Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-25
FOR SMALLER FARMS,
Gladstone and Balfour Speak on the
English Holdings Bill.
A MORE DRASTIC ACT WANTED.
Minister Reid Dined and Wined by the Paris
American Colony.
NEWS FROM THE EUROPEAN CAPITALS

NEWS FROM THE EUROPEAN CAPITALS
LONDON, March 2A-In the House Of
Commons this evening, discussion on the
bill introduced by Mr.. Chaplin, President
OF the Board of Agriculture, to facilitate
the acquisition of small agricultural hold
ings, was resumed.
MI. Gladstone spoke on the measure at
some length. He admitted that the bill was
an honest effort In the right direction, al
though falling short of the actual necessities
of the case. He said that the slowness of
progress on the question had convinced him
of the necessity of roofing rural laborers to
the soil. [Cries of "Hear, hear."] He
wished to interpose no obstacles to the bill,
but, unless it is amended in committee it
will certainly not fulfill the aims of its pro-
moters.
The principle Of compulsion ought to be
introduced. Without that there would be
considerable danger regarding the fixing of
a standard fair price. Compulsion would
expose the landlord to no danger of an un-
fair price, as settlement might be referred
to an Independent tribunal.
Why Coercion 10 Deemed Necessary.
1t is of vital consequence that rural labor
ers possessing land should live close to their
holdings. Therefore, 1t is necessary to in
troduce an element Of coercive authority to
secure that advantage. Then, they must
have small areas for action. The county
councils, ruling large areas, might overlook
small districts. Therefore, smaller admin
istrative bodies are required. called parish
councils. The Government might, also
extend the provisions Of the bill by author
izing county councils to lease lands on fair
terms from the existing owners
1t would be an advantage if this could be
done without invoking the aid of the State.
[Cries of "Hear, hear,"] The growth of
agricultural values In France since the
far more rapid than in England. This fact
is not due to the large farms in France, but
to the small cultivatora The same expert
ence ought to have the same results in Eng
land. [Cries of ''Hear, hear"]
Mr.. Gladstone, in concluding his speech,
said he trusted that all the parties in the
House, acting on common ground, would
succeed in producing measure that would
result in enormous good to the people.
Baifour on Small French Holders.
Mr.. Balfour also spoke on the measure.
He said he reciprocated the spirit in which
Mr.. Gladstone approached the bill. He
then proceeded to compare the position of
the rural population Of England with that
of the same class of people in France, con-
lending that the small landholders in the
after country were worse off than the En-
ylish hired laborers. He denied that the
principle of compulsion would improve the |
bill. The Government, he declared, aimed |
% recreate the class OF small yeoman. Mr. |
Gladstone desired, not 30 much to increase |
he number of freeholders in general, as to |
Increase the number of small freeholders |
+ that is the view of the House it will be
'etter to let the existing state of things re-
main.
The bill passed its second reading without
division.
Last Tuesday question was asked the
Government in the House Of Commons re-
arding the punishment of soldiers at
Aldershot for wearing the shamrock on ST.
'atrick's Day. Rt Hon. Edward Stan
ope, Secretary of State for War, then
eplied that he had telegraphed for informa-
on, and to-day he read an officers report
q the matter.
The Right to Wear the Green.
A private named O'Grady wore the sham
ock. 1t did not occur to the officer that it
as St. Patrick's Day, and he ordered
Grady to remove the emblem. O'Grady,
! most insubordinate manner, replied,
I won't" [Cheers from the Irish mem
ers. He was again ordered to remove the
lamrock and he again refused. He was
ken before . superior officer, and sen.
need to 4S hours hard labor, not for wear
e the shamrock, but for the style of his
plies to his officer. The Secretary of War
lat the punishment was justified. TCries
''No, no, from the Irish members
Thomas Sexton (McCarthyite) wanted to .
1ow whether Irish soldiers were not al
wed to wear the shamrock on St. Patrick's
ay. Mr.. Stanhope replied that when off t
lty they could wear anything they liked.
{ should choose a shamrock Seaton said {
ish soldiers in the Welsh Fusilleers we're J
'liged to wear the leek on ST. David's I
ay. Mr.. Stanhope replied, 'Yes, they I
~ wear badge sanctioned by their COM
ander." Patrick O'Brien (Parnellite)
IL introduce bill emitting Irish soldiers
wear national emblems on st. Patrick's 4
~, and English and Scotch soldiers the
Sc and thistle on St. Georges and st. Z
1drew's Days.
Mr.. OGrady Will Go Free. n
Mr.. Nolan brought up the shamrock h
cident again this evening on h
e third reading of the consolidated I
nd bill Several other Irish members g
10 spoke on the subject Mr. Mccarthy .
nplained that instead of promising a u
,ulation to prevent recurrence of Incl "
nts like that at Aldershot, the War Sec \
AIRY spoke as if the conduct of an Irish 81
dier in sporting the shamrock would "
AXE the foundations of discipline in the
itish Army. n
Mr.. Sexton wanted the War Secretary to
tie the point regarding the leek. 81
Mr.. Balfour said that it is the last the
vernment desired, to wound the senti- !"
nts of Irish soldiers. The officer at
dershot, he said, had forgotten that it was Il
Patrick's Day when he ordered o Grady d
remove the shamrock. al
Mr.. MacNeill Orish Nationalist) said he "
.retted that War Secretary Stanhope had II
ced the discussion on this subject, in tt
ad of admitting, as Mr.. Balfour did, that W
Aldershot officer had committed an in st
cretion. He hoped Mr.. Stanhope ould il
v say that no black mark would be re- tt
ded against Private O'Grady.
'ir H. S. Northcote CONSERVATIVE sup st
ted Mr. MacNeill's request, and Mr.. re
nhope, thereupon, promised that sem W
ce would not be recorded against d.
Irady. to