Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-05-10
IRISH HOME RULE
But Little Is Granted In Bill
Before Parliament
IT GIVES NO LEGISLATURE


Power Is Still In Imperial Authority
WHOLLY Pleasing to No Party
London, May S.--The government
has presented its long awaited Irish bill
to the house of commons and the coun-
try. This bill is designed to meet the
demands for Irish home rule. 1t was
presented by the chief secretary for
Ireland. Mr.. Brrell.
Compared with the home rule bills of
1856 and 1906 the new measure confers
little government upon Ireland
merely giving to the council control of
the eight departments now managed by
government boards. The council is to
be appointed by the crown, and while
the lord Lieutenant of Ireland is given
power to nullfy its measures. the
crown retains control of five of the
! eight departments. including the con-
stabuary. The control of this branch
always has been a thorn in the flesh Of
the Irish people.
1t is natural that this halfway meas
IRE is wholly pleasing to no political
party. The UniOnists regard it as a
step toward home rule They object to
giving to Ireland the management Of
many departments of local affairs,
while the irish members of the house
Of commons retain the right to legisate
IN similar affairs for England and Scot
land. They criticise also the plan OF
government by council through eight
committees as complicated and cumber-
some.
The Radicals are disappointed that
the measure falls so far short of home
rule and the Irish members are even
more disappointed with it. The Irish
leaders, however. are maintaining
diplomatic attitude until they have time
to study the provisions of the bill and
learn the sentiment of the people. A
Nationalist convention will be held in
Dublin soon to decide upon the policy
Of the Irish party. The Laborites will
support the measure because they are
all home rulers.
Nobody. said Birrell. believed that
the present system of the adminstra-
ton of Ireland was sound in principle or
economcal. 1t had been switched off
from the great current of the national
life of tn. people. Under the proposed
new scheme the Irish members of par
nament would continue to sit at West
minister IN undiminished numbers. but
he hoped hereafter to find a more profit
able channel for their nquisitiveness in
managing local affairs at home. 1t
was the intention to establish a repre-
sentative administrative council, con-
sistng of 81 elected and "a nominated
memb ers, the latter TO be nominated the
first year by the king and thereafter by
the lord lieutenant of Ireland
The departments coming under the
control of the proposed Irish council
would be the local government board.
department of agriculture, congested
districts board, commissioners of pub
lie works, national education and in
termediate education, inspectors of the
reformatory and industrial schools and
the registrar general.
The supreme court judiciature, royal
Irish constabulary, Dublin metropolitan
police. the land commission and the
prisons board would remain under the
control Of the imperial authorities.
For the financial purposes of the
eight departments certain annual
sum. to be fixed by parliament every
five years would be charged to the con-
solidated fund and paid into separate
Irish fund. An Irish fund to the abount
of little over $2O,OOO,OOO annually
would be created. The Irish fund
would be paid into a special Irish treas
ury to be created by an order in coun-
ell and having an Irish treasurer at its
head.
The council would have the power TO
appoint or remove the officers of the
eight departments mentioned above.
hut the rights of the existing officers
would be preserved. Under the bill any
British subject would be able to hold
the office Of lord lieutenant without
preference for any religious belief. \
clause was also included providing tina.
no preference whatever shall be shown
to any religious denomination in APP
pontmentS and that any resulting from
such preference shall be invalid.
After the bill had been presented and
explained by Birrell. it was criticised
and ridiculed by A. ]. Balfour on behalf
OF the opposition. John e. Redmond
then delivered a speech, noteworthy
principally for its dignified and force
full exposition of Ireland's claims for
complete home rule.
To pre~enI the first reading of the bill
being deferred until today Mr.. Birrell
moved the closure. Then, amid a great
uproar and protests and shouts OF
gag the closure was carried by AIT
votes to III and the bill passed its first
reading by 416 votes to 121. The house
then adjourned