Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-12

Provincial Legislative Councils and
the Indian Legislature, these being
the only bodies for which the Act
provides popular elections. About
100000 persons are enfranchised by
the Act, or about is per cent. OF the
entire population.
The executive government in India
consists under the new law of Gov
ernor General appointed by the Sec
rotary of State for India in London,
an Executive Council of nine, three
members of which shall be Indians
heretofore only one member of six
was an INDIAN; a Council Of State.
comprising 60 members. elected and
appointed: and a Legislative Assem-
bly, of 140 members, of whom 100
shall be elected and the rest appoint
ed by the Governor General Of India.
The Governor General shall be pres
ident Of the Council of State and
has veto power over legislation
which comes from the Legislative
Assembly. The Legislative Assembly
can introduce legislation, subject to
the approval of the Governor Gem
eral in the Council of State. Final
action Of the budget rests with the
Governor General and the Council of
State. Both the Governor General
and the Council are given power
over tariff and revenues. Army and
navy affairs remain under the sole
control Of the Governor.
The provincial governments con-
sist of Governor appointed by the
Secretary Of State for India in Lon
don, an Executive Council of two
members, one of whom is an Indian
and the other European; and a
Legislative Council. 70 per cent. OF
whose members shall be elected and
80 per cent. appointed.
From the members of this Council
the Governor chooses ministers for
the various departments.
The Act does not confer upon the
Indians complete responsibility over
all governmental affairs but reserves
certain subjects to be administered
by the Governor In Council. The
subjects over which the Indians are
given Jurisdiction include: Educa-
ton, agriculture, except irrigation,
land revenue and water storage; in
dustries, except factories, mines, rail-
ways. shipping, navigation, customs,
currency and coinage. The eXcep-
tons are included under the re-
served subjects which will be admin
istered by the Governor in Council:
The new provincial governments
will be administered in nine major
provinces. After a period of ten
years trial, the Act provides for an
inquiry into it's, operations and at
that time it is planned to extend its
scope.
Commenting on the new India act. the
India information bureau. says that the
British parliament in passing this meas
ure rejected recommendations made by
the Indian National Congress and the
All-India Moslem League which repre-
sents the most influential political opin-
ion in India"
The recommendations of these bodies
were that India sould be declared an
equal partner in the British common
wealth and no more an imperial de-
tendency; that Indians should be al
lowed to manage all the Affairs in their
country except the army and navy. like
the self governing dominions. They de-
manded that the Indian legislative
councils should have fun control of the
nations finances.
When the India act was passed the
whole country was indignant over the
Amritsar massacre of April 1919: the
bureau says. and the Indian National