The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-05-16
THE IRISH BILL.


to Ireland, introduced last week into the
British House of Commons, is known as
the Irish Bill and not the Irish Home
Rule Bill. 1t gives to the Irish people
certain measure of larger control OF their
own affairs, but not self government.
The vision of Parliament Of Ireland
sitting in Dublin is not yet to be realized,
The bill is a complicated measure and
was introduced by Mr.. Birrell, chief
secretary for Ireland.
1t proposes to establish for Ireland an
Administration Council, to consist OF 81
elected and "a nominated members The
Under Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant
is to be, exofficio, member OF the
Council, making l07 members in all.
The elective members are to be chosen
under the Local Government Board
franchise, under which women and peers
can vote. The appointed members are
to be named the first year by the King
and afterward by the Lord Lieutenant.
The Council will have complete control
of the eight departments intrusted to its
care, and will choose its own president.
But the Lord Lieutenant may reserve
his consent to any results Of the Council,
which seems diplomatic way of saying
he will have an absolute veto The de.
partments which the Council will con.
troll are the Local Government Board,
! the Department of Agriculture, Congest-
ed District Board, Commissioners of
Public Parks, National Education and
Intermediate Education, Inspectors OF
the Reformatory and Industrial Schools
and the Registrar General. The i'm
perial authorities retain control of the
Supreme Court of Judicature, the Royal
Irish Constabulary, the Dublin Metro
politan Police, the Land Commission
and the Prisons Board. The control of
the constabulary and police and of the
Supreme Court was desired by the Irish
leaders, but this is denied by the bill as
introduced. The Council will have the
power to remove and appoint officers of
the eight departments, but the rights OF
existing officers are to be preserved
This, then, is the substance of the con
troll of their own affairs which the Irish
bin proposes to give to the people OF Ire
land. 1t stops far short of full Home
Rule, but it is treated az an installment,
The Council will be an administrative
and not Legislative Council. Members
from Ireland will continue to sit in the
Parliament at Westminster and join IN
the legislation for England, Wales,
Scotland, Ireland and the rest of the
Empire. The Imperial authorities will
still control the agencies for keeping
order and the Judges of the Supreme
Court 1t is provided that there shall
be no preference given to any religious
denomination in appointments to Office
and that any British subject may be
Lord Lieutenant.
However disappointing this measure
may be to advocates Of Home Rule, 1t
must be remembered that there are
difficulties in the way of passing an
ideal bill The Liberal party and the
Home Rulers have a large majority in
the House of Commons But the Liberals
themselves are divided on Home Rule,
and this bill seems intended to win the
support of those who are opposed to an
Irish Parliament sitting ut Dublin. Be.
sides the House of Lords is Tory, 1t has
already thrown out Home Rule bill,
and would do it again. Whether this bill
will command its approval remains to
be seen, but at all events its chances to
become law are better than would be
those of bill creating u Parliament at
Dublin. 1t is probable that the bill
makes the largest concession to ireland
which is now possible to push through.
1t il liable to be amended before it can
get through the two Houses of Parlia.
ment
Att ll events, il is we'll that anotE er
plan for improving affairs in Ireland is
before Parliament. The whole subject
of the wrongs of that distressful country
will again attract the attention of man
kind and if the matter il not now
settled, which seems impossible, ut least
IA step, if II short one, may be taken in
the right direction