Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-22
HOME RULE BILL
IS READY FOR
KINGS SIGNATURE

London, Dec. M-The Irish home rule
bill, as slightly modified by the House
of Lords, was adopted by the House OF
Commons today. The measure. now
now needs only the royal signature to
become a 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 as it finally en-
erged from parliament today ready for
the royal assent is not fundamentally
different from the measure the govern
ment first presented. Months of dis
cussion and efforts to amend in both
being added, which its adherents be-
lieve will make it more, acceptable to
the Irish people.
It's critics, however, still maintain
that it will not be accepted by South
Ireland. and in this connection it il
recalled that Arthur Griffith, the Sim
Fein leader. said some weeks after the
bill was introduced that, there probably
were not ten influential men in IRE
land who had ever taken the trouble
to read it. The bills critics argue that
the events of the past few months have
not served to change the. Sim Fein
attitude that thy WE'LL not set up the
government suggested by the imperial
parliament. ~.
The bill as presented did not-provide
an alternative if either Ulster or the
south of Ireland BOTH declined to ac-
cept it. but it has been amended to the
effect that if either does not accept it
within three and half years. the
measure automatically dies so far as
/. the section refusing to. accept it is
concerned. In the meantime, either
section declining to accept can be ruled
as 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 bill now provides that there shall
be set up by popular elections two par
liaments, one for Ulster and one for
the south. Each parliament shall de-
eide on the method of selecting senates.
The connecting link between them will
be the Irish council of 40, twenty for
each. section. Each senate will select
seven Of it's council members and each
parliament 10. h.
The original bill provided that the
president of the ouncil should be the
lord chancellor OF Ireland but as
amended he will be appointed by the
lord lieutenant on the advice Of the
crown, which means that the govern
ment in power can put anyone at the
head Of the Irish legislative body it
pleases. The idea expressed by. minis
tiers explaining the bill is that the
council will form a bridge upon which
in time the two parliaments can get
together and form one body for the en-
tire country.
The measure provides that when that
ance and other branches OF the gov
eminent will be turned over. The inn
perial government will keep a pretty
firm hand on the fundamentals OF the
Irish government during the life Of the
two parliaments but holds out many
attractions for a united parliament,
that its sponsors hope Will counterfeit
the prejudices that have always .ex.
listed between the north and south.
The change made in the powers Of the
parliament as set forth in the bill
when 1t was introduced are ineonse-
quential.