Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-19
MR.. BALFOUR'S BILL
For the Local Government of Ireland
Presented
BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Irish Members Denource Il and Its Authors
for Insulting the Irish People by Offering Such
Measure-Mr. Balf6ur Defends the Bill.
Jeers from the Irish Members.

| talked-of Irish Local Government bill
was introduced'in the House OF Com
mons to-day by Ms. Balfour, amid the
cheers Of the government supporters.
In introducing the bill, Mr.. Balfour
said that ever since the forma-
tion of the present government,
and even before, the extension of local
government to every part OF the Uuited
| Kingdom had been cardinal point OF
the Conservatives policy.
That intention, he declared, had been
| constantly adhered to and reiterated
since by the government. They had in
! troduced the local government bills for
England and Scotland. II they had
dot done the same for Ireland 1t must
have been because great specific and OBJ
vious dangers attended such course.
The present bill was not merely coun-
ellis bill, but 1t was what in England
would be described as district and
| counties bill.
BY its provisions 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 baro-
nial councils will be elected every three
years. The government proposed fol-
| lowing the Scotch rather the English
measure in the matter OF Aldermen.
There undoubtedly existed large
body OF people in Ireland who dreaded
O measure of this kind. It was only
due to those persons to examine the fear
they entertained. They feared the new
system wold result in extravaganza,
possibly corruption. They were afraid
they would be plundered and oppressed
by the new bodies. Mr.. Baifour did not
think there was any weight to these ar
guments, which would not stand the
brunt of hostile criticism. In the first
county councils he said there would be
| four ex-officio members, the Lord Lieu
tenan of the county, the Sheriff, nom
inee of the grand jury and nominee OF
the presentment sessions.
Mr.. Balfour said that the county
councils would havo the combined du-
ties Of county and presentment coun-
ellis, and Of grand juries regarding ad-
ministrative affairs. They will also be
empowered, II necessary, to take es-
pionage over the duties of rural sani-
tary authorities. The councils will ap-
! point the county coroners.
They will be empowered to acquire
woods and plantations, and thus assist
the operation of the land purchase act.
Thirteen existing municipal boroughs
will be made separate counties, having
all the powers Of counties. The council,
where a county is too large, will be d.
yded to correspond with division OF
the county, each division electing fifteen
members.
The system OF franchise suggested
said Mr.. Balfour. would give the MI
nority vote In the county Councils.
The Councils might use their powers to
oppress small minority and might be
guilty Of wilful and persistent corrup-
tion Qrish jeers). The history OF Ire
land, proved that these reminders had a
reality. Such dangers did not exist in
England.
Provision was made to allow twenty
taxpayers to apply to Judge OF Assizes
for leave to petition for the removal Of
the councillors OF barony or county
Iironical opposition cheers on the
ground that the councillors were guilty
OF persistent disobedience Of the law,
corruption or oppression. The matter
would be tried like an election petition,
and, II the charge was established, the
guilty councillors would be replaced by
nominees of the Lord Lieutenant.
Ironical cheers.
OIL malversation and oppression were
possible, it was the duty OF the House
to provide an adequate remedy. Such
dangers existed in Ireland TO an extent
unknown in England and Scotland. In
order to prevent extravaganza on the
part OF the county the bill would pro-
vide that land owners should have de-
Gliding voice in permitting capital ex-
penditures as distinct from current eX-
penditures.
In reply TO question asked by Mr..
Healy, Mr.. Balfour said the bill would
not affect the police system of Ireland,
and that the incident OF taxation would
remain as II was at present.
John Morley characterized the bill as
the rottenest reed the Irish minority
had ever leaned on for the retention OF
privileges. He declared that the meas
ure was framed in absolute distrust OF
the Irish people-in fact, on the AS
sumption that they were "debased he'll
OTIS"
The whole opposition broke forth into
cheers when Mr.. Morley called on the
government to go before the people on
the measure. In concluding, he af-
firmed that the bill was mockery Of
fered TO the House; that IL was a falsh-
cation of the pledges Of the government
and that it furnished grounds for the
manifestation Of further irritation In
Ireland.
John Redmond protested against the
measure as a sham bill. Justin McCar-
thy, in the course o. his remarks, ad-
vised the Government TO burn the bill,
declaring that the Nationalists would
reject IL as an unclean thing.
Mr.. Healy said he never knew OF a
more contemplate bill. 1t was an ab-
soIute failure, be said, and died in the
mouth Of its proposers.
Sir VIM. Vernon Harcourt said thata
bill more insulting TO the Irish, he could
not conceive of. 1t bore the stamp Of
Mr.. Chamberlain. who was the mother
of the bill. Sir William ridicaled
the idea of county Council Of tried
judges.
Mr.. Balfour denied that the bill was
insulting to Ireland. The opposition
speeches, he said, showed the insincer-
ity OF the members for local gov
ernment for Ireland. II owing
to obstruction the present bill
should not be passed. local government
for Ireland would be indefinitely post
poned. The only reason why the
Irish parties should obstruct the bill
was that 1t contained machinery to stop
corruption and oppression. The only