The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-08
RFl|EF FOR IRISH TENANTS
Ia Rev Land Bill Carries a Free
Grant Of $60,000,0 900.
GOVERNMENT CREDIT EXTENDED

rne chief Secretary For ireland Presents
tho Measure In The House OF Commons
Money to he Advanced at , Ia Per
Cont. For the Purchase OF Lands-Noe
More rhnn $500. 900. 900 Required.
London.-The Irish Secretary. Mr..
Wyndham. introduced the Govern
ment's lOng-expected Irish land bill in
the House of Commons. 1t proposes o
free grant Of 500. 100000 for the pur.
poses Of the bill.
The keen interest felt in this pro.
posed legislation. which. 1t Is hoped.
will promote peace and c%ontentment
In Ireland, was shown by the crowded
house. The peers gallery and the dis
tinguished strangers gallery we're
filled. and there had been no such gath.
crIng of Parliament since the opening
] Of the session. Michael Davitt. father
! OF the Land League. celebrated his
| fi%fty-scyenth birthday by re-entering
the House for the first time since he
ceased to be n member to hear the
| Chief Secretary for Ireland unfold his
plans.
Mr.. wyndham. who was heartily
cheered, at the outset announced that
! the Government thought cash aid was
necessary for the fulfllment Of the
proposed scheme. but 1t attached great
err Importance to the credit operation
| than TO the cash operation. He then
upfolded the scheme. which provides
for advances Of money for the purchase
Of land by the tenants.
The advances will be In the shape
OF cash and o ef stock. but to enable
the cash to be raised q new stock Is to
be fioated. It will be called "Guaran-
teej az per cent. Stock" and Will be
unreasonable for thirty years. Mr..
| Wyndham doubted II $J00.OOO.OO0 OF
| the stock would be needed. 1t will be
issued at the rate Of $25. 10000 yearly
for the first three years INT afterward
possibly In larger sums. -.
In addition to this the Government
proposed a free grant Of $GO.OOO.OOO
to be raised by additions to the stock.
| the interest and the sinking fund or
| which will be borne by the Treasury.
| and the maximum annual charge OF
which will not exceed $1.35O.OO0.
The bill also provides that tenants
will nav three and one.fourth per cent.
| interest on loans from the Government.
| that untenanted farms and grazing
| lands will be sold to neighbOrlng ten
ants and that three commissioners will
supervise the sales.
The advance to tenants Is limited
| to $500 In the congested districts and
$4,000 elsewhere. The bill will become
effective November l.
Mr.. Wyndham said $3.50. 0OO.O 900 could
safely be advanced on Irish land. u
he thought the scheme would not IN.
volve $685. 900. 900. He explained that
while the maximum charge on the
English Treasury would not exceed
81. 95O.OOO In a single year. the reduc-
ton In the cos Of administration OF
Ireland would amount to $l.25O.OOO.
Mr.. Wyndham dealt in detail with
| the polnts of the bill. showing how ad-
yances will be made and the terms OF
repayment. 1t seems In the main to
be on the lines laid down In the Land
| Conference report. and will be salts
factory to the landlords and tenants.
Mr.. Wypdham SAID the landlords OF
| ireland were being ruined financially.
| and that the tenants were being ruined
morally. and the taxpayers of England
were paying 100000 per annum to the
Land Commission and $7.OOO.00O to the
Irish police, which largely was needed
to deal with nlegalities arising from
the land question.
Mr.. Wyndham did not think any re-
condite or yelled reasons need he
looked for. Past experience showcd
| the State incurred no risk In giving
such aid. From the taxpayers view.
point 1t was stated that aid for land
purchase was n safe commercial trans
action. BY the aid Of the State 10000
tenants had already bought their hold
ings and the State had not lost q half
penny. Public opinion supported re-
! payment, and this was high moral Sc
curIty. besides which was the security
of the land itself.
Mfr. wyndham said that what the
Government proposed to do was. While
withdra wing no existing rights, to pro-
vide that purchase of land In the future
should proceed by the sale OF estates.
under three commissioners. Michael
Fmucane. Under Secretary Of the Sta
~tistical Department: Frederick Brent
and w. +. Bayley.
The commissioners. who Will be
known as Estates Commissioners. Will
be under the general control OF the
Lord Lieutenant Of Ireland. They are
empowered TO decide what constitutes
an estate. which does not necessarily
mean the entire property owned by the
vendor. as a considerable portion there
of nay remain In his hands. The com
m~iss!oners may refuse to sanction the
sale OF poor holdings unless there are
reasonable facilities for their enlarge
ment, where necessary.
In conclusion Mr.. Wyndham said he
was sure the landlords and tenants
would continue to act In the reasonable
spirit which actuated the Conference.
There were two alternatives before the
country. They could prOlonS for an
other i5O years the present tragedy In
Ireland, or they could now initiate ana
henceforth prosecute n business trans
action occupying some fifteen years.
based on the self-csteem. prob!ty and
mutual good will Of all concerned.
Mr.. Wyndhnm finished speaking mt
40 D. m. Later the bill passed Its hrst
reading.
Ladronss Driven From suriEso.
" .-~.LA