Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-19
BalfOur's Local Government
Bill introduced.
He Explains the Measure to the
Commons.
His Remarks Elicit Irish Jeers and
Tory Cheers.
The Liberals Regard the Bill as the
Death Blow of the Government
and the Sure Triumph of
Their Cause.
Associated Press Dispatches.

of Irish local government bill was intro
duced in the commons today by Bal
four, government leader.
Balfour, in explaining the bill, said it
was not merely county councils bill,
but was what in England would be
described as district and counties bill.
By its provisions the administrative du-
ties will be given to baronial councils,
leaving wholly untouched the judicial
duties now entrusted to the grand jury.
The members of the county and baronial
councils will be elected every three
years. The government proposed fol-
lowing the Scotch rather than the Eng
lish measure in the matter OF aldermen.
Many people in Ireland, said Balfour,
feared the measure would result in ex-
travagance, possibly corruption. He
denied this. In the first county coun-
ellis there would be four ex-officio mem
bers-the lord lieutenant OF the county,
the sheriff, the nominee of the grand
jury and the nominee of the present.
ment sessions. The qualifications of
voters for county councilmen and baron
ial councilmen would be identical. Il
literate persons and those who did not
pay county taxes would have no vote.
Balfour explained the workings OF the
bill as proposed, and said the system of
franchise suggested would give the
minority vote in the county councils.
The councils might use their power to
oppress small minority and might be
guilty of willful and persistent cor
ruption. Irish jeers.l The history of
Ireland proved that these remote dan
gers had reality. Such dangers did not
exist in England.
Provision was made to allow twenty
cess payers to apply to a judge or as
sizes for leave to petition for the re-
moval of councillors of barony or
county on the ground of persistent dis
obedience OF the law, corruption or ep-
preston, and if the charge was estab-
lished the guilty councillor would be
replaced by nominee of the lord-lieu-
tenant. [Ironical cheers.l II malversa-
ton and oppression were possible, it
adequate remedy. Such dangeFA ex-
listed in Ireland to an extent unknown
in England or Scotland.
To prevent extravagance, the bill
would provide that land owners should
have decided voice in permitting capi-
tai expenditures as distinct from cur
rent expenditures. He could not con-
ceive any danger of the councils becom-
ing the centers of political agitation to
further the views of any particular
party.
Replying to Healy, Balfour said the
bill would not affect the police system
of Ireland, and the incidence of taxa
tion would remain as at present.
In conclusion, Balfcur said he did not
pretend that the bill would regenerate
Ireland, but he sincerely thought the
Irish rate.payer had a right to claim
the same measure granted in England
and Scotland. He therefore recon-
mended the bill to the favorable atten-
ton of the house.
John Morley characterized the bill as
the 'rottenest reed the Irish minority
ever leaned on for the retention of their
privileges He declared that the
measure was based on fraud-in abso-
lutte distrust OF the Irish people-in
fact, on the assumption that they were
"debased Helots."
The whole opposition broke forth into
cheers when Morley called on the gov
ernment to 60 before the people on the
| measure.
In concluding, he affirmed that the
bill was mockery; was Justification
of the pledges of the government, and
furnished grounds for the manifestation
OF further Irritation in Ireland.
John Redmond protested against the
measure as "a sham BILL" He could
not conceive how any government could
be go full of imbecitity as to go to the
country on such bill.
Justin Mccarthy advised the govern
ment to burn the bill.
Healey said he never knew of more
contemplate bill.
Harcourt said bill more insulting to
the Irish he could not conceive of. 1t
bore the stamp of Chamberlain, who
was the "mother of the bill.
Balfour denied that the bill was in
sulting to Ireland. If, owing to obstruc-
ton, the present bill should not be
passed, local government in Ireland
would be indefinitely postponed. The
only reason why the Irish parties should
obstruct the bill was that it contained
machinery to stop corruption and OPP
preston. The only inference was that
they desired to make something out of
the councils.
At this the whole opposition joined in
crying "Shame! Shame ~ while the
Conservatives cheered.
Labouchere said Balfour was "be-
tween the devil and the deep sea-" He
had to introduce a bill to satisfy his
master, Chamberlain, and had to per-
suade the Conservatives that the bill
was sham.
Chamberlain denied that he assisted
in the work of framing the bill. He
said he approved of the manner in
which the government redeemed its
pledges. The safeguards introduced in
the bill in regard to corruption were
those that the Americans, the most
democratic people in the world, intro
duced into their constitution. The
American legislature could be brought
before the supreme court.
James Brice, of the south division OF
Aberdeen, Liberal, in favor of home
rule for Ireland, denied that there was
any comparison between the proposed
councils in Ireland and the relations in
which the Arnariear sutafa laCialafUr1e