The Irish standard., 1903-03-28
LAND BILL FOR IRELAND.
Long Anticipated Measure Is Intro
duced in British House of Com
mons by MIR. Wyndham.
PROPOSES FREE GRANT OF $780,, 100000
Keen Interest Felt in This New Leg
isIatiOM-MichnelDa IL Davitt Ce lebrates
Fifty-Sevcnth Birthday by Reen-
tering the Housc-Tule Summary of
Principal Features of the Bill.

London, March 26-The Irish secre-
tary, Mr.. Wyndham, introduced the
governments long anticipated Irish
land bill in the house OF commons
Wednesday. 1t proposes free grant
of $6O,OOO,OOO for the purposes OF the
bill.
The keen interest felt in this new
legislation, which, it is hoped, will pro-
mote peace and contentment in Ire
land, was evidenced by the crowded
house.
The peers gallery and the distin-
guished strangers gallery were filled,
and there has been no such gathering
of members of parliament since the
opening of the session.
Michael Davitt, the father of the land
league, celebrated his tifty-seventh
birthday by reentering 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.
Scheme Unfolded.
Mr.. Wyndham, who was heartily
cheered when he arose to speak, an
nounced at the outset that the govern
ment thought cash aid was necessary
for the fultillment of the proposed
scheme, but it attached greater i'm
portance 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. The advances will
be in the shape of cash and not of stock,
but in order to enable the cash to be
raised anew stock is to be foated. It
will be called "Guaranteed two and
three-quarters per cent. stock" and
will be unredeemable for 80 years.
Issue of Stock.
Mr.. Wyndham doubted if S5Oo,Oo0,-
900 of the stock would be needed. It
will be issued at the rate of $25, ,OOO,-
600 yearly for the first three years, and
afterwards possibly in larger sums.
In addition to this the government
proposed a free grant of $G0,000,000 to
be raised by additions to the stock,
the interest and sinking fund of which
will be borne by the treasury, and the
maximum annual charge of which will
not exceed $l,950,O0O. Against this
charge on the British treasury the
Irish government proposes forthwith
to commence reductions in the cost
of administration amounting to ST.
100000 per annum forever.
Ruin on All Sides.
Proceeding, Mr.. Wyndham dealt with
the points of the bill, which contains
a bewildering mass of figures showing
how advances would 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 ten
ants. In the course of his speech,
which was punctuated by cheers, 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 $70O,O0O per annum to the land
commission and $7.0OO,000 to the Irish
police, which largely was needed TO
deal with illegalities arising from the
land question.
State Incurs No Risk.
Mr.. Wyndham did not think any
recondite or veiled reasons need be
looked for. Past experience showed
the state incurred no risk in giving
such aid. From the taxpayers view
point it was stated that aid for land
purchase was safe commercial trans
action. BY the aid CT the state $4,000
tenants had already bought their hold
ings and the state had not lost half
penny. Public opinion supported re-
payment, and this was high, moral Sc
curity, besides which was the security
of the land itself.
Two Alternatives.
In conclusion, Mr.. Wyndham said he
was sure the landlords and tenants
would continue to act in the reason
able spirit which actuated the confer
ence. There were two alternatives be-
fore the country. They could prolong
for another $50 years the present trag-
edy in Ireland or they could now
initiate and henceforth prosecute a
business transaction occupying some
IS years, based on selftesteem, probity
and mutual good will of all concerned.
Mr.. Wyndham finished speaking at
4.10 p. m. Later the land bill passed it's
first reading. The second reading was
seDfor April %.