Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-24
IRELAND's NEW GRIEVANCE.
Object of New Bill Said to be Unfair
TO Erin

London. Feb. 24.--Ireland can claim
another grievance against the hatec
Sassenach. This time 1t takes the shap,
of what would be called in the state:
special legislation, and. indeed, so far a.
the provisions of the projected law are
! involved, 1T could with as much justice
be applied to either Scotland or Eng
land, but more especially to the latter
country.
The bill in question, which has jus1
bobbed up in parliament, relates par
! ticularly to drunkards in Ireland, an6
has for it's object the better protection
of people who are aggrieved or injuree
in person or property by the acts OF
drunken persons"
| While it is conceded that the Celt is
rather uproarious when in his cups, still
he does not far exceed his neighbols in
that respect, and resentment is felt that
the Irishman should be picked out as
| the victim of extraordinary sumptuary
| legislation, for, should this measure
pass. it is assured that the inebriates in
Great Britain will have greater privil-
eyes than their brothers of the flowing
bowl in the Green Isle.
Be that as it may, hereafter the Irish
drunkard will have rocky road to
travel, should the bill be approved. In
the first place, If he goes to his work in
a tipsy state, he may be arrested at
once in the workshop or ward-the en-
ployer or manager OF the shop can sum-
mon constable TO make the capture on
exactly the same conditions as now app
ply to u drunken person on the high
way.
Lodgers. who make themselves OBJ
jectionahie by their drinking habits, can
also be proceeded against; while a
striking provision of the act is that all
damages caused thru drink shall be re-
arded as 'willful and malicious"
In the case of a topper who disturbs
the peace in tenement, any of the ten
ants may bring suit and the offender is
made liable to a fine of $40 or subject
to months imprisonment.
There is q similar punishment for any
one, in charge of animal, person or
thing, who endangers person or proper
ty not his own by becoming drunk.
The provisions of the statute are
quite drastic In regard to husband and
wife. 1t is specially provided that pro-
lection orders are to be granted
against any husband or wife who is
habitualy Incorporate. If the husband
then interferes With anything belonging
to his wife who Is so protected, he can
be proceeded against as IL he had com
mon assault on her.
The husband is likewise protected
against the inebriate wife. Should the
latter pawn any article belonging to the
protected husband, without his consent.
the pawnbroker who receives the goods
is liable TO fine of $40, and must. be-
sides. return the goods on the husbands
demand
In many other cases drunkenness is
made to increase rather than mitigate
petty offenses; but 1t can not be denied
that good deal of politics, as we'll as a
desire for temperance reform, surges
thru the project. Policemen could If the
bill passes, be good deal more free in
making arrests, and it is known the
world over that the constable in Ireland
is not now backward in this respect.
The stipendiary magistrates might also
use the act as a weapon, and in other
ways 1T could be made an agent of pet
ty persecution.
For this reason the Irish members
look askance at the reform measure.
and lively sessions are probable when
the Dill comes to the debating stage