Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-26
LLOYD GEORGE IDEA
/ IN HOME RULE BILL
Two Parliaments, With Exten-
sive Powers to Control In
ternal Affairs in Ireland
BRITISH MlSRULE SCORED

London. Feb 26.--Thc hill for Irish
home rule. long promised by the govern .
nent, was presented in tl," House "t
Commons yesterday. Tho first reading
was cf the tit'n alone and was q mere
formaity. preliminary to taking up the
measure at the session today.
The present bill. It is understood. al
here's comDsrativelv closely to the
measure outlined nv Premier Lloyd
George last December. The govern
ment's project centcrs on III" setting
M Of two nGrlianCnts in Ireland. one
for the south and one for the north.
For the north Of ireland tho area
embraced will probably include the six
counties mentioned by the nrcmier with
possibly somc sight notifications. as
a CONSEQUENCE Of which the northern
parliament will he very much smalle
hody than the southern organization.
One Of the fundamental features of the
hill has alvavs been o council renre-
septing the two rarliaments and It is
understood that this council will de-
rive its powers from the two bodies,
which will be responsible for its sclcc-
ton.
Powers Of Legislatures
The proposed legislatures will have
extensive rowprs and also representa-
tion in the Imperial Parliament. such
matters as education local government: 4:
ayriculturp TRANSPORTATION, munlciDai
affairs. insurance, and the collection
Of taxes will be under the control OF
these two legislatures. while matters
of more serious import to the empire
such az foreign affairs. defense, navlga-
ton and the higher judiciary are re-
served for the decision of the Imperial
government.
Premier Lloyd George announced that
the proceeds of land annuitles in Ire
land would be given as free gitt 10
the two parliaments, and estimated tnat
this would amount to E".OOO,Oou ior
the year. This sum. or other equltaoIe
nrovision will be made for the malnte-
nance Of the parliaments. if the gov
ernment's bill is accepted.
The report of the commission Of Ia
hor men which recently investigated con g..
ditions in ireland is strong dcnunCia-
tion of what is characterized as the
british misrule of Ireland This, the
rpnort declares. would drive any
snirited nation into deep. seated and
dangerous discomfort. adding that
where tho administration is not merely
uninteligpnt it appears to be deliber-
atelv provocative.
The economic regeneration of Ire
land. which would help materially to
destroy existing animosities and speedily
cfface the memory of historic wrongs,
cannot be successfully achieved unless
and until the political problem is solved.
The fundamental necessity there is a
change in the political system.
Sim Fein Real Factor
The report says it is undeniablc that
the Sim Fein 'in some directions func =
tions as the de facto government. 1t
has established courts. whose decisions
re respected, and issues DEGREES that
are obeyed BY a very considerable part
of the population.
The report expresses the belief that
either n dominion self government.
with provision for the protection of mi
norities or measure of self government
determined by an Irish national as.
sembly elected by proportional repre-
sentation. in both cases reserving de
Tense and foreign relations to the i'm