The discussion of the Home Rule Bill in Committee of
the House of Commons has proceeded during the week. Clauses 5 and 6 were passed on Monday, the latter without any discussion at all, and Clause 9 on Tuesday. The " Political Notes" in the Times gave interesting lists on Tuesday and Wednesday of some of the very important amendments to these clauses over which the " kangaroo " closure leapt. Amongst these we may particularly mention the proposal for adding the Referendum to the Irish Constitution. The fifth clause deals with the transfer of certain reserved services ; the sixth clause provides the machinery for summoning and dissolving the Irish Parlia- ment ; the ninth clause states the limitations subject to which the Lord Lieutenant may give or withhold the Royal Assent. During the discussion upon the last of these Sir Edward Carson summed up admirably the truth as to the "safe- guards" provided in the Bill. "It comes to this," he said, " when you have set up the Irish subordinate Parliament you will never be able to interfere. You do not intend to interfere, and yet you pretend to the people of this country that these are safeguards."
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