Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-13
MAY NOT PASS.
Irish Bill Threatened by Anti-Home
Rulers in Commons

LONDON, May 13-With their huge ma
jority the liberals, it is confidently pre-
dlcted, will be able to pass the Irish bill
through the house of commons, but not
without strenuous opposition from those
anti-home rulers who see in the measure
step toward an Irish parliament with an
Irish executive, which is the ultimate hope
of Ireland.
But whether the liberal government can
carry the measure through the house of
lords is not SO clear, for the upper house
Is strongly opposed to the present Camp
bell-Bannerman administration. Moreover,
1t is one of the proudest memories Of the
peers that in the great home rule battle
over the Gladstone bill the upper house
finally triumphed over the commons, thus
defeating home rule at moment when 1t
was almost within reach. However, sentf-
ment has changed since then, and the Brit
ish public has now grown SO weary of the
everlasting Irish question that it Is quite
ready to have the peers grant some meas
use of relief
Plans are already being made for the de-
bate on the bill, and for amendments from
various quarters. There is a prospect that
majority of the radical labor members
will unite in amendments giving the Irish
council wider powers, which, it is expected,
the home rulers will move with the view of
placing themselves on record. But 1t Is
doubtful whether the government will be
able to accept any enlargement Of the pro-
posed administrative control, let alone any
right to legislate the bill outlined by
the Irish secretary, Mr.. Birrell, being the
maximum to which Mr.. Asquith, chancellor
Of the exchequer, and the other anti-home
rule members of the cabinet would agree.
There was feeling before Mr.. Balfour,
the unionist leader spoke in opposition to
the measure that the house of lords might
pass a bill such the one introduced
rather than allow the liberals to be sub
jected to another rejection by the lords,
as this would strengthen their campaign
against the upper house. This view Is still
held in some quarters but after Mr.. Bal
four's denunciation Of the bill 1t will be
rather difficult for the lords to pass 1t:
Of the Irish national convention to be held
at Dublin May q. If the convention should
accept the bill as step toward home rule,
which the liberals opposed to the self-gov-
eminent of Ireland deny, the untonists
would attack it on the ground that many
of the liberals were elected on assurances
that they would not vote for such g. meas
ure. Even some Of the unonists can find
little that is Objectionable in the bill
from their point of view, but as a party
they say they are bound to recognize the
arguments of the Irish unionists. who con-
tend that the measure Is one which might
be used to prejudice the Protestant minor
ity in Ireland.
There is also a possibility Of the bill be-
ing crowded out by other legislation with
which the governments program already ts
overloaded, and which includes licensing re-
form and reform of the house of lords,
ment are clamoring, and which might be
brought forward If the discussion of the
Irish bill gets beyond the limit which the
cabinet has agreed to allow.