The record-union., 1898-02-22

LOCAL GoVERNMENTFO IRELAND
A BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE
OF COMMONS.
The Measure, Which Was Present.
ed by Balfour, Generally We'll
coined by Irish Leaders.

LONDON, Feb. 21.-The House of
Commons was crowded to-day when
the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Ger
aid Balfour, introduced the Irish local
government bill. In so doing Mr.. Bal
four said he thought it possible the new
| order of things would at first seem
| failure, but believed it would work
through failure to success, which
would be the beginning of better and
brighter days for Ireland
The Government, Mr. Balfour contin-
ued, proposed that the local administra
tion be distributed between County
Councils, urban and rural districts,
Councils and Boards of Elections, the
election OF which would be by parH-
amentary franchise with the addition
of peers and women. The qualifica-
tions and disqualifications for election
of the Councillors would be the same
as in England, except that ministers of
religion would be disqualified from sit
ting in the county or district council.
the Government acting therein in ac-
cordance with precedents.
For the sake of convenience, Mr.. Bal
four further explained, the boundaries
of the existing unions and also of the
counties would be modified, and the
County Councils would take over the
duties of Grand Juries, but only in fis-
cal matters, and would not include
criminal jurisdiction or questions of
compensation for malicious injuries.
Qrish ''Ohs.'o The elections for county
and diStict councils would be triennial,
and all would retire together. The
councils would be the sole rate collect
ing authority, and would control the
expenditures They would also be
responsible for dealings with excep
tional distress and would decide when
the requests of Boards of Guardians
for outdoor relief should be granted.
Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Lon
dunderry and Waterford would be con-
stituted independent county councils.
The county would be responsible for
half the extra expenditure.
Mr.. Balfour also pointed out that the
bill provided that the occupier was La
bic to both the county cess and poor
rate, whether in a town or rural dis
trict, which would involve a readjust-
ment of rents, an equal sum to be
granted from the imperial exchequer as
an agricultural grant.
Mr. Balfour said ne thought the bill
was based upon broad, democratic
lines
John Morley, Chief Secretary for Ire
land in the late Liberal administration,
welcomed the bill as being "A genuine
democratic effort
Mr.. Dillon, Chairman of the Irish
Parliamentary party, said he thought
the measure was an immense advance
over the bill of 1882. and fulfilled the
promise of the Government But he
claimed IL was not equal to the English
or Scotch measures. He pointed out
that the control of the police was not
given 10 the councils. Nevertheless,
he added, the bill would do much good,
and his party would endeavor to exc
cute it in good faith.
John Redmond, the Parnellite leader,
also welcomed the bill, but he criticised
some points of the measure. He added
that if it worked successfully it would
be an unanswerable argument in favor
Of home rule.
Colonel Edward j. Saunders, Con-
servative member for North Armagh,
said a majority of the landlords recog-
nized the necessity of the measure,
which, he added, offered an opportu-
nifty for all classes of Irishnen to unite
for common purpose.
Timothy Healy, Irish Nationalist,
praised the BILL and Michael Davitt,
Irish Nationalist, threatened opposition
to that part of the bill promising relief
to the landlords in the shape of an ag
rcultural grant.
The bill eventually passed it's first
reading.