Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-03-28

lDHuOn, fHS.-lne lTlSn secretary
Mr.. Wyndham, has introduced the gov
ernment's long anticipated Irish land
bill in the house of commons. 1t pro
poses free grant of SG0,000,0OO for the
purposes of the bill. provides that ten
ants will pay 3 IA percent interest on
loans from the government that unten-
anted farms and grazing lands will be
sold to neighborng tenants. and that
three commissioners will supervise the
sales.
The advances to tenants, through the
provisions of the land bill, are limited
to $500 in the cOngested districts and
$4,000 elsewhere.
The bill will become effective Nov. /.
Mr.. Wyndham said $7500O0 900 could
safely be advanced on Irish land. but
be thought the schome would not in
volve $500 900 900 He explained that
while the maximum charges on the
English treasury would not exceed ST.
975, 900 in a single year. the reduction
in the cost of the administration of
Ireland wouu amount to $1,25O,0OO.
lt httil lNll III 'iilo iiSN
legislation, which, it is hoped, will
promote peace and contentment in Ire
land, was evidenced by the crowded
house. The peers gallery and the dis
tinguished strangers gallery were
filed.
Michael Dayitt, the father of the
Land league celebrated his 57th birth
day by re-entering the house for the
first time since he ceased to be men,
ber. in order to hear the chief secre-
tary for ireland unfold his plans.
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 government down.
fall was decreed. When the galleries
of the house found him sympathetic
and non-committal, feeling of relief
pervaded all sides. What Sir Henry
Campbell Banncrman, the Liberal
leader, and the others said had little
effect Even r. W. Russell, who with
others criticised the details and vari-
Gus omissions in Mr. Wyndhams plan
wound up with gutteral and reluctant
admission that "it is a great BILL
The passage of the first reading of
the bill was followed by n rush to the
lobby, whe e enSued scenes that might
we'll make the ghost of Parnell turn
in his grave. The tall form of Lord
Dudley. the lord-lieutenant of Ireland.
could be seen amid crowd of Nation
alsts, who scarcely year ago would
rather have suffered any penalty than
associate with the official head of the
Irish government. Beside Lord Dud-
ley stood the grizzled little Sir An
thony Mcdonnell. the first national as
sistant Irish secretary, who drafted the
bill.
Horace Plunkett, Lord Iveagh, Lord
Ashbourne and many Unionist mem
bers joined the group. The Duke of
Abercorn. the most powerful landlord
in Ireland. asked to be introduced TO
John Redmond, and mutual friend
brought the duke to the leader of the
Nationalist party. with wnom the lead
err of the Irish landlords heartily shook
hands and they patched up the peace
of Ireland over the house of commons
rcfreshment bar.
The only skeleton at this political
love feast was Michael Davitt, who,
from the public gallery, aloof from his
former comrades, listened to proposals
which opposed all his economic ideals.
Several Conservative members ex-
pressed their anxiety at the govern
ment going more deeply into debt. but
the general opinion was that the end
justified the means. Sir John Law
renee said; Many among us think
that the government has hard enough
financial Job on its hands already, but
in face of the demand from both Irish
parties we can scarcely help trying to
settle a problem winch has been such
a serious thorn for so long a time.
think you will find that the govern
ment will have solid majority when
the bill is voted on"
1t is already generally conceded that
the bill will pass, although it may be
modified in its minor details.