The Irish standard., 1907-03-09
!. Tie IRISH BILL
80 ~
william o'Brien, NJ. P, Briefly
.,.t. 80 Outlines
The Features Of the Measure
- -; For Home Rule
William, o'Brien, member of parlia'

ST.. :. o..
: William, O'Brien, member of parlia-
isnt from Cork City, has outlined the
I impending Irish measure by which the
government proposes to meet the
growing demands for Irish home rule.
Mr.. o'Brien wrote an explanation of
the proposed measure as means OF
giving Irishmen in America informa-
lion upon this vital legislation. He
said:
81 am not in position to speak with
any authority of what the Irish revolu-
tion bill is likely to be. There are
however. certain lines upon which
without inner knowledge. it may be
predicted with some confidence that
any minister is sure to travel il his
bill is to have any chance of being
accepted by Ireland.
1T is certain that the bill will not
ks presented as a settlement OF the
Irish claim for lf-Sovernment, but
only as a preliminary experiment.
whatever arrangements may be
postponed as TO the present powers or
constitution Of the Irish council will
be provisional and will be left open to
enlargement in ten years at the utmost,
oR A hone, five years,
TN the second place the kings
speech may be taken as defining the
scope Of the councils functions. They
viii be administrative and financial,
embracing control Of all the adminis-
trativs departments known at present
as Dublin Castle, with the exception,
am afraid, Of the Royal Irish Con-
stabulary and Of the judiciary, and
will, in addition, include the spending.
although not the raising Of the greater
part Of Irish taxation.
''rhe omission Of the word Iesis-
lAsivsf from the Kings speech tells its
swn history. Except private bill leEis-
latlon. it is not likely that the Irish
bill viii propose to entrust the council
with legislative powers.
1T is probable, however, that the
bill may be SO amended as to enable
the Irish council to pass upon at least
one stage OF all the Irish bills. Very
likely the members Of the government
have not yet made up their minds
finally between the various suggestions
as to the constitution Of the new body.
"One of two things, however, may be
taken as certain. One is that the Irish
representation in the imperial parlia-
Ment will remain as at present. and
another is that the whole 103 Irish
members OF the imperial parliament
will be in SO fact to members of the
new Irish council.
'Steps will be taken to give the
Weather Unionist minority some spe-
ctnl representation, whether by noml-
nation or election on a restricted fran
chise. It is no less certain, however.
that any such arrangement, while Sc
curing the adequate representation Of
the minority, will leave the Irish coun-
ell overwhelmingly Nationalist in its
composition.
"The success or failure Of the ex-
pertinent will depend mainly upon the
financial arrangements. It may be
taken for granted that the principle
hrst laid down by Mr.. Windham's de-
velopment Of Ireland's grant will be
spscihoally recognized, viz. that any
savings made. In the present enormous
cost. Of the imperial establishments Of
police and the judiciary in Ireland
shall become exclusively 1relands
property. to. be disposed of as the Irish
council thinks fit
Es II the council is to be success, at
aeast e1,0oo.ooo will have to be placed
at.its disposal yearly between the saw
ings and an allotted revenue to be ex-
pended in the development of the coun-
try's resources.
+ Z Z: Those who have been disappointed
With the bill win do well to remember
that It is not a question of how much
the government is willing to give, but
how much it is possible for the gov
stnment to carry into law, what with
the opposition Of the House Of Lords
and the election pledges Of its own
slpporters.
5ssssThat is dihioulty which once
more illustrates the blunder commits
tod by the dominant section Of the
Irish party In shipwrecking the almost
exactly, similar measure Mr.. windha,n
was contemplating three years ago.
srhe Tories could have induced the
] House Of Lords to accept without a
murrnur bill which they will now al
4 most certainly re1eet.
- However. II even now the Irish
party would set themselves to allayins,
1 instead Of inhamming the apprehen-