The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-26

LONDON, March 25.-The Irish Sec
fetary Mr.. Wyndham, introduced the
governments long anticipated Irish
land bill in the house of commons this
afternoon. 1t proposes a free grant Of
s60,000000 for the purposes or the bill.
Tenants are to pay 3H per cent in
terest on loans from the government.
Mr.. Wyndham said he thought the
scheme would not involve $500,000,000
but that $750,000,000 could safely be
advanced on Irish land. The ad-
Vances to tenants are limited to $1,000
in the congested districts, and $4,000
elsewhere.
The bill also provides that unten-
anted farms and grazing lands shall
be sold to neighboring tenants ard
that three commissioners, to be known
as estate commissioners, shall super
wise the sales. The names of the three
commissioners are Michael Finucane
secretary to the government of Bengal
revenue, general and statistical depart
ment; Frederick s. Wrench, now one
of the Irish land commissioners, and
William F. Bailey, one of the assistant
commissioners on the Irish land ques
ton. They will be under the control
of the lord lieutenant of Ireland. The
bill will become effective Noy. II.
Tremendous Popular Interest.
The keen interest felt in this new
legislation, which, it is hoped, will pro-
mote peace and cOntentment in Ire
land, was shown by the crowded house.
The peers gallery and the distinguish
ed strangers gallery were filled, and
there has been no such gathering of
members of parliament since the OPEN
ing Of the session.
Almost every Irish peer listened to
Mr.. Wyndham's exposition of tie bill.
From an early hour this morning the
stone benches from the house of COM
mons entrance to the doors of the lob
by were packed with impatient Irish
men, among whom were many priests.
Most of those went away without even
seeing the inside of the legislative
chamber, the galleries of which We're
crowded as has not been the case for
many day. Michael Davitt the faith
eF" of the land league celebrated his
fifty-seventh birthday by re- entering
the house for the first time since he
ceased to be member.
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
liz VII lAo NCttlil; anu pei ll1 pS even
the governments downfall, was de-
creed. When the galleries of the house
found him sympathetic and non-com-
initial, a feeling of relief perVaded all
sides.
Admission of the Opposition.
What Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man, the Liberal leader, and the 9TH
ers said had little effect. Even T. w.
Russell, who, with others, criticised the
details and various omissions in Mr.
Wyndham's plan, wound up with a
cultural and reluctant admission that
1t is a great bill"
The passage of the first reading of
the bill was followed by a rush to the
lobby, where ensued scenes that might
well make the ghost of Parnell turn
in his grave. The tall form of Lord
Dudley lord lieutenant of Ireland,
could be seen amidst a crowd of Ma
uonalists, who scarcely a year ago
would rather have suffered every pen
atty than associate with the official
head of the Irish government Beside
Lord Dudley stood the glizzled little
Sir Anthony Mcdonnell, the first Ma
uOnal assistant Irish secretary. He it
was who drafted the bill Horace
Plunkett Lord IVeagh, 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 a mutual friend brought
the duke to the leader of the Nation
alist 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
refreshment bar
DunraVen Hopeful.
Earl Dunraven, who, with John Red
mond, shelters the greatest RESPONSE
bility for todays procedure, slipped out
quietly to avoid congratulations. He
said to a reporter:
Il believe that the bill will meet the
requirements of all parties. 1t does
certainly seem as though a new era
was dawning on new Ireland Mr..
Wyndham to great extent has fol-
lowed the lines of our conference.
think the landlords and tenants with
perhaps some slight amendments will
oe able to agree to the main principles
of the bill
The Duke of Abercorn said: "To-
days proceedings are certainly a mat
ter for cOngratulation. l hope that the
bill will be carried out. 1t looks as
though the ancient hatchet had been
buried"
John Redmond seemed in a hopeful
mood. Various members of his party
frankly discussed Mr.. Wyndham's plan
The omission of adequate provision fOI
those tenants already evicted, doubts
whether the landlords would accede tc
the terms of the measure and objec-
tionS to the choice of Mr.. Wrench as
one of the three estate commissioners
seem to be the chief difficulties, but all
the Nationalist members appeared to be
agreed that the bill went farther to-
ward putting Ireland on a prosperous
basis than any before introduced, es-
peclally as the system is to be admins
tered on commercial rather than on
a judicial basis. Hitherto all the land
acts have come under the interpreta-
t1on of the judges whose decisions could
not be questioned. The only skeleton
at this polite love feast was Michael
DaV1tt, who from the public gallery
aloof from his former comrades. lis
tened to proposals which opposed all
his economic ideals.
Several conservative members ex-
pressed their anxiety at the govern
ments going more deeply into debt. but
the general opinion was that the end
JUSTIFIED the means. Sir John Law
renee said:
MANY among you think that the gov
ernment has a hard enough financial
job on its hands already, but in the
face Of the demand from both Irish
parties, we can scarcely help trying
to settle a problem which has been sc
serious a thorn for so long a time.
think that you will find the government
will have solid majority when the bill
is voted"
MIR. Wyndham's Elucidation.
Mr.. Wyndham, who was heartily
cheered when he arose to speak, an
nounced at the outset that the govern