The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-04-01
FREEDOM IRELAND IN sight
Irish Land Bill introduced in House
Of Commons.
IRELAND FO2 The irish.
English Government Will Furnish
Money for Purchase Of Land
From Landlords by Tenants.

London, March Zo.-ine lf1Stl Sec
retary, Mr.. Wyndham, introduced
the , governments long anticipated
Irish land bill in the house Of COM
mons this afternoon. It proposes a
grant of $50, 600, 900 for the purpose of
the bill. Tenants are to pay 314 per
cent. interest on loans from the gov
ernment. Mr.. Wyndham said he
thought the scheme would not involve
$500, COO, 600, but that $3.50, 600, COO
would be safely; advanced on Irish
land. The advances to tenants are
limited to 81, 500 in the congested dis
tricts and $1,000 elsewhere. The bill
SO provides that untenanted farms
and grazing lands shall be sold to
neighboring tenants and that three
commissioners, to be known as estate
commissioners, shall supervise the
sales. The names Of the three COM
missioners are Michael Finucane,
secretary to the government of Bengal
revenue, general and statistical de-
partment: Frederick S. French, now
one of the Irish land commissioners,
and Vim. F. Bailey, one of the assist:
ant commissioners on the Irish land
commission. They will be under
the general control of the lord lieu
tenant of Ireland. The bill will be-
come effective Nov. l.
The keen interest felt in this new
legislation which, it is hoped, will
promote peace and contentment in
ireland, was shown by the crowded
house. The peers gallery and the
distinguished strangers gallery were
filed and there has been no such
gathering of members of parliament
since the opening of the session. In
the diplomatic gallery sat United
States Secretary Henry White, an in
tsrested spectator, while almost every
Irish peer listened to Mr.. Wyndham's
exposition of the bill. From an early
hour this morning, the stone benches
from the house of commons entrance
to the doors of the lobby were packed
with impatient Irishmen, among whom
were many priests. Most Of these went
away without seeing even the inside
Of the legislative chamber, the galleries
of which were crowded as has not been
the case for many a day. Michael
Davitt, the "father'' of the Land
league, celebrated his 57th birthday
by reentering the honse for the first
time since he ceased to be q, member,
in order to hear the chief secretary
for Ireland unfold his plans.
For the most part the Liberal mem
bers sat glum, the applause coming
from the Irish benches. A. hush Of
expectation fell on the assembly as
John Redmond, the Irish leader, rose
to speak. If he refused to countenance
the bill its death, and perhaps even
the governments downfall, was de-
creed. When the galleries of the
house found him sympathetic and non
commital, feeling Of relief pervaded
all sides. What Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman, the Liberal leader, and
Others said had little effect. Even
T. ". Russell, who, with others
criticised the details and various omis
sions in Mr.. Wyndham's plan wound
up with gutteral and reluctant ad-
mission that it is great bill.''
The passage to the first reading of
tie bill was followed by the rush to
the lobby, where ensued scenes that
might we'll make the ghost OF Parnell
turn in his grave. The tall form OF
Lord Dudley, old lieutenant of Ire
land, could be seen amidst a crowd OF
Nationalists, who scarcely year ago
would rather have suffered any penalty
than be associated with the official
head of the Irish government. Beside
Lord Dudley stood the grizzled little
Sir Anthony Mcdonnell, the first Ma
tional assistant Irish secretary. He
it who was drafted the bill. Horace
Plunkett, Lord Iyeagh, Lord Ash
bourne and many Unionist members,
joined the group The Duke of Aber-
corn, the most powerful landlord in
Ireland, asked to be introduced to
John Redmond, and the mutual friend
brought the duke to the leader of the
Nationalist party, with whom the
leader of the Irish landlords heartily
shook hands, and they patched up the
peace Of Ireland over the house OF
commons refreshments bar.