Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-22
Will Take Eight Years.

Will Take Eight Years.
At the rate of SO, 100000 year it will
take eight years to settle the balance OF
5000. 600, 900 for the land already pur-
chased by the peasants. without taking
into account any sales that may be made
in the future; and a large number of
other landlords are ready To dispose of
their property under the terms of the
Wyndham act as soon as there is any as
surance that the government can carry
out its part of the contract. Until then
the operation of the act must be sus-
pended except SO far as the commission
ers are able to conclude negotiations that
have already been commenced. and if they
did nothing else whatever. if no other es-
tate was offered for sale. it is estimated
that they could not complete their pending
business for five years.
The Irish people and those who have
been the warmest supporters of the
Wyndham act and have looked upon it
as the most powerful agency ever sug-
gested for the improvement of agricul-
tural conditions in Ireland are very
indignant at the apparent Indifference
of the imperial government. which. SO
far as can be discerned. is doing moth
ing to relieve the situation. No more
notes can be issued without great
sacrifice. because of the condition of
the money market something else that
was not foreseen when the provisions
of the Wyndham act were decided upon.
The notes for f40,O00.O0O already is
sued are quoted below par. and financial
experts predict that a new issue of any
considerable amount could not be float
ed for more than So per cent of it's face
value. That would make it necessary
to issue notes for an amount IL per
cent greater than the actual cost of the
land. and the Irish people would ulti-
mately be compelled to pay the differ
ence. Many who are interested argue
that the imperial government could bet
ter afford to lose this II per cent than
to violate it's moral obligations to the
people of Ireland. and there is much
force in that proposition. This is poor
time for England to break faith with
Ireland. The Irish people did not enact
the law. 1t was passed by the British
parliament and the British govern
ment voluntarily assumed the RESPONSE
bility for the fulfillment of it's condi-
tions without regard to financial sac
rifices; but it is difficult to convince
the guardians of the British treasury of
their duty in this respect.
Situation According to Earl of Ken
mare.
A large number Of landlords who have
sold their estates to their tenants and
are waiting impatiently for their money
to discuss this perplexing problem and
appointed committee, of which the
Earl of kenmare is chairman, to assist
the government in working out some
arrangement which will relieve Cd the
landlords who have sold their estates.
CD their tenants who have bought
them and CD the Irish taxpayers who
eventually will have to foot the bills.
The Earl of Kenmare explained the
situation to me as follows:
I'VE have no authority, we have no
official responsibility; but we are all
unless something is done very soon the
gravity of the situation will be very
serious for all concerned and something
may occur to counteract entirely all the
good that has been accomplished by
the Wyndham land act L have accepted
the Craftsmanship of the committee of
landlords with the distinct understand
ing that We shall deal with the situa
ton as simple matter Of business
without any political compiled tons; that
the landlords Will stand together, and
that everybody Interested will assist in
the solution of this unhappy problem.
while the sales Of the estates are hung
up in this unsatisfactory manner the
landlords are losing money. the tenants
are losing money, the Irish rate payers
are becoming involved in heavy liabili
ties TO be met in the future, and all
progress in the regeneration of Ireland is
arrested. l feel sure that IL the English
public really understood how the case
stands the present conditions would not
be allowed to continue.
THE general impression in England
seems to be that the people of that coun-
try have been making enormous sacri-
fees TO bring about a settlement of the
troubles in Ireland and to establish tenant
ownership among the holders of the es-
tates. 1t is almost universally assumed
that the money to carry out this plan is
being drawn from the pockets of the tax
payers of England. That is certainly not
the case. Every dollar Of the funds for
land purchases in Ireland advanced by
the imperial treasury is fully guaranteed
by Irish resources, and the imperial
treasury has enjoyed more or less profit in
floating the notes that have been issued
to secure the cash. And If the British
treasury would vote the sum of G125 900
might occur in the issue of future notes
and the additional sum of 10000 a year
to pay the expense Of carrying out the
provisions of the law, the whole ques-
ton could be promptly solved. Probably
an equal amount toward the cost of float
ing new stock to meet future sales could
be furnished by Ireland. making all to-
gether E26O.OOO a year. l feel confident
that the complete and final settlement of
at that price and would result in many
savings in administration and in other
ways of much larger sum.
In Hands of Commissioners.
Their official reports show that more
than 5000 estates are at present in the
hands of the commissioners. representing
forty millions of purchase money. The
nreSent staff Of ernDloyeS is insufficiapf 70