The sun., 1897-01-17
PROPOSED IRISH REFORMS.
7HE BoTHEBsoME QUESTION OF
TAXATION Nv IRELAND.

The New Governm-nt Biu VIII Fail Fnv
short OF the Nntiornii-t-Unioni.t De.
mards-The Line OF Opposition to the
Governments ii-s Not Iet Seen Decided.
LONDON. Jan. 16.--It Is understood that no
part Of the Queens speech at the opening Of
Parliament has received more consideration
than that referring to tho Irish taxation apita-
tion. On Jan. & tho committee of the Cabinet
consulted Earl Cadogan. Lord Lieutenant OF
Ireland, and Mr.. Gerald Balfour, Chief Secre-
tary for Ireland, on the subject, and since then
communications have been constant between
the Ministers. Leading Unionist members Of
both houses have been sounded rs to the best
course for the Government to take. The final
draft OF tho speech will bo decided upon on
Thursday. and will be signed by the Queen In
council ut Osborne House. Isle OF Wight day
later. The Ministers who attend the council
will travel from Victoria Station by . special
train and will cross to the Isle of Wight on one
Of the royal yachts.
The accepted opinion in tho Ministerial circle
is that II the subject of Irish financial reform
be men tioned at all IL will be an indirect allu-
sion In connection with tho Governments
measure for the constitution of Board Of Ag-
riculture in ireland. This BILL which was fully
prepared months ago. has been before the Cabi-
net for revision. and Is to no redrafted, asignia-
cant fact suggesting some important change
In its provisions.
The bill. besides creating the new Irish de-
partment will empower the board to draw from
the imperial exchequer large annual sum In
aid OF IRISH agriculture and cognate industries.
| such as fisheries. These proposals must fall 20
lam-ntably far short OF whnt Is demanded as to
| justify the Nationalist. Unionist coalition In
| treating them as mere installment.
The exact line of opposition to the Govern
| ment to be adopted 10y the coalition Will not bo
fixed tili after the debate the address In reply
| to the Queens speech has opened. when there
| will be conference between the Nationalist
leaders and the members representing the Irish
! landlord interests. An interesting question Is
eur thew tTe viii i,mis ,Seir combined action
to, irish finance or 80 further.
peuted to abandon their hostility to old forms OF
home rule, but already II is known that the Irish
| Tnionists. who have hitherto opposed all hills
| introduced by Natonalists. are ready to relax
| their opposition, and. Gu some Irish questions,
to even take united action against the Govern
Among the foremost Unionist speakers who
support the Goa tion will be Mr.: Horace Plum
The latter holds "a brief from the Irish landlord
| interest. which would ike TO get tho main por-
tion OF what may accrue 10 Ireland when nnan.
was offered the post OF solici,or-G eneral in the
salisbury ,Administre,ion. but he refused IL
free hand. assaults the, Government on the
Venezuelan dIspate and takes sxasperaunR
ha,ers in Parliament he will give the Minis
terial side some trouble. His friends say TIA,
! disappointed hNDltlOn mas nOtIllUE W W wiz
his present Independence OF party ties.
| The Conservative papers announced that ths
Duke OF Devonshire. who excited discomfort In
Tory quarters by giving n Liberal Cnion'st din
ner on the eve OF the opening OF the last session
! Of Parliament will not repeat the experiment
The Duke. however. will give his party dinner
again on MouGay evening. The Liberal L MON
lists have no intent on of allowing their exist
ence as a separate section to be ignored BY thu
country or their present allies.
J The allies of Earl Spencer. who Is mentioned
| as the successor OF Lord Rosebery rs Ltber1,
leader in the House OF Lords. will give dinnc
TO the Liberal peers. The Earl will preside at
meeting To be held on Jan. ~ TO elect Lort
| Rusebery's successor.