New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-15
FOR AN IRISH COUNCIL.
NOTICE OF BIRRELL BILL.
Electric Members to PredOminatc-
To Reinstatc Euictcd Tenants.

Tondon Feb. 14-Following closely upon his
announcement yesterday of the intention of the
government to introduce a measure to improve
+be government of ireland. Augustine Birrel
chief Secretary for Ireland gave formal notice
+o-dav that a bill "to establish an Irish Council.
and for other purposes connected herewith -
would be introduced. Thus the Liberal govern
,ent Is keeping its promise to the Nationalists 10
rIace Irish legislation TO the forefront in the
rrasent session Of Parliament.
The wording Of this formal notice caused no
.,,rrr'se. a. It had been understood for some
.i,re mast that the establishment Of Irish
council was contemplated. hut the announce
-,en4 to-day was the first official confirmation
.,eroof one Of the most difficult details which
.o,ad the government was whether the council
.bo,I5 be elected OF nominated. In the original
draft Of this bill. an entirely nominative body
mas 1,ronosed. but John L. Redmond. the Irish
leader. rejected this as useless and as proposal
vbicl, he and the other Irish leaders could not
support
The biz of which Mr.. Rrrel has now given
notice. although all the details have not Yet been
made public. viii provide for a council, in which
the elective element will predominate. A num-
her q ronlinative members are retained in order
IN placate the Liberals. who are opposed TO an
.,,i-s1v representative body. It is understood
elsA
r,inistrative powers but its right to legislate
will he limited.
This feature has been accepted by the irish
leaders Nothing definite is known to the
amount Of financial control 10 be intrusted TO
.be council, but to satisfy Irishmen this Will
have 10 be large There is doubt that the
movers now centred in numerous boards con-
trolling the administration of Ireland will be
handed over TO the council
This Droposed measure was subject of much
speculation in the lobbies of the House OF Com
mons tonight. A large majority Of the men,
bers are ignorant Of the intentions Of the CAD
met. and the leaders who have been taken into
the confidence of the government are pledged 10
secrecy. Speaking in the House this evening
Mr.. Birreu said the question Of the restoration
Of evicted tenants to their homes was one OF
urinary Importance and one that brooked Of no
delay. He referred TO the action OF Lord Can
ricardo in refusing TO re!nstate the tenants on
his estates, and limited that IT would be quite
iustifiable 10 take over the administration Of
these estates In conclusion the Chief Secretary
for ireland pledged the government to take ef-
fecti1e measures 10 secure the reinstatement Of
evicted tenants.
The House then took up the discussion of an
amendment in favor Of reinstating evicted ten
ants Mr BirreII spoke again, and promised
measures satisfactory to the Irish party. He
then made the actual announcement Of his In
tAntion to introduce a bill TO deprive Lord
Clanricarde Of the management of his Irish
estates on the ground OF his lordship's incom-
potency, and to hand over the management to
commission appointed especially for thts pur-
pose. which would act for the best interests of
the landlord, the tenants and Ireland itself. Mr..
Birrel used the strongest language IN describ-
ing Lord Clanricarde's rnismanagement declar-
ing II, among other things. TO be shocking"
Walter Hume Long. speaking on behalf of the
Irish Unionists. expressed the approval of Mr
BlrreIl's attitude this matter. and said he
hoped Il would induce Lord Clanricarde to be-
stir himself and obviate the need OF such spe-
cisi measure.