The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-27
Premier Lloyd George Discusses
Problem In House of
Commons
IRISH DIsSENsIONs
BLOCK SETTLEMENT
When the Irish Can Agree
It win Be Easy to Estab-
lish Local Government.

lish Local Government.
London, Dec. 22.-Premier Lloy6
George addressed the house Of com
mons this evening on the Irish ques-
ton The premier last week an.
noa.nced his purpose Of presenting te
The commons onthis occasion the de.
tails OF the governments Irish home
> rule bill. In opening his address to.
day Lloyd George remarked upon the
extreme difficulty OF his task, diff
$ cult indeed" he said, after such a
8 dfscredfabIe outrage as has just been
perpetrated in Dublin
The premier said that parliament
/ must get the fact right into its mind
that IN the existing circumstances no
possible scheme for Irish home rule
was universally acceptable. Therefore,
he continued. parliament must as
stlfne the responsibility and propose
what it thinks fair and just. A set
tlement would be found NOT. in the
enactment =of a home rule scheme
but In It's working.
ireland, said the premier, was the
only country in Europe except Rus
sia where the classes who elsewhere
were on the side Of law and order
were out OF sympathy with the ma
chinery Of the government. While
Ireland was never SO prosperous as
teday the fact remained, he declar-
ed, that Ireland ws never SO alienated
from British rule as she is today.
- Any attempt at secession. the pre-
nnier announced, would be fought
with .the same determination, force
and resolution as has been Shown by
the sNeTthern States in America.
Jhe premier said it was, proposed
10 a5.lsh self government over the
whole Of Ireland and to create two
perlianents one In the north and one
in the south. Every opportunity
WOULD be given ireland to establish
aniat -she desired it, and a council
HDtlassbe established at the outset,
seIags Ca By the two legislatures to
form 81 connec.ing link between the
th-o parts Of the country.
The two legislatures to be created
in ireland, the premier said. would
be clothed with full constituent pow
sers TO create a single Irish legisla-
Sure to discharge all powers not spe-
eifcaliy reserved to the imperial par
sziament.
The premier said that the Irish
contribution to the imperial services
tSas estimated at 100000 pounds
annually. "A joint exchequer board
would settle the rate Of contribution
for the future and the question OF
taxable capacity It was proposed to
sp7ace 100000 pounds at the disoos-
al of each Of the two parliaments to
cover the initial expenditure.
The representation OF Ireland at
Westminster, Mr.. Lloyd George. an
nounced, would be reduced under the
proposed measure to 40 members as
In the act Of 1914.
Each Of the two pariiaments would
have taxation powers equivalent to
those Of the State legislatures Of the
United States. The income tax and
the excess profits and super taxes
would be levied irnpersally. The Irish
parliaments would control all local
matters and all machinery for the
fnaintena.ce Of law and order except
the higher judiciary ard the army and
navy.
The customs and excise service
would be retained by the imperial par
lament. the premier stated but when
Ireland was united It would be open
TO the imperial Z -'ianient to sur
render whether united Ireland would
heye control Of the customs. The
premier said the bill would contain
clauses protecting the rights OF minor
tiles. The postal service would not be
transferred, he added. until there was
single parliament in Ireland.
The government proposed to give
the Irish government the advantage
of ali duties and taxes raised in ex-
cess Of a fair contribution to the inn
perial services. and a free gift, in adj
dition to finance the development Of
the Irish parliament: tie premier de-
ciarca = -, -
II would rest with irish people
themselves. said Mr.. Lloyd George.
whether they desired -unio1. The
consent Of the British parliament
would not be required. and in order
to offer a greater inducenlent to un-
Z ion. the government proposed that
certain additional taxing powers
: should be entrusted TO the Irisf, par
lament when the union was accom-
piished.
An these proposals added the pre-
rnier. will be embodied IN the bill for
the consideration Of the parliament.
and appealed to all to give the meas
ure fair consideration. The present
he said. was not time for recrini-
nation.
What appeared to be a weakness in
the governments proposal was a GER
tain mistiness as to how the bound