The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-01-20
A FOR


LONDON, January 17.-An important
letter signed Economist" appeared in to-
days Statist, containing suggestions which
in the writer's opinion would enable home
rule to be granted to Ireland without ex-
posing the property of the landlords to
plumber, and without imposing any serious
burden on the Imperial Exchequer. The
authorship of this letter is not acknowl-
edged here, but | am able to state that it
is by Robert Griffin, l.. L. p, well knownin
the Important position Of statistician to
the Board OF Trade.
The scheme is q very striking one and
extremely plausible on paper. I have al
ready heard one of the Radical leaders
very enthusiastic in it's support. The plan
is for the Imperial Government to buy out
every landlord in Ireland, giving him on
soils at par equal in nominal amount to
twenty years purchase Of the present ju-
dicial rents; second, to give the land free
to it's present occupants subject only to
rent charge of one-half or two-thirds OF
the present judicial rent. payable to the
hew local authorities in Ireland, and,
third, to relieve the Imperial Exchequer of
bill payments now made out Of it in con-
hection with the local government OF Ire
land.
TO MEET THEIR OWN EXPENSES.
The plan is, in fact, to throw the cost OF
local government in Ireland upon Irish re-
sources exclusively, and give the Irish peo-
pie the rent of the country for the purpose
of conducting it. The conflict between land
lords and the people would thus come to
an end and there would no longer be any
fear that if England gives Ireland home rule
the property Of landlords would be con6s-
Gated.
Taking the rent of Ireland as settled
juhicially at about 4S,O00,0O0, the con.
soils at par to be given in exchange at
twenty years purchase would be $780,
600, 600, involving an annual charge OF f4,-'
8OO,O 900 upon the Imperial Exchequer.
At present the government spends an
nually upon Ireland for the local govern
ment close upon "a, o 900, exclusive
altogether of the outlay for the army OF
occupation, for the collection of revenue
and other imperial matters which would
remain imperial.
IRISH ENANT
The position as regards Irish tenants
would be that where they nowpay f6 ,OO0,-
five and q half millions. Much of the pres
emit Irish difficulty is due to the fact that
tenants have been false to the judicial rents
fixed a few years ago. The subsequent fall
of price has upset the whole theory of
rents. Under the new scheme it
would be possible and necessary to let the
new local authorities in Ireland have
of the police, which would
have to be their own rent charge. Col
lectors of the imperial government would
have to retain small police forces of their
own to enforce the collection of the i'm
perial taxes required for the purpose. I'M
perial avs relating to the freedom of COM
merce, transit and other matters would
remain imperial as long as there is no sep
aration. The Irish representation at West
ought to be reduced to something
like the proportion Of it's contribution to
the imperial revenues, that is, to something
less thar 5 per cent, about 35 out OF $40
members. My reason for treating this bril-
idea at such length is that it will
become the centre of a highly important
AN EDITOR RESIGNS.
Mr.. Hill has resigned the editorship ofthe
Daily News on account of differences with
the proprietors. They offered him q check
for 81, 600 as a token of appreciation for
years services, which he declined.
He will be succeeded by Mr.. w. Lusy, the
chief OF the Daily News Parlia- |
staff, known az ''Toby, N. P.,' OF
Punch, a very capable and enterprising
journalist.