The Minneapolis journal., 1905-12-24
IRELAND IN DARK AS
TO LAND PURCHASE
Treasury Holds Back Informa,
ton on the Workings of
the Land Act. I.
BY Timothy J. O'connor.

Journal Special Service.
Dublin, Dec. 23.-There is rather
sinister lack Of fulness in the informa-
tion given to the public in connection
with the working Of the land purchase
act of 1903. The treasury is deliber-
ately withholding from the Irish rate
payers, it is everywhere asserted, the
returns upon which the British parlia-
ment insisted as long as the British
exchequer was the immediate guarantor.
The returns of the estates commission
ers are in many respects incomplete.
Another example is that of the report
Of the congested district board, which
has just been issued for the last fnan-
cial year. From these reports it is
learned that under the act of 1908,
eighty-four estates have been purchased
for more than $5,5OO,OOO. On these es-
tates there were 6,87l tenants occu py-
ing l66, 6,169 acres Of land. In addition
60,240 acres of untenanted land was
included. The names of the estates and
the area are given, but no information
is vouchsafed about the rentals; nor in
the individual cases the number of ten
ants on each estate.
Parliament as we'll as the public has
been left without the means to Judge
whether the prices being paid offer a
fair prospect Of progress in the con-
gested districts or whether they e
such as may render the outlay on ii e
improvement wholly barren because f
the burden imposed upon the new II J.
prietors.
Appeals to Irish Doctors.
DR.. L. Kidd has issued an appeal to
! the Irish doctors to elect him as the
Irish representative on the general med
ical council Of education and registra-
tion which is practically in control of
the profession in the three kingdoms
| He says:
AS the position I have the honor
| to seek at your hands is in no sense a
political one, it is to be hoped political
and sectarian prejudices will not be
allowed to bias the judgment of the
electorate in selecting the man they
consider best suited to carry out the
spirit Of the several medical acts anG
| to promote and protect their interests
The issue before the electorate is the
plain one Of the interests of medica
practitioners.
In spite of the appeal, considerable
opposition to DR.. Kidd is gatherin.
and there is nothing certain about hi
selection at the election, which take
place in February.
Stands by Gaelic.
Again has Alderman Cole vigorousl,
testified to his fealty to the Irish Ian
guage movement. Two policemen calle,
on him at his place of business in Littl
} Green street and demanded payment O
: two fines Of los each imposed on hir
: for having his name affixed to hi
J carts in the vernacular. The polio
were informed that not penny Of tn
} fine would be paid. The authoritie
adopted the usual drastic methods t
enforce payment. Sergeant Wilson, az
companied by posse of ten constabIes
l made descent on the alderman's es
, tablishment. They requested the oppol
/. tunity of seeing the alderman. He, how
7 ever, was at the time engaged in tn
. market. When intelligence was COZ
veyed to him of the incursion he sen
r back the following laconically defar
message: "Let them take what the
Q want. - The constables, upon receivin
this reply, set to work and almost in
4 mediately a large float and a stalwal
r horse made their appearance. Then til
/ vindication Of British law began
: Sturdy policemen seized hold Of fru
t barrels, but were unable to move then
4 At last as the result of the strenuol
efforts and almost frantic endeavo1
four barrels Of apples were placed
! the float. Then the command to marc
v was given and the burly, ungainly CO..
. veyance, protected by the represent
tives Of so-called law and order, DR.
ceeded to Mr.. Hills auction room
where the seized fruit was disposed o
Of course the incident attracted lars
crowd, but everything passed off quie
ly, no rioting being attempted.
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