The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-20
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ERIN LEFT IN THE COLD.
MR.. RITCHIE OFFERS A LOCAL GOV
ERNMENT BILL.

It's Provisions Confined to England
and Wales-Mr. Gladstone Calls At
tention to the Omission of the Un-
happy Isle - The Measure Apt to
Cause Split.
LONDON, March 19-In the House of
Commons this evening c. s. Ritchie, Presi-
dent of the Local Government Board, in
troduced local government bill for Eng
land and Wales The bill proposes to estab-
lish county councils, to be elected directly
by the rate payers, which are to have con-
troll of the county police, to WELD the pow
ers now exercised by the local authorities
over gas and water works, artisans, dwell
ings, sale of food, and drugs and sani-
tary conditions, and to make advances
in aid of emigration where there
is every reason to believe that the advance
will be repaid. The Local Government
Board is to retain its present power to con-
troll the borrowing of money by counties
and to audit the accounts of counties. and
is also to fix the number of members of
county councils. Other provisions give
councils oversight of lunatic asylums,
warehouses, reformatories and industrial
schools, and power to grant.
licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors.
So far rs the existing judicial work OF the
country magistrate is concerned, said Mr..
Ritchie, it is proposed to leave it untouched,
Opposition cries of "Ohl Ohr'l but the new
Councils will have all the administrative
powers of Justices respecting county rates
and financial business.
DIVIDED INTO DISTRICTS.
An important feature of the proposals is
the division of the whole country into
urban and rural districts, within which
rate-payers will be equally entitled
to vote for members Of the Coun-
ellis. London will be Il county by
itself under Lord Lieutenant. The
Metropolitan Board Of Works will be trans
formed into council The city will lose
all administrative power, and the whole
police force will remain under charge of the
Home Secretary. Liverpool, Birmingham,
Manchester Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol, Brad
ford, Nottingham, Hull and Newcastle will
also constitute counties in themselves.
IRELAND LEFT OUT.
Mr.. Gladstone called attention to the en-
tire absence in Mr.. Ritchie's statement of
any reference TO Ireland 1t was obvious
he said that both Ireland aud Scotland were
especially excluded from the bill. Regarding
the proposals now presented for England
there was every disposition on his side to
treat him in broad and candid spirit Hear
Hear). The proposals were too large
to be criticized at once The
House must retain absolute liberty TO judge
both as to the bill as a whole and as TO the
details. tl1ear Hear1 Leave was there
upon given TO introduce the bill
In the lobbies of Parliament tonight dis
cussion Of the bill disclosed the fact that the
measure meets with general approval from
the opposition, while on the other hand
many of the Tories are discontented with
the Democratic principle of the election of
councils involved in the bill
The advanced Conservatives are satisfied
and do not expect 10 encounter any serious
opposition during the progress Of the meas
ure.
Mr.. ParneIl's arrears of rent bill will
come up in the House of Commons w -dnes-
day. The bill was the subject of discussion
at a prolonged nesting of tho Cabinet to-
day 1t is reported that the government
under dssident threats of desertion has
decided to promise to deal with the arrears
question. An urgent Parnellite whip has
been issued in view Of the possible detection
Of the Unionists.
DECLARED REVOLUTIONARY.
LONDON, March 20-3 A. M-The Stand
ard dubs Mr.. Ritchie's local government
bill a revolutionary measure. 1t thinks he
attempted too much, and paid too little re-
gard to the Conservative principles By
WHICH JHe government OuRuD 10 regulate
their public polty despite their alliance
with the dlssident Liberals 1t believes a
more moderate measure would
have secured the support of
the dissidents without offending
large body Of Conservatives. 1t congratu-
lates Mr.. Ritchie upon his courage, but
wishes he had displayed little less valor
and a little more discretion, in which case
he would have been more certain of success.
The NeOs, Post, Telegraph and Chronicle
express general approval of the measure.