The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-19
GOVERNMENT BILL
The Long Looked-for Irish Measure
introduced ia the Commons
by Balfour.
His Explanation of It's Provisions
Greeted With Derision
and Scorn.
Declared by the Opposition to He q sham.
Promising None Of the Demanded
Reforms.

A6lOcmBs * 4i5-4t55s
LONDON, Feb. 1s.-The long-talked-oi
Irish local government bill was introduced
in the commons to-day by Balfour. Bal
four. In explaining tho bill, said it WAS not
merely county councils bill but was what
in England would be described az dis
trict and counties bill.' by its provision
the administrative duties will be given to
baronial councils, leaving wholly untouched
the Judicial duties now entrusted to the
grand jury. The members of county and
baronial councils will be elseted every
three years. The 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 re-
suit In extravaganza, possibly corruption.
He denied this. In the first county councils
there would be four ex-of1icio members
lord lieutenant, the county sheriff, nom
inee Of the grand jury and nominee of tho
presentment session. The qualifications
OF voters for county councilmen and baron
ial councilmen will be identical. Hitter
ate persons and those did not pay county
taxes would have no vote.
Balfour explained the workings Of the
bill as proposed, and said the sys-
TEN of franchise suggested would give
the minority vote in county oouncils.
Councils might use their power to oppresH a
small minority, and might be guilty Of
wllful and persistent corruption. Irish
jcers. The histo y of Ireland proved that
these remote dangers had reality. Such
dangers did not exist in England. Pro-
vision was made 10 allow twenty rate-pay-
ers to apply to the judge of assizes for
leave to petition for removal of counsellors
of barony or county, on the ground Of per
sistent disobedience of law, corruption or
oppression, and if tie charge be estab-
lished tie guilty counsellols shall be
replaced BY nominees of. the
lord lieutenant. [Ironical cheers. If
malversiou and oppression were possible it
was the duty. Of the house to provide ads-
quate remedy. Such dangers, existed in
Ireland TO All extent unknown in England
Or Scotland. 10 prevent extravaganza GO tho
bill would provide that landowners should
nave deciding in permitting capital s1-
penditures, as distinct from cnrront exper-
ditures. He could not conceive any danger
OF councils becoming centers or political
agitation to further the views OF any par
ticular party.
Replying to Healy Balfour said the bill
would not effect the police system of Ire
land, and the incidence Of taxation would
remain as at present. In conclusion Bal
four said he did not pretend that the bill
would regsnerate Ireland, but sincerely
though the Irish ratepayer had right to
claim the same measures granted in Eng
land and Scotland. He therefore recon-
the bill to the favorable attention
of the house.
John Morley characterized the bin as
the rottenest reed the Irish minority ever
lent on for the retention OF privileges" He
declared that tho measure was d fraud, in
absolute distrust of the I,ish people. in
fact on the assumption that they were 'sde-
based helots." The whole opposition broke
forth into cheers when Morley called on the
government to go before the people on the |
measure. In concluding. he affirmed that
Inc bill was mockery, was a falsiication
of the pledges of tho government and fur
nishcd grounds for the manifestation of
further irritation in Ireland.
John Redmond protested against the
rs n sham bill. He could not con-
,eive how any government could be SO full
of imbeclllty as to go before the country on
'uch a bill. Justin MCCARTHY advised the
government to burn the bill. Healy said
ne never knew of a more contemplate bill.
Harcourt said a bill moro Insulting to the
irish he could not conceive of. It bore the
Itamp of Chamberlain, who was the mother
If the bill.
Balfour denied that the bill was insulting
o Ireland. If owing to obstruction the
present bill should not be passed.
ocal government for Ireland would be
indefinitely postponed. The onlv reason
Vhy the Irish parties should obstruct the
'lll was that it contained machinery to
9 stop corruption and oppression. The
'nly inference was that they desired to
make something out of the councils. Al
his the whole opposition joined in crying
shame" while the conservatives cheered.
Iabouchere said Balfour was "between the
levil and deep sea-" He had to introduce
bill to satiafy his master, Chamberlain.
nd had to persuade the conservatives that
he bill was II sham.
Chamberlain denied that he assisted in
he work OF framing the bill. He said he {
pproved of the manner in which the gov ,
rnment redeemed its pledges. The safe
eruption were those that Americans, the
nost democratic people in the world, in
roduced into their constitution. An g,
MEXICAN legislature could be brought be-
ore the supreme court. james Byees,
the South division of Aber
ONE rule for ireland, denied that tbepa
'ns any comparison between the proposed
ounclls Ill Ireland and the relations of an
mericnn legislature to tho supreme &C urt, ]
Inch had only .Iower to nullify an act
assed by u legislature in excess of it's F..
overs. 4. ID. Sullivan said he recog-
lzed =, III the Insulting safeguards Of a
le bill the hand of Lord Salisbury. I
ho dubbed 1rishmen "Hottentots'' and I
opers. Sexton said never in his purip- ,
lentary experience had he seen 30 incom- = =
eteht bill. VIM Redmond regarded the
i'll as deathbed repentance, because the !;
ove!nment did not dn appeal to the =
'untry on it's coe: Give policy alone. II :
as the most studied insult Bnlfour ever =
valed at the Irish people.
The bill passed the first reading and Bal. =
,ur fixed the second iending for March 3. !;
he liberals arc exultant. regarding the !
III as the tinal blow to tho governments :
'ances in the coming general election. =
9th sections of Irish members intend To =
opose the bill to utmost .
JUST THE RIGHT THING y