The Committee stage of the Government of Ireland Bill began
in the House of Commons on Monday. Mr. Asquith moved to -omit the word " Southern "in the first clause, raising the question whether Ireland should have two Legislatures or one, and advocating anew the proposal to let the separate Ulster counties vote for or against submission to a Dublin Parliament. Mr. Boner Law and Sir Edward Carson restated the arguments -against Mr. Asquith's scheme, and the amendment was rejected by 259 votes to 65. Major Hills proposed to call the two Legis- latures " Councils " and not "Parliaments," and to describe the common Council as a Parliament, but he found little support. Colonel Guinness, in the interests of the Southern Unionists, propoeed that in place of the Council there should be an Irish ,Senate acting as a Second Chamber for both the Northern and southern Parliaments. Sir Edward Carson ridiculed the idea that such an artificial body would bring about unity between loyal Ulstermen and disloyal Slim Feiners. Mr. Fisher, for the Government, expressed the belief that a common Senate would delay instead of promoting unity. The amendment was rejected by 209 votes to 59. We comment on the debate elsewhere.
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