The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-19
5ALFoUR's IRISH BILL.
The Long Talked of Government
Measure Introduced.


LONDON. Feb ia-The long talked OF
Irish local government bill was introduced
in the House of Commons to-day by secre-
tary Balfour, amid the cheers Of the govern
ment 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 United Kingdom had
been cardinal point OF the conser vative
policy. That intention, he declared,
had been constantly adhered to, and
reiterated since by the government. They
had introduced local government bills for
England and Scotland. If they had not
done the same for Ireland it must have been
because great, specific and obvious
dangers attended such a course. The
a county councils bill, but It
was what in England would be described
as district and county bill. By its pro-
visions the administrative duties will be
given TO baronial councils, leaving wholly
untouched the judicial duties now lntrusted
TO the grand jury. The members of the
county and baronial councils will be elected
every three years. The government pro-
posed following Scotch rather than English
measures.
FEARS OF THE MINORITY.
There undoubtedly existed a large body of
people in Ireland who dreaded measure of
this kind. 1t was only due 10 those persons
10 examine the fear they entertained. They
feared the new system would result in ex-
travagaDce, possibly in corruption. They
were afraid they would be plundered and
oppressed by the new bodies Secretary
Balfour did not think there was any
weight to these arguments, which would
not stand the brunt of hostile
criticism. In the FIRST county council, he
said, there would be four ex-offfcio MEN,
bers, the lord lieutenant of the county, the
sheriff, the nominee Of the grand jury and
the nominee OF the presentment sessions.
The franchises OF the county councils would
be Identical with those Of the baronial coun-
ellis. Both would be identical with parlia-
inentary franchises. except that they would
include women and peers. Laughter The
franchise would exclude illiterate persons
and those who did not pay county taxes.
REGENERATION NOT CLAIMED.
Secretary Balfour spoke for one hour and
forty minutes. He said in conclusion that
he did not pretend that the bill would re-
generate Ireland, but he sincerely thought
that the Irish ratepayer had a right to
claim the same measure as was granted TO
the ratepayer in England and Scotland.
He therefore recommended the bill to the
favorable attention Of the house.
~NtSAloJ ehAchBiI ObJoNtcQ W tuo Dtllt
and asked the government 20 90 to the ooun-
try on the measure
/ John Redmond and Justin MCCARTHY OPP
posed the bill.
PASSED FIRST READING.
The bill passed Its first reading and Sec
retary Balfour fixed the second reading for
March 3. During Secretary Balfour's
speech there was large attendance in the
House. The galleries were crowded with
peers, including the Duke of Devonshire,
the Earl OF Cadogan, Lord Aberdaro and
the Earl of Limerick.
The conservatives for the most part de-
cline to crIticise the bill until it has been
printed. Some sseadfast supporters Of the
ministry, however, confess that the meas
ure needs amending. There was a notable
absence of conservative enthusiasm, while
on the other hand the liberals were exultant,
regarding the bill as final blow to the
government chances in the general election.
Both sections Of the Irish members intend
to oppose the bill to the utmost