On Wednesday in the Commons the debate was on the
Exchequer Board proposed in the Home Rule Bill. In answer to Unionist criticisms the Attorney-General denied that the Board would determine questions of policy. It would consist of two representatives of the British Treasury, two Irish financial experts, and a, chairman appointed by the King. Upon points of law an appeal would lie to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. There would be no appeal on questions of fact. Mr. Balfour drew an entertaining con- trast between the Government's extreme care to shut out the House of Lords from all share in finance and their extreme readiness to hand over extensive powers of finance to "five gentlemen." He enlarged on the evil habit the Government had fallen into of not facing their difficulties because these all disappeared under the closure. The process was demoralizing not only to the Government but to the House of Commons.
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