New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-20
MAKESHIFT IRISH BILL,
an ADMINISTRATIVE Council ON Nr
Chamberlain Plan.
London. May 8.

| bill does not create a Parliament with an exec,-
tive responsible to 1t. and consequently II Do.
not satisfy the Nationalist, although thew w..
take IT as an opportunist makeshift and vr.t.
for larger measure on Gladstonian lines II 4,
Mr.. Redmond with cynical frankness noi,.,
out in the opening debate. reproduction :,
Mr.. Chamberlain's national elective councI
scheme which was proposed as a substitute "a,
Mr.. Gladstone's Home Rule policy II ran-s-
sented twenty years ago Unionist concessio, :.
the maximum formulated at Birmingham, ~,
the statesman who deserted Mr.. Gladstone a.,
defeated him. Nine years ago the U-ionis.
government In the plentitude of it's rov-s- "a
verted to the plan In legislation for tina es.,,-
lishment of county councils in Ireland IT,.
Liberal Ministry now revives Mr.. Chamberlain.
scheme. and does 1t with more Justice bv pro.
posing elective council. with a fraction "a
nominated members. which will con5uc+ -,
means of committees the work OF eight deDar+.
ments of administration. Mr. BirreITs hill stu
falls short of Mr.. Chamberlain's plans becaus.
other branches OF administration are excluded
but f65O00O is added TO what is now expended
by the eight departments. so that the council
will control annual outlay of e. 100 O1O q,
addition to local grants amounting to IL $50.
600. AS this measure is offered. not as an
alternative for Home Rule. but as partial In.
mate solution. the Nationalist may not opposs
it. but may accept ii and do what they can n
broaden 1t by removing the Lord I.ieutenant's
veto power and the undemocratic element OF
nominated members. There viii be so little en-.
thusiasm for administrative council on mu.
ncipal rather than national lines that tho
passage of the measure through the Commons
hardly be expected unless there be an
autumn session.
The Nationalist have one decisive advantars
in their struggle for Home Rule. They know
precisely what they want and persevere in de-
handing II with infexible determination. Sine.
Mr.. Gladstone was a convert to Mr.. ParnelT,
cause. and advocated separate Legislature a,
act OF justice to Ireland they have been
powerfully reinforced in their stand for their
principles. Mr.. Balfour might have defeated
them If he had remained in office a year longsr
and gone to the country redistribution bill
based on population and deprivfng Ireland Of
thirty seats in Parliament. That strenuou,
course would have supported the Ulster arsu.
ment against Home Rule grounded on popula.
ton. When three of the four provinces ara de,
scribed by the Nationalist as unanimous fos
Home Rule there is no effective answer 70 the
demand. but when the Ulster Unionfst asserts
that one-third OF the population is in the North
and that IN the course Of twenty years It will
Oe enlarged 10 One-haLIs tnere IS a strong priul3
facie case against a policy TO which Ulster Is
opposed. BY reducing Irish representation az
Westminster and emphasizing the arSumen:
from population Mr.. Balfour might have rallied
the Unionists and permanently blocked tbs
Home Rule cause. He lacked the courage re-
quired for fighting the Nationalist strenuously,
and had already been compromising with them
In the land act and IN the negotiations con-
Quoted by Sir Antony mcdonnell The Liberals
themselves were not in position to make a
firm stand against policy which Mr. Gladstone
had advocated II there has been temporary
compromise TO save the faces of Sir Edward
Grey, Mr.. Asquith and Mr.. HaIdane. the ma
jority OF the Cabinet are convinced GIadstoni-
ans. and take little interest in the revival OF
Mr.. Chamberlains plan as an Opportuuist meas
ure.
Mr.. BIrreI. however, has supplied the Ma.
tionalists with an argument almost as effective
Mr.. Gladstone's championship OF their cause.
This Is his frank confession OF the inef1ciencyi
OF English administrative methods He hasl
drawn a sketch OF irresponsible bureaucracy!
which cannot be regarded as carcature. A.
ter century under the Union Ireland is in a
state OF administrative chaos. with the gloomy
Castle out OF touch with public opinion and ma
tional life and with forty or fifty departments
and boards. either independent in authority %
responsible 10 Parliament. The Lord Lieutenant
the Chief Secretary or 70 local bodies. 1t is ad-
ministratIon without organi1 unity and creative
power. and it is neither efficient nor economical
nor representative. a cumbersome and waste
full bureaucracy has been established after
decades OF compromise. makeshiftS and experi-
mental legislation. and as Mr.. Birreu admits. 10
is not system which is likely to train the Irish
people in habits of seIf-respect and economy. HIS
official list OF the departmentS and bureaus now
in operation for the government of populationi
smaller than that of metropolitan London is .
convincing proof of administrative failure. vhsa
the English have shown so little capacity ard
efficiency in providing a system Of government
under real and responsible control the Nations
alists justified in demanding a rataa>s
measure OF Home Rule.
Mr.. Birrell's argument for thorough reform o.
an anomalous system is unanswerable What -
doubtful is the utility Of the mechanism which
he supplies. The administrative council which
he suggests may tend 70 make confusion worse
COMPOUNDED. II Will be another source OF au-
thority where there are already too many
centres of power. and while II will be restricted
10 the supervision OF eight departments. asri-
culture public works. congested districts an
education being included among them. II VII
not be thoroughly democratic body. since
considerable contingent will be nominated oSi
the Castle nor will il have absolute control over
officials. finances local government. since Ne''
power OF the Lord Lieutenant is reserved Wv
eminent by large committees is a method whiS.
works we'll In English municipalities and diStr''
councils; but 1t is at least an open GueSH
whether Ireland can be satisfactorily soVs'HeNi
in that way Mr.. Redmond. in what was 20
dearest and most logical speech Of the openm