to pay rent,
because parliament has more than once re-
cognized the fact that it was possible to draw
up an act making such a distinction with
even the most remote degree Of accuracy.
The issuance of the commission" he said,
"was in accordance with the imperative COM
mand of parliament as part Of its endeavor
to relieve tenants, careful examination Of
whose affairs had proved their inability to
pay rent" Concluding, Mr. Gladstone de-
c'ared his intention to support the bill,
though, he said had he drawn the bill him
self he would have framed it differently.
Mr.. Henry Matthews spoke against the bill
The debate was then adjourned on motion Of
Mr.. Moreley.