The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-03-28
THE IRISH LAND BILL.

seems to be.
THE IRISH LAND BILL.
Mr.. Wyndham, Ireland's Chief Sec
rotary, introduced the governments
long-awaited Irish land bill in thu
House of Commons, Wednesday af
ternoon.
The bill proposes a free grant Of
$6O,OOOO0O for the purposes of the
bill. The tenants are to pay IA pei
cent interest on loans from the gov
eminent. Mr.. Wyndham said he
thought the scheme would not involve
$5OO,OOO,00O, but that $75O,O00,OO(
could safely be advanced on Irish
land. The advances to tenants are
limited to $4,000 in the congested dis
tricts and $1,000 elsewhere. The bill
also 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 commission
ers are Michael Finucane, secretary TO
the government of Bengal revenue gen
eral and statistical department.; Fred
erick d. Wrench, now one of the Irish
land commissioners, and VIM. F. Bal
ley, one of the assistant commission
ers on the Irish land question. They
will be under the control of the lord
lieutenant of Ireland.
The passage of the first reading of
the bill was followed by rush to the
lobby, where ensued scenes that
might well make the ghost of ParneIl
turn in his grave. The tall form of
Lord Dudley, lord lieutenant of Ire
land, could be seen amidst crowd of
nationalists who, scarcely a year ago.
would rather have suffered every pen
atty than associate with the official
head of the Irish government. Be
side Lord Dudley stood the grizzled
little Sir Anthony Mcdonnell. the first
national 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 mutual friend
brought the duke to the leader of the
nationalists' party, with whom the
leader of the Irish landlords heartily
shook hands, and they patched up
the peace of Ireland in most joyful
and hopeful manner.
John Redmond said later that he
was unable to add anything to his ut
terances in the house, but he seemed
in cheerful mood. Various members
of his party. however. frankly discus
sed Mr.. Myndham's plan.
1t is already conceded as absolutely
certain that the bill will pass. al
though it may be modified in its min
Or details. There is strong disin-
clination OH the part of the Irish and
liberal members to discuss the bill un-
till it is thoroughly digested. except in
the most general terms.
Michael Davitt and T. P. O'Connor,
who were present, gave out signed
statements. Mr.. Davitt wrote:
1.-THE impression left in my mind by
the speech of the chief secretary for
Ireland is that the bill he outlined
offers unreasonable compensation to
the landlords and therefore does not
offer sufficient inducement to buy
their holdings on those tcrms-terms
which appear to me to be fully ten
years. purchase above the market
value of the Irish landlords property.
However, 1t is possible that there may
be some provisions in the bill, when
we can see it in print, which will Of
fer some minor advantages to the ten
ants and the country that, to some ex-
tent, redeem the Objectionable terms
provided for the landlords.
1.-THE one collSOling feature of this
latest attempt of the British parlia-
ment to settle the Irish land question
is the proof it offers mat the Celtic
people of Ireland have compelled an
English landlord government to pro-
vide money with which to buy out the
British landlord garrison Of ireland,
and not the landlords, who ought to
receive the bonus which the bill pro
vides for the Irish supporters Of his
majesty's government. The economic
conditions Of the Irish agricultural in
/, dustry face to face with the food com
petition of America, Canada, Australia
and Argentina, where no rents ar