The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-01-02
IRISH RULE BILL
COMES UP AGAIN
PREMIER LLOYD GEORGE ADJ
DRESSES ENGLISH HOUSE OF
COMMONS ON SUBJECT
WILL PERMIT NO SECESSION
Will Combat It az America Did With
South.-Two ParIiaments Proposed
for ireland, One for North and
One for South Portion

London, Dec. "a. - Premier Lloyd
George addressed the house of COM
mons last evening on the Irish ques-
tion The premier last week an
nounced his purpose of presenting to
the commons on this occasion the de-
tails of the governments Irish home
rule bill. In opening his address yes
terday, Lloyd George remarked on the
extreme difficulty of his task, diff
cult indeed" he said, "after such a
discreditable outrage as has just been
perpetrated at Dublin" He was re-
ferring to the attempted assassination
of Viscount Lord French.
Ireland, said the premier, was the
only country in Europe except Russia
where the classes who elsewhere
were on the side of law and order were
out of sympathy with the machinery of
the government. While Ireland was
never more prosperous, the fact re-
mained he declared, that ireland was
never so alienated from British rule
as she is today.
Any attempt at secession, the pre-
mier announced, would be fought with
the same determination, force and
resolution as had been shown by the
northern states in America.
The premier said it was proposed to
establish self-government over the
whole of Ireland and to create two
parliaments, one in the north and one
in the south. Every opportunity would
be given Ireland to establish unity If
she desired it, and council would be
established at the outset, selected by
the two legislatures and form con-
Meeting link between the two parts of
the country.
The two legislatures to be created
in Ireland, the premier said, would be
clothed with full constituent powers
to create single Irish legislature to-
discharge all powers not specifically
reserved to the imperial parliament.
The premier said that the Irish CON
tribution to the imperial services
was estimated at 1S,000,000 pounds
A joint exchecquer board
would settle the rate of contribution
for the future and the question of tax
able capacity 1t was proposed to-
place 100000 pounds at the disposal
Of each of the two parliamentsi to
cover the initial expenditure
The representation of Ireland al
Westminster, Lloyd George announce
ed, would be reduced under the pro- y
posed measure to 40 members, as in
he act. of 1914.
Each of the two parliaments would
AVE taxation powers equivalent to-
hose of the state legislatures of the
United States. The income tax and
he excess profits aud super taxes
would be levied imperially The Irish
would control all local
matters and all machinery for the
of law and order except
he higher judiciary and the army and
avy.
The customs and excise services
7ould be retained by the imperial par
ament, the premier stated. but when
reland was united ii would be open
D the imperial parliament to con-
ider whether United Ireland would
ave control of the customs.
The premier said the bill would corr
ain clauses protecting the rights Of
Iinorities. The postal service would
OF be transferred, he added, until
lere was single parliament in Ire
nd.
The government proposed to give
le Irish government the advantage
all duties and taxes raised in ex-
,ss of a fair contribution TO the i'm
srial services and free gift in addi-
on to finance the development of the
ish parliament, the premier de-
AIRED.
1t would rest with the Irish people
m selves. said Lloyd George,
aether they desired union. The CON
MT of the British parliament would
It be required and in order TO offer
eater inducements to union, the
vernment proposed that certain adj
Lional taxing powers should be en-
Isted to the Irish parliament when
E union was accomplished
All these proposals, added the pre-
er, would be embodied In the bin
the consideration of the parlia-
mt and he appealed to all TO give
, measure fair consideration. The
,sent, he said, was not the time for