The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-19
for him. which he did not understand him

for him. which he did not understand him
self
John Dillon. the leader OF the anti-Par-
nellites, who understands the Irish land
question probably better than any other
member, said in the lobby that he had lis
tened TO the most intricate and difficult
of all the speeches he had ever heard in
connection with Irish land affairs.
The text OF the bill shows that the meas
ure is divided into six parts and forty-lour
clauses, OF which the matter Of purchase
occupies seventeen clauses, covering eleV-
en- pages. Until the bill is fully scrutinized
nothing definite can be said as to the at
titude towards il OF the Irish leaders. In
the meantime they are inclined TO ap-
prove the proposals Affecting tenants. Un-
der the present law when the tenants buy
land the state advances the money, the
tenants paying four per cent. interest
thereon throughout a period OF forty-nine
years Under the new bill they Will pay 4
per cent. on the full E1oe for the first ten
years, for the next ten years the same
rate Of iS6, for the next ten years on fl4 the
sum of which interest Is TO De paid lessen
ing with each decade until the full amount
of principal advanced Is paid on.
The anti-Parnellites are convinced that
the government does not intend 10 pass
the bill at this session. and they WILL
therefore. not obstruct its second reading,
but will concentrate their efforts against
1t in the committee of the whole.
The government will crown the edifce
of the sessions legislation by Introducing
on Monday the bill by the Right Hon
eminent board, providing for a reduc-
ton of the rates on agricultural land.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, chancellor Of
the exchequer, in his budget speech Thurs
day evening avoinded making a statement
as to the full extent of the landlord class
legislation that the government viii sup
port. 1t was proposed, Sir Michael said,
to devote the estimated budget surplus of
f,70S,O0O to the reduction of the maximum
rate on land from four shillngs in the
pound to one shilling. Large as the sum
Is, Mr.. Chaplins measure Will involve a
far greater amount. The bill proposes TO
reduce the whole rating one-half maxi
general taxpayer for the relief of the
landlords about Il. $4,000
According to the estimate OF competent
authorities, the great hight OF the ses-
sion will be waged over this bill, but the
liberal opposition will not lessen the de-
termination of the conservatives to grasp
what they can while they have their foes
under their feet. The more extreme to-
ries do not think that the prospect of
spOils to be obtained under the bill is good
enough. They want all the land rates TO
be swept away and take the coming bill
as mere installment of their full de-
mands.
An analysis of the chancellor Of the ex-
chequer's proposals discloses some curious
features. Under the scheme OF land re-
lief, the English farmer or landlord will
get a double remission Of the taxes on
a farm of the same value as the Irish
farmer Landlords who have redeemed
their land tax under the belief that the
tax would be perpetual are not considered.
deemed all their lands the liberal members
Of the House Of Commons who represent
the railways will be certain to raise an
outcry against the present proposals.