Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-03-11
Question Being Agitated and
Discussed and Relief to
Be Demanded.
Large Meeting i'm Dublin Adopts
Resolutions and Organizes
for Effective Action.
FIGURES GIVEN BY Mr.. FIELD, M, P.

Est Patrick's Division was held in the
Foresters' Hall, Merchants quay, Dublin,
for the purpose of discussing the financial
relations between Great Britain and Ire
land. Copies of the speech delivered by
Mr.. Field, M. p, in the House of Com
mons last July on the overtaxation OF
Ireland were presented to those who at
tended the meeting. Mr.. William Field,
M. p, presided.
The Chairman said, in accordance with
a resolution Of the Financial Reform
League, that every member of Parlia-
ment should call a meeting i'll his own
division to discuss that question he had
summoned that meeting. According to
the verdict Of the Royal Commission they
were overtaxed to the extent 62,750, 900
annually. If that money were spent i'll
Ireland it would help considerably to
increase the prosperity of the country.
He took his hearers back to the time Of
the Irish Parliament and the employ
ment that was then given in making
public works. After the act of union,
however, they had to pay higher taxes
without reaping any benefit from ex-
penditure of Imperial funds in Ireland.
From this is would be seen how material.
ly this question affected the working
classes He proceeded to show how the
financial clauses of the act of union were
evaded when the amalgamation of the
exchequers took place in 1917. He
wished to impress upon them that ac-
cording as the population decreased in
Ireland the taxation increased. In 184l,
with a populbtion of 100000, their
taxation was 6S,000,OO0, and in 1898,
with population of 4,544, 900, their tax
alton was 6S,146,0OO. Taking the Vic
torian era, the taxation was in 81 three
times the amount per head it was in 1897,
when Queen Victoria assembled the
throne. Besides local taxation had enor-
mously increased in the same period.
While they paid these heavy taxes they
did not enjoy all the advantages
of the Constitution. Out of the
Ll,880,00O spent in shipbuilding last
year not a penny was expended in Ire
land Then all the troops in Ireland were
maintained on imported goods, while the
horses were fed on imported oats. Deal
ing with the set-off argument put forward
by England, he said if England thought
she was losing over this country, let her
give the Irish their own Parliament and
then they would be able to manage the
government of Ireland economically and
put credit to their account. He would
not fear an investigation into the set-off
claim, because he believed that items that
would be put down as Imperial expendi-
ture in England were put under the head
of local expenditure in Ireland. This
was essentially a workingmen's question,
because if they had the management of
their own affairs, and if restitution were
made of some portion of the Goo, 900, 900
that had been taken from them in over
taxation, great deal of prosperity would
come to the country. In his opinion
some working practical scheme ought to
be put forward, and he believed scheme
of land purchase should be brought to
the House of Commons, and also a
scheme of railway purchase and a grant
to erect workmen's dwellings. An earnest
constructive policy should be adopted to
obtain justice. They were the most
heavily taxed country in Europe, and
yet they were laboring under a per-
petual coercion act. If public opinion
were educated on this question, their
claim for restitution would be irresisti-
bic.
Mr.. Hutchinson, T. c.. proposed: THAT
in the opinion of this meeting of st.
Patrick's Division, immediate measures
should be adopted to insure restitution
and readjustment in the matter of the
overtaxation of Ireland" He expressed
the opinion that this agitation would
convert many Unionists to home rule.
This question had to be fought out by
persistent agitation. There was no use
in the Irish members attacking the gov
eminent unless they were backed up by
the people of Ireland.
Alderman DAWN seconded the motion.
He characterized Mr. Fields speech as
one Of the most practical he had listened
to tor long time. unless the men Oh
Ireland were prepared to take definite
stand upon this matter their talk was all
balderdash. There was no use in bring
ing Lords and Earls to speak on this
question--they wanted some practical
proof of these gentlemen's earnestness.
A definite programme, setting out their
demand should be put forward, and these
gentlemen should, if in earnest, support
it. The fact that the breweries and dis
tilleries were the only industry in Dublin
was blot and disgrace to English rule
in this country. They were entitled to
have the act Of union carried out. If
definite policy was adopted at the forth
coming meeting the country would in
dorse it.