The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-08
NEW IRISH BILL
ASTEPPING STONE
TO "HOME RULE

/ tenant would be an ex-offcio member OF
| the council, which would have complete
| control OF the powers vested IN the de-
| partment TO be handed TO It's care, The
president OF the council would be APP
pointed by the council itself and the chief
! secretary would have the right TO attend
the meetings. If the existing officers of
the departments were retired by the coun-
ell they must be given full pensions.
Exercise OF the powers vested In the
departments would he controlled by reso-
lutions OF the council and the supremacy
Of the imperial parliament would be safe
guarded by the power given 20 the lord
Lieutenant To reserve his consent 10 any
resolution OF the council and the eight
departments which would be made sub
Ject TO the new council.
The departments coming under the con-
troll OF the proposed Irish council would
be the local government board. depart
ment OF agriculture, congested district
boards. commissioners OF public works,
national education and intermediate edu-
cation inspectors OF the reformatory and
industrial schools and the registrar gem
eral
The supreme court judicature. Royal
Irish constabulary. Dublin Metropolitan
police. the land commission and the pris-
ons boards wocld remain under the con-
troll OF the imperial authorities.
Mr.. Brrell went on 20 explain that the
council being elected on a local govern
ment board franchise. peers and women
could vote. The constituencies roughly
would be the same as those OF the pres
ent parliamentary areas He did not think
lW members were too many 10 discharge
the important duties assigned to them
The council would be elected for three
years and authorized TO establish as many
committees as IL pleased. but it must es-
tablish finance, public works, education
and local government board committees,
the chairman OF which would be appoint
ed by the lord lieutenant. 1t was proposed
TO establish a new education department
for primary and secondary education, 10
be placed under the control of the coun-
ell
BIG IRISH FUND.
For the financial purposes OF tho eight
departments a certain annual sum, TO be
fixed by parliament every five years,
would be charged TO the consolidated
fund and paid into a separate Irish fund.
The present cost OF the eight departments
was estimated at a little over $40. .0O0.0 900
yearly. The government proposed TO hand
over in addition the sum Of 50. go. 900
yearly, OF which $l,5o0.000 must be devoted
10 public works and the general develop
ment OF the country. including other stat
utory payments. An Irish fund therefore
TO the amount or little over $4,000 900
annually would be created. The Irish fund
would be paid into a special Irish treas
ury TO be created by an order In council
and having an Irish treasurer at its
head. The council would have the power
TO appoint or remove the officers OF the
eight department mentioned above but the
rights OF the existing officers would be
preserved.
Under the bill any British subject would
be able 10 hold the office of lord lieuten-
ant without preference for any religious
belief A clause was also included provid-
ing that no preference whatever shall be
shown to any religious denomination in
appointments. and that any resulting
from such preference shall be invalid.
In conclusion, Mr.. Birrell said
THE government has been told that the
bill paved the way for home rule. II the
bill is passed and the new council is es-
tablished. then / dare say il might pave
the way,
IF, on the other hand. II is a failure.
IL might present considerable obstacles,
but surely the unonists will not refuse
Ireland an opportunity for her people to
acquire any right they ought To possess.
because II the measure proves successful
one OF the difficulties in the way Of home
rule will have been removed"
Mr. Balfour, the opposition leader. char
acterized the bill as grossly unfair. as
the Irish members OF parliament were
still able to interfere In English and
Scotch affairs. while the house OF COM
mons would be unable to say a word In
the analogous business about to be trans
ferred to the new council. The measure
would not egitimately relieve the aspira-
tions OF the Irish, and would only cause
confusion in the administration and en-
tail real grievances on Scotland and Eng
land.
which was desired in connection with the
government Of Ireland which would be
furthered by the extraordinary proposals
OF the Irish secretary. More preposterous
suggestions regarding local government
had never been made They would cause
collisions with the authorities and inev-
tably involve a breakdown of the whole
scheme. The proposals would satisfy
neither the English nor the Scotch and
still less the Irish.
REDMOND SUSPENDS JUDGMENT.
John Redmond. the Irish leader. said
that until he and his colleagues had time
TO consider every feature OF the bill and
elicit Irish public opinion In regard to
Il, no one could expect him to give either
a deliberate or final judgment. Mr..
Gladstone proposed to solve the problem
by the full and frank concession OF self
government and autonomy TO the irish
people. but what the present government
offered was not home rule, nor subsu-
tute for IL, he said. The Irish still de-
manded home rule and rested their claim
on their historic right and the admitted
failure OF a century of British govern
ment OF Ireland.
AS home rulers. Mr.. Redmond thought
they were justified in regarding the
scheme as inconsistent with the mainte-
tenance of their aspirations, and he pro-
oeeded to apply certain tests TO the
scheme rega riding giving general and eff
fective control TO Irish public opinion
over the matters which the bill dealt
with.
He said he did not like the nominated
element. Mr.. Redmond agreed with Mr.
Balfour that IL was not democratic. but
II he was told that the government OBJ