The record-union., 1892-02-19
IRISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Balfour Introduces the Bill i'll tn
House of Commons

Balfour Introduces the Bill i'll tho
House of Commons.
LONDON, Feb. 1S.-The long-talked-of
Irish local government bill was intro
duced in the Commons to-day by Bal
four.
Balfour, in explaining the bill, said it
was not county councils bill, but was
what in England would be described as q
district and counties bill. By its pro-
visions administrative duties will be
given to Baronial Councils, leaving
wholly untouched the judicial duties
now entrusted to the Grand Jury. Mem
bers of County and Baronial Councils
Government proposed following the
Scotch rather than the English measure
in the matter Of Aldermen.
Many people in Ireland. said Balfour,
feared the measure would result in eX-
travagance, and possibly corruption. He
denied this. In the first County Coun-
ellis there would be four ex ofTicio men,
bers-Lord Lieutenant OF the county,
Sheriff, nominee OF the Grand Jury and
nominee Of resentment Sessions. The
qualifications of voters for County Coun-
cilmen and Baronial Councilmen will be
indenucal. Illiterate persons and those
who do not pay county taxes would have
no vote.
BaItour 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
Cypress q small minority, and might be
guilty of willtul and persistent corrup-
ton. Irish jeers. The history OF Ire
land proved that these remote dangers
had a reality. Such dangers did not exist
in England. Provision was made to
allow twenty cesspayers to apply to a
Judge OF Assizes for leave to petition for
the removal Of counselors of barony or
county, on the ground Of Persistent dis
obedience of the law, corruption or OPP
preston, and il the charge be established
the guilty counselors shall be re-
placed by nominees Of the Lord
Lieutenant. lrOnical cheers. If NAL
versation and oppression were possible
it was the duty OF the House to provide
an adequate remedy. Such dangers ex-
listed in Ireland to an extent unknown
in England or Scotland. To prevent ex-
travagance, the bill would provide that
the landowners should have a decided
voice in permitting capital expenditures
as distinct from current expenditures,
He could not conceive any danger of the
councils becoming the centers of political
agitation to further the views of any
political party.
Replying to Healy, Baltour said the
bill would not affect the police system Of
Ireland, and the incident of taxation
would remain as at present. In conclu-
sion, Balfour said he did not pretend that
the bill would regenerate Ireland but
sincerely thought The Irish rate-payer
had right TO claim the same measure
granted in England and Scotland. He
therefore recommended the bill to the
favorable attention of the House.
John Morley characterized the bill the
''rottonest reed the Irish minority every
leaned on for the retention of privileges''
He declared that the measure was fraud
in the absolute dlstrust of the Irish peo-
ple-in fact on the assumption that they
were 'debased helots." The whole OBJ
position broke forth into cheers when
Morley called on the Government to go
before the people on the measure.
In concluding, Morley affirmed that the
bill was a mockery, was Justification of
the pledges of the Government. and fur
nished grounds for the manifestation of
further irritation in Ireland.
John Redmond protested against the
measure as "a sham bill" He could not
conceive how the anti-Government could
besso full of i'm becility as to go before the
country on such bill. Justin Mccarthy
advised the Government to burn the bill.
Healy said he never knew of a more con-
temptable 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 insult
ing to Ireland. Ii. owing to obstruction,
the present bill should not be passed.
local government for Ireland would be
indefinitely postponed. The only reason
why the Irish parties should obstruct the
bill VAS that it contained the machinery
to stop corruption and oppression. The
only inference was that they desired 10
make something out Of the councils. At
this the whole opposition Joined in cry
ing shame, shame," while the Conserv-
atives cheered.
Labouchere said Bafour was stbetween
the devil and deep sea-" He had TO intro
duce the bill to satisfy his master, Cham
beriain. and had to persuade the Con-
servatives that the bill was sham.
Chamberlain denied that he assisted in
the work of framing the bill. He said he