Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-19
Mr.. BALFOUR'S BILL.


~ Ansso-Americaa cable 70 the DispascAl
LONDON. February 1e.-Ths long. talked
q Irish government bill was introduced IN
ne House Of Commons to-day BY Mr.. Bal
-four amid the cheers Of the government
supporters. In introducing the bill Mr..
Balfouf said that ever since the formation
OF the present government. and even be-
toes. the extension Of local government
70 every part Of the United Kingdom had
becn . cardinal point Of the Conserva-
tyss' policy. That Intention, he declared,
bed been constantly adhered to and re-
tterated since by the government. They
bed introduced local government bills for
EneIand and Scotland. II they bad not
done the same for Ireland It must have
eeeo because great specific and obvious
dangers attended such course. The pre-
ant bill was not merely county councils
bill. but IL was what would in England be
described % district and county bill. Byy
IT, provisions administrative duties VIII
Be given to baronial councils, leaving
wholly untouched the judicial duties now
entrusted 10 the grahd jury. The mem
bers OF the county and baroniai COUNCILS
will Be elected every three years. Inc
government proposed following the scotch
4080CA tkk0B tDo llukiiSn nrAcuits
IRISH DREAD OF THE MEASURE.
There undoubtedly existed q large body
Of people in Ireland, who dreaded mea-
sure OF this kind. 1t was only due TO those
persons to examine the fear they entertain.
I'd. They feared the new system would
result In extravaganza, possibly corrup-
ton. They were afraid they would be
plundered and oppressed by the new
bodies. Mr.. Balfour did not think there
vas any weight to these arguments,
which would not stand the brunt OF
hostile criticism. In tbe first coun-
~ council he said there. would be
tour ez-Qtlcio membership lord heuten.
ant OF the county, the sheriff. nominee OF
the grand jury. and nominee of the pre-
sentiment sessions. The franchise OF the
county councils would be identical with
that Of the baronial councils. Both would
be identical with the Parliamentary fran
chise, except that they would include
women and peers. Laughter The fran;
ohise would exclude illiterate persons and
those VINO did not Day county taxes
NOT TO RKoESERATE ICELAND.
Mr.. Baifour spoke for one hour and
forty minutes. He said in conclusion that
he did not pretend that the bill was to re-
generate Ireland but he sincerely thought
that the Irish rate-payer had right TO
cin1In the same measure Us Wac eIhhtcu W
the rate-payer in England and Scotland.
He therefore recommended the bill to the
favorable attention of the House.
John Morley strongly objected to the
bill. AMI asked the government to 60 to
the country on the measure.
Mr.. John Redmond and Mr.. Justin Nc
Carthy opposed the bill.
THE BILL PASSES.
The bill passed the first reading. and
MIR. Balfour fixed the second reading for
March Sd. During Mr.. Balfour's speech
there was q large attendance in the House.
The galleries were crowded with peers, IN
Guiding the Duke of Devonshlre, Earl
Cadogan, Lord Aberdare. and the Earl of
Limerick.
Conservatives for the most part decline
TO criticise the bill until it has been print
ed. Some steadfast supporters. OF the
Ministry, however. confess that the mea-
sure needs much amending. There was q
notable absence of Conservative enthu-
siasm, while. on the other hand, the
Liberals were exultant. regarding the bull
as the fnal blow to the governments
chances in the coming general election:
Both sections of the Irish members intend
70 oppose the bill to the utmost.