Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-02
THELAND PURCHASES
Will Probably be Made Feasible in
Ireland Before Long.
BALFOUR DEFENDS THE MEASURE.
He Makes an Exhaustive Speech in Favor
of the Purchase Bill.
SEXTON MAKES VERY SHARP REPLY
But the Bill Passes Second Reading, Although by
Marrow Vote.

Mr.. Balfour, Secretary of State for Ire
land, makes a vigorous and somewhat
humorous defense of the land purchase bill
In the Commons. He sharply reviews all
substitutes offered. Mr.. Sexton replies some
what sharply. The bill passes a second
reading.
LONDON, May IA debate on the land
purchase bill was resumed in the House OF
Commons this evening by Mr.. Balfour,
Chief Secretary for ireland. He said he
thought 1t would be admitted the attacks
that had been made on the measure, though
often violent in form, had been hesitating
in substance. Those who had used the most
vigorous language against the Government
proposals, seemed to be most hampered by a
feeling that the bill was in accordance with
the hest traditions of every party in the
House, besides the fact that they themselves
had been supporters of similar plans. For
instance, there was Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, Hear hear1 who had pounded
away at the bill wilfully oblivious of the
tact he had been party to a measure that
was open to every objection.
| a ohAM AIIACh.
That was a sham, and nothing more
clearly showed the disorganized state of the
opponents of the Government. Their
speeches were mutually destructive. Sir
| William Vernon Harcourt had told them
that the bill would excite the jealousy of
non-buyers, on account OF the fact that ten
ant buyers received. Mr.. Gladstone had
declared that the whole Of the boon given
| the tenants would be absorbed bv the land
lords. Sir William Vernon Harcourt OBJ
| jected to the hypothecation of local
rates for land purchase under any circum-
stances, while Mr.. Parnell bases the whole
OF his speech on tine objection that the Gov
ernment were taking the one kind of
security available for land purchase. Other
opponents objected to the state as a land
lord, while Mr.. Dillon wanted the whole of
the corgested districts compulsory bought,
the State to become the landlord.
NO COHERENT OPINION.
A coherent opinion upon the proposals OF
the bill did not exist among the opposition.
Still he believed suggestions were designed
to assist the Government. He approved
Mr.. Parnell's proposal in favor of fning
down rents, provided,
First-That this scheme be distinctly sub
ordinated to that main scheme for establish
ing peasant owners, and second, that the
tenants where rents are fined down be per-
manent.
Mr.. billions suggestion regarding the con-
eested districts largely conceded with the
Governments plans. In regard to migra-
tion or emigration, it would rest with the
boards in the congested districts, not with the
Government, which alternatively should be
adopted. The boards would find the mi
grating families expensive, as they would
bor 10 ha 1aA mid
under the laborers' act e1OO and land of e20
yearly value at 20 years purchase
involving total of $500 for every family.
IT is TOO EXPENSIVE.
No exchequer could bear the cost of doing
that on a large scale. He agreed that
everything ought to be done to cultivate
fishing in the West Of ireland. Merely to
multiply the number of harbors would not
effect the desired end. Hear, heaf.] The
Government plans ought to be judged in
connection with measures passed or pro-
posed for these districts. Cheers.
The Irish members had been rich in pro-
jects for dealing with the property of land
lords, but could they point to single bill
really dealing with the vital difficulties of
congested districts. [Cheers.] They had
made many speeches throughout Ireland,
but had they ever urged the inexpedience
and unwisdom OF early marriages. Hear !
hear and laughter
CALLED TO ORDER.
Mr.. Dillon had thrown the whole blame
for the large west coast population upon the
landlords Some responsibility for their
having children surely rested on the parents
[Hear, hear and laughter.
Tim Healy Gnterrupting)- Mrs.
Besant there.
The Speaker Immediately called Mr..
Healy to order.
Continuing, Mr.. Balfour said that the
Parnellites had refrained from touching the
evils of the subdivision of land in the |
West, and had reirained from urging con-
solidation or the emigration of those who |
could not earn a living at home. Their |
view was that families ought to remain, no |
matter whether they could ealn O living or |
not. A more pernicious doctrine was never |
heard. [Cheers. The Government dealt |
with the difficulty of congestion in good |
faith, hoping that its plans would stimulate |
industries and improve agriculture. These |
plans should have been met by the oppo-
sition in a fair spirit, as an honest attempt |
to solve great problem. [Cheers.]
ALoCAL CONCESSION.
Referring to Mr.. Chamberlain's idea that
the local authorities ought to be given regu-
latiye powers over contracts under the bill,
Mr.. Balfour admitted that if Ireland was in
its normal condition it would be desirable to
associate county councils in the great work
in which the imperial Parliament was en-
gagged. But was Ireland in a normal con-
dition? Parnellite cheers. The bill had
no raison d'etre unless it was to
effect objects not merely local but national.
The House ought not to allow itself to be
frustrated in carrying out the benefits of
the measure by any local authority likely to
be Influenced by political reasons. [Cheers
and Parnellite laughter.] The local
authorities in many parts of Ireland worked
as much on political lines as the Irish
members did. If it suited them to Burke
and misuse the efforts of the National
Government and to abuse its liberality
could they be depended upon to carry out
the designs of Parliament.
HOPED FOR A NORMAL CONDITION.
He hoped and believed the time would
come when normal condition of the coun-
try would justify handing it over to the
County Councils with power to say whether
great national objects should be carried into
effect. Cheers]. The bill had been as
sailed on the ground that it committed the
British Exchequer to Losses under non-pay-
ments if it did not evict. The Exchequer
would be none the worse. The loss would
iall entirely upon the local authori-
ties.' So the locality had the strong
est pecuniary interest in seeing
that the tenants fulfilled their obligations.
He did not believe the bill would tend to
drive out the landlords. On the contrary
by diminishing social friction the landlords
would be induced to live more frequently
in Ireland with greater powers OF useful
ness. Dealing with the arguments regard
ing the endangering of British credit, he
that the measure obviated all
risks. He denied the possibility of a gen