The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-16
GOVERNMENT ToTTERrNG.
Its Position Has Not Been Greatly
Improved.

Its Position Has Not Been Greatly
Improved.
LONDON, July 15.-In anticipation
OF an interesting debate on the Irish
land BILL the benches In the house of
commons were unusually well filled to-
day and particularly those occupied by
the Radical and Irish members. Gerald
Baifour, chief secretary for Ireland, re-
plying to question put to the ministry
by John Dillon, leader of the Home
Rule party, said that 1t was the inten-
ton Of the government to withdraw
the entire clauses of the bill. numbered
H. IA and ID, fixing fair rents, and in
sorting, in place Of them, the amend
ments proposed by T. M. Healy. 1t
was also the intention, Mr. BaIfour
said, to drop the government amend
ments now on paper, applying to clause
4. The matter of fair rents. 1T was
explained, would appear in another and
more expanded clause
Replying to Mr.. Labouchere, Mr..
Balfour said he saw no reason why the
bill should be abandoned. The changes
that the government proposed to make
in the measure, as originally submitted
to the house would, he said, render it
necessary for movers of amendments
to reconsider their positions.
William Vernon Harcourt moved an
adjournment of the house and John
Dillon seconded the motion The latter
complained of the yacillation of the
government and demanded assurances
that the land bill shall be carried for
ward and passed by the house of lords.
Joseph Chamberlain. secretary OF state
for the colonies, replied defending the
government. The attitude of the min
istry he said, had been consistent from
the outset. The government had said
that the bill would only be PASSED. If
1t should be accepted az non-con-
tentious measure. The government adj
hered to the position, and IL Mr.. Dr.
Ion considered the bill, which was now
reduced to It's original FORM bad
Measure, there would be no use In
wasting time in It's discussion. The
responsibility for this, Mr.. Chamberlain
declared, must rest upon Mr.. Dillon and
his friends
Speeches were also made by John
Morley, Mr.. e. J. Saunderson. Sir
Charles Dixie. Mr.. T. NJ HeaIy. Tim
othy Harrington, Mr.. John e. Red
mond and others. The Radical speak,
ers tainted the government with not
knowing Its own mind. Gerald Bal
four again spoke in defense of the bill
after which the motion to adjourn was
withdrawn.
the house this evening. that the politi-
cal atmosphere has been considerably
cleared by today's discussion, but that
the situation for the government Is
much improved, Is not believed. The
onus for the wrecl1ing of the bill by
introducing amendments In the place
Of those withdrawn by Mr.. BaIfour. Is
accepted by the Rt. Hon. E. H. Carson.
Conservative member for Dublin Uni
versity. and by friends representing
the landlord interests.
A marked sensation was created by a
statement made by Mr.. Healy, in the
course OF his speech. to the effect that
the responsibility for the present posi-
ton of the land bill belongs upon the
shoulders of Mr. Dillon, from whom
Mr.. Healy said. he desired to entirely
disseciate himself. The sensation, in
the Irish home rule party, which has
been created by this declaration by Mr.
Healy, was the subject of a cOnsulta-
ton later in the evening. between
Messrs. Dillon, Davitt and O'Connor.