The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-09
What the British Liberals Offer Ire
land.

w nav tut I1Ett1Sh u WHIT lIS~
land.
It was inevitable that the Irish Council
bill introduced on Tuesday in the House
Of Commons by Mr.. AUGUSTINE BTB-
RELL, Chief Secretary for Ireland, would
fall very far short of satisfying the
hopes of the Home Rulers. That only
a very small instalment of home rule
could be looked for was known from
the moment that Mr., AsQUITH and Mr..
HALDANE became members Of the Ban
herman Government. They undoubtedly
would have resigned had any part of
the legislative powers belonging to the
Parliament at Westminster been rele-
gated TO an Irish assembly. 1t is solely
administrative control, then, and not
legislative control of her own affairs that
is conceded to ireland. Even the adj
ministrative control is partial. Jejune
and disappointing as the gift is, however,
it must be better than nothing other
wise the Unionists would not denounoe
it-and therefore the Irish people may
do we'll to accept it. 1t certainly super
sedes to a large extent the detestable
system of Castle government.
The bill seems to have been changed
at the last moment, for some of the semi
official forecasts of its .purport are not
fulfilled. We were told, for instance,
that the Nationalist members of Parlia-
ment would be er oficio the elective MEM
bers of the new Irish Council. AS a mat
ter OF fact the so elected members-24
are to be nominated the first year by the
King and thereafter by the Lord Lieu
tenant of Ireland-are to be elected on
the Local Government Board franchise,
which empowers women to vote. We
we're also informed that while the Royal
Irish Constabulary would remain in the
hands OF the imperial authorities, the
Dublin Metropolitan Police would be
placed under the authority of the new
Council. This feature seems to have
been exoised ultimately with a view,
doubtless, to making the measure as
little objectionable as possible to the
Unionist majority Of the House of Lords.
The same motive obviously prompted
the limitation OF the Councils powers,
The limitations are Of two kinds: First,
the imperial authorities retain control
Of the Irish J~udicature, the Land Com
mission and the Prisons Board, as well
as the Royal Irish Constabulary and
the Dublin Metropolitan Police. The
departments that will pass under the
control Of the proposed Irish Council are
the Local Government Board, the De-
partnent Of Agriculture, the Congested
Districts Board, the Board Of Commits
aioners Of Public Works, a newly created
National Education and Intermediate
Education Board, the existing Board
Of inspectors Of the ReformatorH and
Industrial Schools. and the office OF the
Registrar General. The cost Of the eight
departments oonflded TO the Irish Council
Is estimated at $40, oo0,o 900 a year, but the
bill proposes to make Ireland an addi-
tional grant Of $4,000. Of which ST.
o 1900 must be appropriated to public
works. 1t is possible, Of course, that il
the irish National Convention to be held
in Dublin presently should insist upon
an amendment placing one or more Of
the five departments reserved to the i'm
perial authorities within tho sphere OF
the Councils functions, the Bannerman
Government would assent, though every
extension OF the present concession will
llasen the bills chances Of being ratified
by the House Of Lords.
The other limitation Of the new Coun-
ellis powers is also likely to provoke We
hement remonstranoe on the part Of the
Nationalist convention, for It seems to
take away with one hand what 1t gives
with the other. We refer 10 the pro-
vision intended TO safeguard the suuprem-
acy Of the Imperial Parliament by giving
the Lore. Lieutenant power to withhold
his consent from any resolution OF
the Council or Of any Of the eight de-
partments which will be made subject
thereto. It is probable enough that 80
long as the Liberals remain in power the
Lord Lieutenant of ireland viii use pery.i
sparingly, II az all, the veto power con.