The Tucson citizen., 1902-02-18
A BRITISH ISSUE.

There is a promise of strenuous
times filled to the brim with stirring
incidents and possibly with
sprinkling of moving accidents, IN the
animation by the ministerial leaders
in the British House of Commons that,
the present session of Parliament VIII
witness the Introduction OF Dill for
the redistribution of seats, the object
of which will be the remedying OF
the fragrant anomalies now existing.
Some of those fragrant anomalies
some that are extremely fragrant -
exist in England and should have been
reformed out of existence long ago,
for the Rouse of Commons. which is
really the ruler of the Kingdom and
Empire. is baseu on the people. In so
far as glaring inequalities in repre-
sentation are tolerated, the theory of
the government is threatened. Prob
ably Mr.. Balfour was not entirely un-
mindful of these notorious incon-
gruities in the distr. tuition of seats In
England When the bill is presented it
is likely to include them.
But that will be an incident rather
than the object of the measure. The
movement is aimed at Ireland. and
while it is supported by an array of
figures that are alleged to constitute
its justification, it Is confronted by
historical facts that put totally diff
feren. face on the situation. Here are
the figures: Under the present ap-
portionment of seats the House has
465 members from English consti-
tuencies, 80 sitting for Wales. u for
Scotland. and 103 from Ireland AS the
census of 1901 showed that Scotland
has $4,000 more population than Ire
land, the fact that Ireland has 81 more
representatives in Parliament than
Scotland Is exploited as a manifest
abuse calling aloud for remedial ac-
ton. The average English representa-
ton is one member to 66.248 persons;
one to b2.ll0; the Irish one to 1928.
1nere has been an almost continual
agitation for many years tor reduction
of the Irish contingent in the Com
mons, but TOR one good and sufficient
reason it has not been attempted. The
Irish members claim-and they appear
he hoty OH 10 haN
the passage of any such measure would
be to repeal the act OF Union. That
act, which ought to be as binding on
the government of the United King
dom as the irreparable provision of
our Constitution which guarantees for
all time the equality of States in the
Senate is on the Government of the
United States, is the fertilization be-
hind which the Irlsn members will
fight the Impending bill. 1t provides:
-Four lords spiritual OF Ireland by
rotations of sessions. and twenty
eight lords temporal of Ireland elected
for life by the peers of Ireland, shall
be the number to sit and vote on the
part OF ireland III the House OF l%OTuS
of the Parliament OF the United King
DOM and 100 commoners 1.-TWO for
each county OF Ireland, two for the
city of Dublin. two for the city of
Cork, one for the University of Trinity
College, and one for each of the thirty
one most considerable cities, towns,
and boroughsI, be the number to sit
and vote on the part of Ireland in the
House of Commons of the Parliament
OF the united Kingdom
In this republic the denial to any
State-no matter how much it might
have dwindled in populatiOn-of equal
suffrage in the Senate would practical
~ dissolve the Union. The Irish Ma
tionalists contend that a violation
of Irelands guarantee as to represent
alton in Parliament would vitiate the
act or contract of Union. Why is not
that position sound? 1t is not Ireland 5
fault that her population has decreased
by millions, and. even II it were ,hat
could not annul the compact under
which she claims her present reprcs-
entation. In cOntending for all that is
nominated in the bond ireland stands
on her rights.
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