The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-04-12
HOME RULE BILL
PUT BEFORE HOUSE
Cheers Greet Asquith's Speech
in Third Attempt to Settle
Irish Question

LONDON, April lin speech last
ing nearly two hours. and described by
old parliamentarians as the most mas
terly in recent years. the prime minis
ter today introduced in the house of
commons the home rule bin, which
bears the official title :'The Government
of Ireland BILL
This is the third attempt of the lib
eral party to settle the Irish question,
which caused disruption of the party
under Gladstone and kept them out of
power nearly 20 years. Asquiths bill
met with support from practically all
the liberals and laborites and both sec
tfons of the nationalists--the Redmond
ties and O'Brienites
The unionists, of course, opposed 1t.
and the Ulsterites, through their
spokesman, Sir Edward Carson, made
1t clear that they object to a parlia-
ment in any form in ireland.
The house was crowded when the
prime minister arose to the cheers of
his supporters. Every seat on the floor
standing room was at a premium.
Among the spectators was the Ameri-
can ambassador, Whitelaw Reid, who.
according to one of the London news
papers, represented 22,oO0,o0o Irish
men"
The premier was supported by his
cabinet and backed by full benches of
liberals, laborites and nationalists He
spent an hour reviewing previous bills
and the changes that have come over
the situation since Gladstones last ef-
fort to settle the question. and then
took up his own BILL which is divided
In four parts-the legislative power of
the new Irish parliament. its executive
power. finances and the position of Ire
land after the grant of home rule.
The object of the government, he ex-
planned, was to give Ireland, with re-
gard to Irish affairs. real autonomy,
subject only to such safeguards as the
peculiar circumstances of the case re-
quired
After an appointed day, Ireland is to
have parliament consisting OF. the
king. senate, a house Of commons, to
make laws for the peace and good gov
ernment of Ireland. Care. however,
has been taken to safeguard the inter-
ests and susceptibilities of the minority
by the apportioning of nearly one-third
of the membership of the commons to
Ulster.
1t is recognized that the majority in
the commons will be liberal, but the
proposal for a nominated senate has
met with some criticism. The continu-
alton of 42 Irish members at Westmin-
ster also meets with considerable oppo-
sition.
Chief interest in the bill centered in
the financial arrangement Premier
Asquith pointed out that the Irish rev.
enue for 1928 is estimated at f10.-
$40, 900 $4,000, o00) while the expendi-
| ture for Irish services amounted to
f12,350.000 ($61, ,750,000). Pending the
time when that deficit could be con-
verted into surplus the collection OF
all taxes. with certain exception, has
been retained as imperial service The
bill will impose on the Irish parliament
the obligation to pay all Irish services,
| except reserved services. which would
continue an imperial charge until
transferred.
Every year there would be trans-
ferred from the imperial to the Irish
exchequer sum representing the cost
to the United Kingdom of the Irish
services at the passing of the act. the
cost to be determined by a board of
| five. two whom are to be appointed BY
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