Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-28
A Sum Of Sso,0O00oo to Be Loaned to
Tenant Farmers for the Purchase
of Landlords Estates.
THE BILL RATHER UNSATISFACTORY.
II Offers Less Inducements to Both the Landlords
and Tenants Than the Law Here
taf0re In Eurca
UEFAvORABLE R1sR CENSUS RETURNS
rBY CABLE TO THE D1sPATcH.l

LONDON, June e2T-G Copyrighted. There
Is virtually no foundation for the sensa-
tionsl rumors which have been in circula-
ton here respecting Mr.. Gladstone's health.
The Grand Old Mans recovery from the in
fuenza has been somewhat slower than had
been hoped by friends, who, owing to his
marvellous vitality, have unconsciously ac-
CURED the habit of regarding him as a man
of 30 years instead of an octogenarian. But
the progress, if tardy, is sure, and Sir An
drew Clark, his friend and physician, states
to-day that short rest and change of air
will complete the cure. Last evening Mr.
Gladstone went to Lowestoft, q bracing
place on the east coast, and has taken up his
residence at Corton Hall as the honored
guest Of its owner, Mr.. Coleman, M. p,
known as 'the Mustard Millionaire"
Mr.. Gladstone has not put in much time
at the House of Commons lately, and as
John Morley has been III, Sir William Har-
court has had charge of the Liberal party In
Parliament. Sir William is q feshy man
and a spell of not weather has caused him
much physical discomfort. But his tenn
porary leadership has been marked by con-
spicuous tact and ability. The restless
Radicals urged him to support the Tory
mutineers in opposing a free education bill
He preferred, before committing the Liberal
party too deeply, to find out how many Tory
mslcontents would have the courageof their
convictions
But Ten Tory Malcontents
A division on second reading proved the
number to be ten, so that there viii be no
echance TO throw out the bill altogether.
The probabilities still are that the measure
Will be withdrawn this session, as sufficient
amendments have been heaped upon it to
stife much healthier bantling.
An Irishman of considerable prominence,
writing of parliamentary affairs, saws:
Balfours land bill has now been practically
passed, the committee stage having been
completed. 1t was described by John Nor
Icy as the worst land bill ever introduced
into Parliament. That remark applies to
the details, not to the principle, of the
measure, npon which a majority of both
parties are in accord. 1t is another exam
pie of the British legislation which we re-
sent so much.
The bill is prepared on the instructions
of Baifonr, strong and determined man,
but totally ignorant of ireland, and imbued
with contempt, which he takes little trouble
TO conceal, for the Irish. The information
necessary TO the construction of the meas
ure is derived from 'the Castle" ]. e., from
the Anglo-Irish officials entirely devoid of
sympathy with the Irish people. In Par
lament three-fourtbs of the members know
little and care less about the measure; En-
,rliSb mon, borc ,,-[O opDora in 1aho+o 10
SO from party standpoint, more anxious to
embrrass their adversaries than to pass
good law. The arguments of Irishmen are
addressed to empty benches. The Irish
Conservatives dare not vote against a Gov
eminent measure or any of its clauses
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill provides a sum of $50, ,o0o, 900 to
be loaned to tenant farmers for the purchase
Of their landlords estates. As guarantees
sgainst loss, grants from the Imperial
revenue Ia aid of local taxation for educa-
tion and maintenance of the poor may be
withheld from Ireland: the Lord Lieutenant
may order special taxes to be levied; he may
also require for series of years that the
borrowers shall pay an annuity on their
loans in excess of the normal annuity of |
per cent
Without reference to the capital value of |
q farm, or the price at which the landlord is |
willing 10 sell, every purchaser is obliged |
TO pay Ior five years an annuity equal to so |
per cent of his legal and often nominal |
rent. Large classes of farms are excluded |
from the benefits of the act, SO that few
landlords viii be able to dispose of their en-
tire estates.
On the whole, the bill offers less induce |
ment than the existing law to landlords to |
sell or to tenants to buy. 1t imposes taxa
tion on ratepayers who derive no benefit |
from the act; it makes these unwillingly |
guaranteeing ratepayers liable to pay the |
debts Of borrowers who may under certain |
circumstances hold their lands without pay
ment 1t encourages tenants to borrow and |
buy, by providing possibilities of their |
escaping repayment. Though the bill is of |
moderate length, the multitude and COM
plexity of the guarantees are such that some
English members declared that the effort to |
comprehend their action and effect had al /
most reduced them to idiocy.
Balfours Legislation for Ireland.
Balfour's other Irish legislation during
this session has consisted wholly of acts for
the relief Of distress. One million dollars
were granted for the construction of Ii ght
and S5OO,OOO for relief works in
the shape OF roads, harbors and drainage.
Loans Of public money free of interest for
two years were granted to the boards of
poor law guardians for the purchase of seed
potatoes, the partial failure of that crop last
year having caused one of the periodical
scsres on the subject of this precarious crop.
The result of this latter measure was that
the price OF potatoes rose to S45 ton for