The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-11
A NEW HoME-RuLE PLAN.

Proposal that England Practically Pur-
chase Ireland with Public Money.
LONDON, Jan. 10.-An important letter. signed
Economist appears in today's Stats, containing
a suggestion which, in the writer's opinion,
would enable home rule to be granted to Ireland
without exposing property landlords to plunder,
and without imposing any -erious burden on
the imperial exchequer. The authority of this
letter is not acknowledged here, but am able
to state that it is by Robert Griffen. LIZ d.,
we'll known in the important position of Statisti-
clan to the Board of Trade.
The scheme is very striking one, and ex-
tremely plausible on paper. have already
heard one of the Radical leaders enthusiastic in
its support The plan is:
First-For the imperial government to buy
out every landlord in Ireland, giving him consols
at par, equal in nominal amount to twenty years
purchase of the present judicial rents
Second-To give the land free TO the present
occupiers, subject only to rent charge of one
half or two-thirds of the present judicial
rent payable to the new local authorities in Ire
land.
Third-To relieve the imperial exchequer of
all payments now made out Of it in connection
with the local government Of Ireland.
The plan, in fact, Is to impose the cost of local
government in Ireland upon Irish resources en-
tirely and give the Irish people the rent of the
country for the purpose of conducting it. The
conflict between landlords and people would thus
come 30 an end, and there would no longer be
fear that If England gives Ireland home rule the
property of the landlords would be coniscated
Taking the rent of Ireland as settled judiciusly
at about f8G00 900, the consols at par to be
given on exchanges at twenty years purchase,
would be f160. 600, involving an annual
charge of ga, SOO,00O upon the imperial ex-
chequer. At present the government spends
annually upon Ireland for the local government
close upon e. 100000, exclusive altogether of
the outlay for the army of occupation, for the
| collection of revenue and other imperial matters
| which would still remain imperial. The posi-
| tion as regards Irish tenants would be that
where they now pay f8, 600 900 they would have
| % pay only from four to FIVE and half mill
| ions.
! The emergency is one, the writer thinks. for
| which the imperial credit should be used. Much
of the present Irish difficulty is due to the fact
that events have been fatal to the judicial rent
| fixed few years ago. The subsequent fall of
| prices has upset the whole theory of judicial
rents. Under the new schemeit would be posi-
| BILE and necessary to let the new local authori-
| would have to be their own rent charge. Col
| lectors of the imperial government would retain
| small police of their own to enforce the col
lection of imperial taxes required for the impe-
rial purposes Imperial laws relating to freedom
of commerce, travel and other matters would
remain imperial as long as there is no separa-
| tion The Irish representation al Westminster
ought to be reduced to something like the pro-
portion of its contribution to the imperial reve-
nues That is to say, about per cent; about
| thirty five out of go members.