The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-27

London, March 25.-The Irish secre-
tary, Mr.. Wyndham, introduced the
governments long anticipated Irish
land bill in the house of commons this
afternoon.
1t proposes a grant of $500, 900, 900 for
the purpose of the bill. Tenants are to
pay IA per cent. interest on loans
from the government Mr.. Wyndham
said he thought the scheme would not
involve over s5OO,OOO,OOO, but that $780,
100000 could safely be advanced on Irish
land. The advance to tenants are linn
tied to $4,000 in the congested districts,
and $1,000 elsewhere. The bill also pro-
vides that untenanted farms and graz
ing 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 commissioners are Michial
Flnucane, secretary to the government
OF Bengal Revenue, General and StatiS-
teal Department; Frederick S. Wrench,
now one of the Irish land COM
mlssloners,, and William F. Bailey,
one of the assistant commissioners on
the Irish land commission. They will
be under the general control Of the
u.
become effective November 1st
The keen interest felt in this new
legislation which it is hoped will pro-
mote peace and contentment in Ireland
was shown by the crowded house. The
peers gallery and the DISTINGUISHED
strangers gallery were filled 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 interested spectator, while almost
every Irish peer listened to Mr. Wynd-
hams exposition of the bill. From an
early hour this morning, the stone
benches from the house of commons en-
trance 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 in
side of the legislative chamber, the
galleries, 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 re-en-
tering the house for the first time since
he ceased to be member, in order to
hear the chief secretary for Ireland un-
fold his plans.
For the most part the liberal men,
berS sat glum, the applause coming
from the Irish benches. A hush Of ex-
pectation fell on the assembly as John
Redmond, the Irish leader rose to
| bill, its death, and perhaps even the
government downfall, was decreed.
| When the galleries of the house found
him sympathetic and non-committal, a
| feeling of relief pervaded all sides.
| What Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman,
| the liberal leader, and the others said
had little effect. Even T. w. Russell,
| who with others criticised the details
| and various omissions in Mr.. Wynd-
| hams plan, wound up with a cultural
| and reluctant admission that ''it 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,
| iord-lieutenAnt of Ireland, could be
| seen amidst a crowd of nationalistS,
who scarcely year ago would rather
| have suffered every penalty than asso-
| ciated with the official head of the Irish
| government. Beside Lord Dudley, stood
| the griZZled little Sir Anthony McDon-
| nell, the first national assistant Irish
| secretary. Horace Plunkett Lord
| Ivagh, Lord Ashbourne and many un-
| onist members joined the group. The
| duke of Abercorn, the most powerful
| landlord in Ireland, asked to be intro
| duced to John Redmond, and a mutual
| friend brought the duke to the leader
Of the nationalist party, with whom
| lily shook hands, and they patched up
| the peace OF Ireland over the house OF
! commons refreshments bar.
Mr.. Wyndham who was heartily
cheered, when he arose to speak in the
| house, announced at the outset that the
government thought cash aid was ne2-
essary for the fulfillment of the pro-
posed scheme, but ii attached greater
Importance to the credit operation than
TO the cash operation. He then unfold
ed the scheme, which provides for ad-
vances of money for the purchase of
land by the tenants. Advances Will
be in the shape of cash and not of
| stock, but in order to enable the cash to
be raised, a new stock is to be fioated-
1t will be called guaranteed 3-4 per
| cent. stock and will be unredeemab BILE
for thirty years. Mr.. Wyndham doubt
ed if S500, ,000, 900 of the stock would be
needed. 1t will be issued at the rate OF
$25, ,000, 900 yearly, for the first three
years and afterwards possibly in larger
sums. In addition to this the govern
, ment proposed a free grant OF $6O,Oo0
600, to be raised by additions 10 the