The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-04
HOME RULE BILL
NEAR FINAL STAGE
Measure Comes Up Again To.
day in House Of
Commons.
MERELY A FORMALITY
Premier Will Announce Pro-
posal for Compromise on
Monday Next.
MERELY A FORMALITY


LONDON. March t.-Premier Asquith an
nounced In the House Of Commons yester-
day that he will make his suggestions for
a compromise on the home rule bill on
March .. when the second reading of the
measure which now enters its third and
nnal stage under the Parliament law. will
be moved. This statement by the Premier
followed a renewal OF the negotiations be-
tween Mr.. Asquith and the Irish leaders.
John Redmond and T. p. O'Connor. and
the arrangements are now complete.
According to the programme agreed
upon Augustine Birrell. Chief Secretary
for Ireland. will introduce the bill for the
third time to-day. This will be mere
formaiity and there will be no debate.
Premier Asquith will move the second
reading OF the bill on Monday and will
then make known his suggestions.
No Opposition Expected.
There will probably be a two days dis
cussion. after which the debate will be
adjourned to enable the House to complete
financial business for the year ending
March 81. The opposition has virtually
undertaken not to hamper work on the
financial bills.
Meantime Mr.. Asquth's suggestions in
regard to compromise on the home rule
bill will be discussed outside OF Parlia-
ment and will possibly lead to negotia-
lions among the leaders OF all parties.
II Is worthy OF note that they will not
be the subject OF a division In the
House OF Commons when the debate Is
resumed. The division will be a straight
one on a motion to pass the bill on its
second reading. The final word OF the
settlement, will rest with the majority In
the House OF Lords, but IT Is nowhere
expected that Mr.. Asquith's suggestions
will result In n settlement OF the ques-
tion. The Unionists demand the exclu-
sion OF Ulster from the bill. and this the
Premier has promised the Irish Nation
alists will not be granted.
Can't satisfy Orangenea.
However generous the proposals may
be IL is most unlikely that they will
satisfy the Orangemen. The declaration
OF a well Informed political writer who
says that a deadlock was reached before
the suggestions were launched or even
finally determined on may be regarded AZ
accurate.
The situation brings nearer the prospect
Of general election and II was the opin-
ion In the Hobbies after adjournment last
night that Parliament would BE- dissolved
by June ut tho latest. This belief Is Al
ready causing a slackness in the attend
ance in Parliament and the agents of the
st.tuencies are putting on steam for "a gem
eral election.
After the home rule bill IL again passed
by the House OF Commons II will become
law automatically. with the Kings con-
sent AS soon as II IL rejected for a third
time by the House OF Lords This Is in
accordance with the Parliament act
passed In 1911 ordaining that:
ANY bill that has passed the House OF
Commons In three successive sessions and
having been sent up to the House OF Lords
before the end Of the session has been re-
jected by that House in each OF those
sessions shall become law without the con-
sent OF the House OF Lords on the royal
assent being declared. provided that at
least two years shall have elapsed be-
the bill In the House of Commons and
the date on which IL passes the House OF
Commons for the third time" The home
rule bill was introduced by Mr.. AsQuith
on April IL. 1912.