The Arvada enterprise., 1920-12-30
MODIFIED BILL ADOPTED
CRITICS ASSERT IT WILL NOT o
ACCEPTED ~ SOUTH IRELAND
MEASURE TO % gFFgcTivG
At DISCRETION OF BRIT.
loH GOVERNMENT.
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London. Dec. 2l.-The Irish home
rule bill, as slightly modified by the
House Of Lords, has been adopted by
the HOuse-of Commons. The measure
now needs only the royal signature to
become q Law.
The measure will be effective at the
discretion Of the government at any
time within three and one-half years.
The government reserves the privilege
Of applying the law when the oppor.
tune moment arrives.
The home rule bill a. 1t finally
emerged from parliament ready fOf
the royal assent 10 not fundamentally
different from the measure the gov.
eminent first presented. Months Of dis
cusslon and efforts to amend In both
house resulted in certain safeguards
being added, which Its adherents be
lieve will make It more acceptable to
the Irish people.
Its critics, however, still maintain
that 1t will not be accepted by South
Ireland, and In this connection It Ii re-
called that Arthur Griffith, Sim Feln
leader, said some weeks after the bill
was introduced that there probably
were not ten influential men In ireland
who had even taken the trouble to read
It.
The bill's critics argue that the
events Of the past few months have
not served to change the Sim Fein
attitude that they will not set up the
government suggested by the imperial
parliament.
The bill as presented did not pro-
vide an alternative II either Ulster or
the south, or both. declined to accept
It, but 1t has been amended to the
effect that II either does not accept 1t
within three aud a half years, the
measure automatically dies, 10 far As
the section refusing to accept It In
concerned. E,t
In the meantime either section de-
cllning to accept can be ruled ~ q
crown colony. The limit Of three and
a half years was adopted because BY
that time there must be an election
and new House Of Commons.
The blu now provides that there
shall be set up by popular elections
two parlIaments, one for Ulster and
one for the South. Each parliament
shall decide upon the method Of select.
Ing senates. The connecting link BE-
tween them will he the Irish council
Of forty, twenty for each section. Each
senate will select seven Of Its council
members and each parliament thir.
teen.
The original blu provided that the
president Of the council should be the
lord chancellor Of ireland. but a.
amended he will be appointed BY the
lord lieutenant on the advice OF the
crown, which means that the govern
n.ent In power can put anyone at the
head Of the Irish legislative body II
pleases. The Idea expressed by minis-
tiers explaining the bill II that the
council will form bridge upon which
In time the two parlianents can get
together and fOrrs: one body for the. en-
tire country.
The measure provides that when
that In done the powers Of police. II.
nance and other branches Of the gov
eminent will he turned over. The Inn
perial government will keep \ pretty
firm hand on the fundamentals OF the
Irish government during the life Of
the two parliaments, but holds out
many attractions for q united paraia.
,ncnt that Its sponsors hope will coun'
teract the prejudiccs that always have
existed between the North and s0uth.
The changes made In the powers Of
the parliaments a. vet forth In the
bill when It was introduced are incon'
DeQusutial.