The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-26
Leads ALL North Carolina Dailes News and Circulation

900. Against this charge on the BRITISH
| treasury the Irish government proposes
| forthwith to comment to reductions 10
cost of administration amounting 10
/ 81 $50 900 per annum forever
Proceeding. Mr. Wyndham dealt with
the points of the bill, which contains
bewildering mass of figures showing now
4 advances will be made and the terms OF
repayment, but it seems in the main to
be on the lines laid down by the land
| conference report and will be satisfactory
| to the landlords and tenants In the
| course of his speech, which was punctu-
ated by cheering, Mr.. Wyndham 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 an
mum to the Land Commission and 81
| 600, 900 to the Irish police, which largely
was needed to deal with illegalities
arising from the land question.
rs it remarkable under these circum-
stances" asked the Irish secretary, 'if
the landloards and tenants come to-
gether?"
Mr.. Wyndham did not think any re-
condite or veiled reasons need be looked
for. Past experience showed the state
incurred no risk in giving such aid.
From the taxpayers viewpoint it was
stated that aid for land purchase was d
safe commercial transaction. BY the aid
of the State $4,000 tenants had already
bought their holdings and the State had
not lest half penny. Public opinion
supported repayment, and this was high
moral security, besides which was the
security of the land itself
Mr.. Wyndham also said that the num-
Der of anonamlies which had to be dealt
with rendered the work most embarrass
Ing, complicated and very difficult to
present to the public in an intelligib,e
manner. The state of things in some
parts of Ireland was such as could scarce
iy be believed in England. He instanccd
one village in which a landlord was in
the work-house during the greater part
or the year, while the tenants lived un-
der conditions worse than those OF the
hafnrs or Africa. What the government
proposed to do to remedy this state Of
aHairs while withdrawing no existing
rights, contemplated that the purchase of
iahd IN the future should proceed by the
sale OF estates, under three commission
ers VINO will be known as Estate Com
mssloners, under the general control of
the lord lieutenant of Ireland.
Mr. Wyndham proceeded, saving that
, In view OF the strong recommendation
OF the recent land conference the govern
ment had provided that the landlords
might make their own arrangements
with the tenants if they tailed with the
Eoilcy of the present bill, which, instead
or expatriating the landlords, as stated
III some quarters, would, he hoped. en-
aple them TO remain in the country. The
government thought the period for the
repayment Of loans should be 681A years
Ihere were strenuous provisions against
sub-d1vlding mortgages on holdings
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 prolong for another $50 years
the present tragedy in Ireland or they
could now initiate and kenceforth prose-
cure business transaction occupying
some fifteen years, based on the self
esteem, probability and mutual good will
of all concerned.
John Redmond the Irish leader, fol-
lowed Mr. Wyndham. saying, everybody
would admit that the tone and temper
of the secretarys speech showed he real
lied the gravity of the situation in Ire
land and that he was anxious to sin
cerely attempt to grapple with it, Mr..
Redmond deprecated hasty judgment of
Mr.. Wyndhams proposals, either for or
against them. No one could question that
the proposals were an enormous advance
nf laG
really aimed at settlement OF the ques-
tion. If the Irish concluded that the bill
offered a reasonable hope of a settlement
it would be accepted by them.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, the
Liberal leader, said he would not pass
judgment on the great measure presented
with so much power and which raised
such great issues" but he would ask
for information on certain points, which
he enumerated.
The bill was formally introduced and
passed its first reading. The second
reading was set for April %.
The opinions expressed in the lobby
of the House of Commons were gener-
ally favorable to the land bill and point
cd to the probability of it's being ac-
cepted in principle by all the parties 1t
produced in the House feeling of in
tense satisfaction. John Redmond, the
Duke of Abercorn, and Lord Dunravcn
all agreed in saying Mr.. Wyndham had
made a genuine effort to settle Ireland
troubles on the lines of the Dublin Con-
ference. They pointed out however, that
many details must be minutely discussed
and perhaps be altered before tho bill
is accepted.