The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-22
Irish Local Government BlII Introduced In
House of Commons.
BAlfouR EXPLAINS ITS PROVISIONS
John Morley welcomes tho Bill AS "a
Genuine Democratic ETort-Dil.
Ion Regards II as nn Advance over
the Bill orIsoa Opinions orOtncr
fresh Lenders.
London. Feb. 81, 1898.


The House Of Commons was crowded
to-day when the Chief Secretary for
Ireland, Gerald Bulfour, introduced the
Irish local government bill In so
doing Mr.. Balfour said he thought it
possible the new order of things would
at first seem to be q failure, but he
believed it would work through failure
to the success which would be the be-
ginning Of better and brighter days for
ireland. The Government, Mr.. Balfour
continued, proposed that the local adj
mnistrations be distributed between
county councils, urban and .rural dis
trict councils and boards of guardians.
the election Of which would be by Par
liamentary franchise, with the addition
OF peers and women. The qualifica-
tons and disqualifcations for election
as councillors would be the same as in
england, except that ministers of re-
ligion would be disqualified from sit
ing IN The county or district council,
the Government acting therein in ac-
cordance with precedents.
For the sake of convenience, Mr.
Baltour further explained, the boun-
aries of the existing unions and also
OF the counties would be modified, and
the county councils would take over in
the duties Of grand jures, but only
IN fiscal matters, and would not in
clude criminal jurisdiction or ques-
tons of compensation for malicious in
jurieS. The elections for county and
district councils would be tSi-enn.al
and all would retire together The
county councils would be the sole rate
collecting authority and would control
the expenditures. They would also be
responsible for dealing with exceptional
distress, and would decide when the
requests of boards of guardians for
outdoor relief should be granted Dub
lin. Belfast. Cork, Limerick. London
derry and Waterford would be con-
stitutcd Independent county councils.
The county would be responsible for
half the extra expenditure.
Mr.. BaIfour also PJinted out that the
bill provided that the occupier was liza
bic to both the county cess and poor
rH-e, whether in town or rural district
which would involve Il REIMBURSEMENT
of rents, an equal sum To be granted
from the imperial exchequer as an agri-
cultural grant
John Morley. chief secretary for Ire
land, in the late Liberal administra-
tion. welcomed the bill as being a genu-
inc democratic effort
Mr. Dilon, chairman Of the Irish par
iiamentary party. said he thought the
measure was an immense advance over
the bill OF 1892, and fulfilled the prom
Use Of the government, blJ. he claimed
NJ was not equal to the English and
Scotch measures
John Redmond, the Parnelite leader,
also welcomed the bill, but he criticised
some points of ,;he measure
Colonel Edward j. Saunderson. Con-
sentative member for North Anna ch,
said Il majority of the landlords recor-
nized the necessity of the measure.
which, he added, offered an opportunity
for all classes OF Irshmin to unite far
common purpose.
Timothy IIealy, Irish Nationalist
praised the bill.
Michael Dav!tt. Irish Nationalist
Threatened opposition To tne par, rr tho
bill promising relief 70 the landlords
IN the shape of an agricultural grar,..
The bill eventually passed its first
reading.