St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-19
correspond with the divisions of the
county, each division electing fifteen

county, eacn DIVISION electlng nfteen
members.
The system of franchise suggested.
said Mr.. Balfour, would give the minor
ity vote in the county councils. The
councils might use their powers to OPP
press a small minority. and might be
guilty OF willful and persistent cOrrup-
ton. Irish jeers. The history of
Ireland proved that these remote dam
gers hau reality. Such dangers did
not exist in England. Provision was
made t. allow twenty cesspayers to
apply to judge of aSsiZes for leave to
petition for the removal of the council
Tors of barony or county [irOnical Op-
position cheersl. on the ground that the
councillors were guilty of persistent dis
obedience of the law against corruption
or oppression. The matter would be
tried like an election petition, and, if
the charge was established. the guilty
councillors would be replaced by nOnli-
neeS of the lord lieutenant. TIronical
cheerSl.
If malversation and oppression were
possible, it was the duty OF the house to
provide an adequate remedy. Such
dangers existed in Ireland to extent
unknown in England and Scotland. In
order to prevent extravaganza on the
part OF the councils, the bill would pro-
vide that land owners should have de-
Gliding voice in permitting capital eX-
current expenditures. 1t was pro-
posed that a committee be
appointed which would consist of seven
members nominated by the council and
seven nominated by the grand jury and
sheriff of the county. He could not
conceive of any danger of the councils
becoming centers of political agitation
to further the views of any par
tlcular party. In reply to ques-
ton asked by Mr.. Healy. Mr.. Balfour
said that the bill would not affect the
police system of Ireland, and that the
incidence of taxation would remain as
it was at present. He did not regard
this of equal Importance with the land
act and other important measures, but
he thought that it would incur the dis
trust of the Irish people-in fact on the
assumption that they were "debased
helots."
The whole opposition broke forth into
cheers when MIR. Morley called on the
government to 60 before the people on
the measure. In concluding he affirmed
that the bill was mockery offered to
the house, that it was Justification of
the pledges of the government and that
it furnished grounds for the manifesto
tiOIl vi LUZ tuCl III 1IGldllu.
John Redmond protested against the
measure as ''sham BILL" He said he
and his colleagues came unprepared to
accept it even if it had been good bill,
but the bill was one which every Irish
man would strenuously resist. The
manner in which it was proposed
was an insult to the Irish.
AS for himself. he could not
conceive how any government
could be so imbecile as to go before the
country OH such bill. and he would do
his utmost to oppose it at every stage.
Justin Mccarthy advised the govern
ment to burn the bill. declaring the
Nationalist would reject it as IAN I'M
clean thing" Mr.. Healy said he never
knew of more contemplate bill. 1t
was an absolute failure and died in the
mouth of its proposer.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said
that bill more insulting to the Irish
could not be conceived of. He ridiculed
the idea of a county council of tried
judges. Mr.. Balfour denied that the
bill was insulting to Ireland. The OPP
position speech, he said: showed the
insincerity of the cry of local gov
ernment for Ireland. If owing to
obstruction the present bill should not
be passed. local government for Ireland
WOulu DC Inc
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. The bill passed
the first reading and Mr.. Balfour fixed
the second reading for March 3. Con-
servatives for the most part de-
cline to criticise the bill until it
has been printed. Some steadfast
supporters of the ministry, however.
confess the measure needs much
amending. There was notable alb
sence of Conservative enthusiasmwhile
on the other hand the Liberals were ex-
ultant, regarding the bill as the final
blow. to the governments chances in
the coming general election. The Irish
members intend to oppose the bill to the
utmost.