The Washington herald., 1920-04-19

London. April Is. - Present par
Elementary interest here centers in
the Irish home rule bill. 1t is on
fthe commons calendar for this
week.
Government forces apparently are
determined to enact 1t into law. The
measure, however. will plough a
hard road to passage.
The pending proposal satisfies no
faction in Ireland. Its third read
ing will be the signal for a stream
of amendments.
A protracted debate seems in
sight. Nevertheless, no essential
changes in the bill are looked for.
1t is barely possible that Scom-
mons will postpone consideration
Of the home rule bill. Just now
the governments attention is TO-
cused on the German French situa-
tion and the Near East.
Summary of Bill.
The government Is hopeful that
the pending bill will go far toward
solving the Irish problem. 1t was
introduced in Parliament February
81. 1920. and is widely known as
Lloyd Georges compromise.
The bill provides for the estab-
lishment of two Irish parliamen mt s
and of a council of ireland, with
view to bringing about harmoni-
Gus action between the parliaments
and governments of Southern Ire
land and Northern Ireland" North
elm ireland. for the purpose of the
bill. consists OF the six Northeastern
Ulster counties.
The council of Ireland is to con-
sist. in the frs. instance. of a presi-
dent. appointed ty the King. and OF
delegations of twenty members OF
each OF the two Irish rarliaments.
1t is provided that the constitution
of the council of ireland may aft
erwards be vlried by the two Irish
parliaments, which may provide for
It's being elected by parliamentary
electors.
The core of the bill Is Clause 3,
which gives the two Irish parlia-
ments power to establish in place
of the council Of ireland a parlia-
ment for the whole OF Ireland, con-
sisting of one or two houses. The
two parliaments are each to consist
of a single chamber. called the
house of commons.
Besides certain MISUNDERSTOOD
limitations of their legislative pow
ers. especially in fiscal matters.
both parliaments are expressly pro-
hibited from making laws interfer-
ing with religious equality.
The Executive Power
The executive power in the two
irish areas Is to continue vested in
the king, who may delegate his au-
thority to the lord lieutenant. 1t
Is provided that no person shall be
a minister OF either area, unless he
is a member Of the Irish privy
council.
Further, no person is to hold Of
fice as a minister for longer per-
iod than six months. unless he Is "a
member of the house of commons of
the area In question. The ministers
are to be called the executive COM
niittee Of Southern Ireland and
Northern ireland, respectively.
The seats of the governments OF
the two areas arc to be at such
places as the parliaments may re-
spectively determine. The two par
liaments may delegate to the coun-
Gil of ireland any of their powers
with q view to the uniform ad-
ministration throughout Ireland,
the power of making laws with re-
spect to railways is to be vested
in the council of Ireland.
The council may consider any
questions which may appear in any
way to bear on the welfare of both
Southern and Northern Ireland, and
may by resolution make such sug-
gestions as they think proper.
Sessions of Parlinments.
There is to be a session of each
parliament once at least in each
year.
The house of commons of South
ern Ireland is to consist of 12s
land of ffty-two members. The
members are to be elected by the
same electors as members returned
to serve in the parliamnt of the
united Kingdom.
A general election will be con-
Quoted according to the principle Of
proportional representation, each
elector having one transferable vote.
The house of commons in each area
shall, unless sooner dissolved, con-
itinue for five years.
After three years either Parlia-
ment may alter its election laws,
provided that the number of men,
bers shall not be changed. and due
regard shall be had to the popula-
tion of the constituencies. The law
relating to- the qualification Of and
the taking Of any oath by the men,
bers of the house Of commons Of the
United Kingdom shall apply to the
ments.
A peer shall not be disqualified
for being member of either Parlia-
mentt. The number of members TO
be returned by Irish constituencies
to serve in the Parliament of the
United Kingdom is to be forty-two
The financial clauses provide that
Sc Der cent of thu Irish cont rihu tian