The morning news., 1894-08-15
BRITAIN'S PARLIAMENT.
Debate in the House Of Lords on the
Tenants Bill.

Lord Salisbury Advocates the Reiec-
tion of the Bill, and sustains His
Position Ably in the Debats-Lord
RosebeTry Cautions Their Lordships
on the Action They Were About to
Take, but without Avail.
London. Aug. 14.-In the House of Lords
to-day the motion for the second reading
of the evicted tenants bill was rejected
by vote of 240 TO 80. The debate drew a
large attendance Of peers, mainly mem
bers of the opposition, The government
benches, however began filling UP as the
debate progressed. The peeresses' gal
lery was filled, and many mem
bers of parliament who were present
manifested intense attention. The Duke of
Devonshire, liberal, opened the debate
by profession of pity for the tenants. But,
he added, in his opinion the landlords
case was stronger.
After Baron Asbourne, Baron Her
schelle, the Marquis of Clanricard, and
other peers had spoken for and against
the bill, Lord Salisbury, formerly prime
minister, arose to speak in opposition to
the measure. The House at this time was
crowded with spectators. the diplomatic
body being present in full force, and Lord
Salisbury was enthusiastically cheered
He opened his remarks by commenting
upon the weakness of the arguments
made in defense of the bill and said that
his task was thus made easy. He said
that Uhile unjustihably accusing the
late government of being devoid of COM
passion for the tenants who had been
evicted from the homes in Ireland, Baron
Herschelle, the lord high chancellor had
skirked discussion of the main SPRINGS of
the bill, namely. the powers OF the arbitra-
tors who were forcibly imposed upon the
landlords. Lord Salisbury instanced the
case of Arbitrator tottrell, who, he
said, was an ex-solcitor of the land
league and professed sympathizer with
the doctrines of Michael Davitt. The
point of his argument was that it was
impossible for the arbitrators TO be i'm
partial. 1t was, he said. the worst kind
of despotism TO vest such men with the
unbridled powers the bill proposed Then.
he supposed, rural public opinion in the
shape of shooting his legs would be en-
ployed to induce planter to
quit his farm. 1t was useless
to plead that the bill was excep-
tional 1t was impossible to make
exceptions were human passions were
concerned and prizes were offered to the
greed of large bodies of men The pas
sage of the bill would still leave a sore to
be dealt With. Was the government go
ing to introduce an annual bill to remedy
this dinicultyl -L9rd Salisbury denied
that the House Of Lords was a landlords
house. They were threatened with aboli-
tion, but he had noticed that in hrance
when the second chamber was abolished
the extinction of the lower chamber fol-
lowed Immediately. He concluded by
expressing the hope that the House
would do their duty and reject this dan
gerOus measure.
While Lord Salisbury was speaking
the house became filled to OVERLOOKING
| The galleries were crowded with peer
esses and their trends, ard the portion
assigned to members of the House of
| Commons was Crammed so that many
members were unable to gain admittance.
Lord Roseberry. the premier, replied
to Lord Salisbury. He was cheered i'm
partially from both sides of the house.
He reproached Lord Salisbury for in
dulging in gibes and jokes. and said that
his levity had made it incumbent upon
him to take "a more comprehensive view
of the subject. The eviction of
these tenants, the premier said,
had alreaey cost tne taxpayers
10000 pounds To hear Lord Salisbury's
N'"ShS ODOuy NOuAo ouppOSo Guc SuOJGCJ
was of vital character. He ventured to
tell their lOrdships that if they followed
what was in their minds at that moment
tney would not reject the bill. The
right of veto was a most dubious
function. To exercise it uUon a
measure supported by the mass
of the elected representatives and
by a government responsiple for peace and
order in Ireland was playing with edged
tools. The speeches of both Lord Sails
bury and Lord Roseberry were listened
to with deep interest.
The announcement of the figures on tho
division, showing that the bill had been
rejected, was received with silence.