The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-08-10

four weeks Of the end of the session.
Ninety-eight votes still to be obtained.
What did the government do? When
they moved vote on account for
Ell 100000, extending over all the
items Of the Supply, they closured it
after one nights discussion, when only
the first item had been discussed (Na-
tionalist cheers). The government had
also introduced another matter of q
most serious character. When the sup
Elementary estimates for the civil serv-
ice were put before the House they
took a step which had never been
taken before in the whole history Of
the House Of Commons, ut certain
stage Of the discussion consolidating
all the votes into one, and closuring
them all in one vote. To great ex-
tent, what had happened was inevlta-
BILE. The character of the work which
year by year was being thrown on that
assembly had changed, the volume of
work naturally increasing, and under
the new conditions Of parliamentary
machine was overweighted and was
breaking down.
What had this session meant for Ire
land? So far us the work in parlia-
ment was concerned, during the ses-
sion the government had done abso-
lutely nothing for Ireland. The gov.
ernment had certainly injured Ireland
by forcing upon poverty stricken and
dwindling population still greater bur-
dens OF unjust taxation, and had done
SO to support a war against which the
entire conscience of Ireland rcvolted.
But for the benefit Of Ireland the gov
crnment had done absolutely nothing.
Indeed, insult had been added to in
jury because Irish members had been
met by the chief secretary with the
statement that there was great deal
in what they said, and If there was
only time the government would serl-
ously consider whether these matters
might not be dealt with. The right
honorable gentleman (Mr. Wyndham)
had wound up his speech the other
night with IN admission that another
Irish land bill was necessity, and yet
not the slightest glimmer of hope was
given them that next year or the year
after that the government would be
able to deal with the question. They
had been told in soft and soothing
tones, with reference to such ques.
tions as congested districts, Irish la.
borers, and Irish railways, that the
chief secretary heartily agreed with
them as to the need for legislation, but
that he could not hope to get time to
deal with the questions. From first to
last the session had been conclusive
argument in favor of home rule for
Ireland (Nationalist cheers). Referring
to the congested districts bill, the local
government bill, and the fisheries bill,
which had come from the lords, the
honorable gentleman said the govern
ment had refused to bring in large
measures for Ireland, but had intro
uuNSu 1ACSC oman OAllo III Iuc uOpc VI
getting them through without discus.
sion. He had been approached with a
suggestion that as those bills, small
though they were, contained some lit
tie grain Of good, he ought to give an
undertaking that they would be al
lowed to 60 through without discus
sion, and that If he did not do SO the
bills would be dropped. He protested
against such system of legislation
which reduced the position of parlia-
ment to farce (Nationalist cheers.)
Mr.. Balfour said he thought the hon.
orable gentleman had misunderstood
what had passed. 1t was perfectly
true that these bills could not become
law If great deal Of time was occu-
pied in their discussion, but certainly.
neither he nor the chief secretary had
said anything to convey the idea that
they were to pass sub silentio.
Mr.. Redmond, continuing, thanked
the right honorable gentleman, and
said he would narrow his argument,
and say he objected to the system OF
approaching members with view to