Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-26
A NEW ERA
Is Opening for Ireland Through
the Land Bill.
Which Aroused Greatest Enthusiasm
When introduced in Commons.
Everywhere FavorabIy Received and
Sure of Passage.
A NEW ERA

| 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 free grant of
| $bo,00O,00O for the purposes of the bill.
Tenants are to pay 3 IA per cent in
terest on loans from the government.
Mr.. Wyndham said he thought the
scheme would not involve 100000, 600,
but that $750,000,000 could safely be
advanced on Irish land. The advance
to tenants are limited to $500 in the
congested districts and $4,000 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 estates
commissioners, shall supervise the
sales. The namessof the three commits
sioners are Michael, Finucane, secretary
to the government of Bengal revenue,
general and statistical department.
Frederick S. Wrench, now one of the
Irish land commissioners, and VIM. f.
Bailey, one of the assistant commits
sioners on the Irish land commission.
They will be under the general control
of the lord lieutenant of Ireland. The
bill will become effective, Nov. 1.
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. In the diplomatic
gallery sat United States Secretary
Henry White, an interested 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
Irishman, among whom We're 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 re-entering the House for the first
time since he ceased to be a 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, it's death, and
perhaps even the governments down.
fall was decreed. When the galleries
of the House found him sympathetic
and nom committal, q feeling of relief
pervaded all sides. What Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman the Liberal lead
err, and the others said had little effect.
Even T. w. Russell, who with others
criticised the details and various omiS-
sions in Mr.. Wyndham's plan, wound
up with cultural and reluctant adj
mission that cit is a great bill"
The passing 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 Dud
| ley, the lord lieutenant of Ireland
could be seen amidst a crowd of Ma
| tionalists, who scarcely year ago
| would rather have suffered every PEN
atty than associate with the official