Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-09
DESPAIR
Of IRISH MEASURE
Declare Two New Clauses
Added to Home Rule
Bill Kill It.

LONDON, November s (by the AS
ISOLATED Press).-The Irish home
rule bill passed through nearly the
final stage in the house of commons
tonight, with two new clauses added
by the government, whichs in the
opinion of Irish and liberal poll
ticians, rendered the measure prac-
tically dead.
These clauses which provide for
second chambers and the dissolution
of the parliaments, should they not
be properly constituted, were car
| ried. after being severely criticised
! by former Premier Asquith and others
as tending to reduce Ireland to the
condition of a backward crown COL
, ony. by ample majorities in a small
house, exhibiting the slight interest
now shown in the bill.
Must Pass House of Lords.
The measure has to run the gauntlet
of the house of lords, where, accord
/ ing to rumors current in the coaIi-
tion newspapers, an attempt will be
| made to cut the six Ulster counties
| completely out of the bill, leaving
| them to be administered, as at pres
! ent, from Westminster.
! The. first new clause provides that
| both Irish parliamentS shall establish
second chambers for the protection
of minorities; the second provides
| that in the event that less than half
the members of either parliament
take the oath of allegiance within
fourteen days the king may dis
! solve the parliament and place the
government in the hands of a COM
mittee appointed by the lord lieu
tenant.
The latter clause replaces the pro-
posal, of the government that candi-
dates for parliament must take the
oath of allegiance on nomination.
The home rule bill came before
| the committee of the whole house.
The clause providing for the creation
of second chambers was adopted by
ITS to 81. It leaves to the Irish par
liaments the duty Of framing the
necessary scheme.
The government had originally pro-
posed itself to draft the scheme, and
was today subject to much hostile
criticism for evading the task. The
governments critics declared that
the Irish parliaments would not sue
coed in drafting successful scheme.
Insuperable Dimculties.
Andrew Bonar Law. the govern
ment leader in the house, and Sir
Laming Worthfngton- Evans, minister
of pensions. replying to the criticism,
explained that there were insuperable
difficulties in the way of the English
parliament attempting the task. In
the course of the debate Sir Edward
Carson, the Ulster unionist leader,
argued that it would have been quite
for the southern parliament and, by
a question. ELECTED from Worthing-
ton-Evans that, even il second cham
bers were not established. the Irish
parIiamcnts would continue to func-
ton.
adopted placing upon the southern
parliament the responsibility for pro-
viding funds for Irish universities.
The governments early. proposal
that all candidates for election to
the Irish parliaments must take the
oath of allegiance before being NOM
mated, which has provoked more
severe criticism from Irishmen and
the liberals than any other provision
of the bill. has been quietly dropped.
and today Neutrality-suspicious. on be-
half of the government moved the
new clause to replace 1t and pro-
lament not being properly consti-
tuted.
Gives Right to King.
The new clause provides that if the
number Of members validity elected
to either parliament at the first cleo
ton is less than half the total men,
bership. or if the number who have
taken the oath of allegiance within
fourteen days from the date parlia-
ment is summoned is less than half.
the king may by an order in council
dissolve such parliament and place
the functions of the government in
the hands of committee nominated
by the lord lieutenant pending the
summoning Of new parliament.
Lord Hugh Cecil criticised the clause
as the greatest legislative absurdity
ever suggested. Mr.. Asquith said the
clause forcibly illustrated the farci-
cal character of the southern parlia-
ment The contingency contemplated,
he asserted, was certain to arise in
southern Ireland, which then would
be reduced to the condition of the
most backward of the crown colonies.
This clause was carried by 1877 to II.