The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-22
PASSED FIRST READING
WOULD MEAN BETTER AND
BRIGHTER DAYS FOR ERIN.
PROMINENT IRISH MEN PRAISE BILL
Qualifications aSd Disqualification for Election
as Councillors Would be Same as in Eng
land REIMBURSEMENT Of Rents--Part
Relative to Lanloards DisIiked,

London, Feb. 21.-Tlpc House Of Com
mons was crowded today when the Chief
Secretary for Ireland, Gerald Balfonr
introduced the Irish local government
hill. In 50 doing Mr. Balfour said he
thought it possible the new order of
things would at first seem TO ba fail
ure to the success which would he the
hcgiming OF better and brighter days
for ireland. The government. Mr.. Bal
four continued. proposed that the local
administrations he distributed between
county councils. urban and rural dis
trict councils and boards or guardians.
the election of which would be by par
liamentary franchise. with the addi-
ton of peers aud women. The qualhca-
ton and diSQualitications for election as
councillors. world be the same as in
England. except that ministers Of reli-
gion would be disqualified from sitting
in the country or district COUNSEL, the
government acting therein in accordance
with precedence.
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 coun-
~ councils would take over the duties of
grand juries. but only in fiscal matters.
and would not include criminal jurisdic-
ton or questions of compensation for
malicious injuries. Irish Obs. The
elections for county and district councils
would be tri-ennial and all would retire
together. The county councils would be
the sole rate-c0llecting authority. and
would control the expenditure. They
would also be responsible for dealing
with exceptional distress. and would de-
eide when the requests of boards OF
guardians for outdoor relief would be
granted. Dublin. Belfast. Cork. LINER
lex, Londonderry and Waterford. would
be constituted independent county coun-
ellis. The county would be responsible
for half the extra expenditure.
Mr.. Balfour also pointed out that
the bill provided that the occupier was
liable to both the county cess and poor
rate, whether in a town or rural district.
which would involve REIMBURSEMENT
of rents. an equal sum to be granted
from the imperial exchequer as an
agricultural grant.
John Morley. Chief Secretary for Ire
land, in the late Liberal administration,
welcomed the bill as being genuine
Democratic effort"
Mr.. Dillon. chairman of the Irish Par
liamentaFy party. said he thought the
measure was an immense advance over
the bin of 1892. and fulfilled the promise
of the government, but. he claimed, it
was not equal to the English and Scotch
measures.
John Redmond, the ParDellite leader
also welcomed the bill, but he criticised
some points of the measure.
Col. Edward j. Saunderson, Conserya-
tive. member for North Armagh, said a
majority of the landlords recognized the
necessity of the measure, which, he
added, offered to unite for a com
classes of Irishmen to unite for COM
mon purpose.
Timothy Healy. Irish Nationalist
praised the bill Michael Dayitt, Irish
nationalist, threatened opposition to the
part of the bill promising relief to the
landlords in the shape of an agricul'
tural grant.
The bill eventually passed its first
reading.