These are (1) that the law of the land originally
placed rates upon personal property as well as on realty; (2) that ever since 1840 an annual Act has been passed specially exempting from rates personalty and all forms of property except real property and tithes ; (3) that if that special and "class dole" to personalty were not passed each year, personalty must bear a share of the burden; and (4) that therefore an Act making agricultural land and tithes only pay half-rates is in effect only a partial addition to the system of exemption begun in 1840. As we said last week, the Government should have taken the Act of 1840 out of the Expiring Laws Continuance Act, and placed it and the Agricultural Land and Tithe Rates Acts in one continuance measure. Then the true nature of our rating system would have been apparent, and the ignorance or dishonesty of any rhetorical flourishes in regard to "doles" would have been apparent. Ultimately the second reading of the Bill was passed, but not before the Nationalist Members had produced "a scene." As a piece of Parliamentary play. acting it was not, however, very effective; and the House, and still more the country, saw the suspension of Mr. W. Redmond and Mr. P. O'Brien with perfect equanimity. The Closure was voted by a majority of 128 (258 to 130), and the second reading was then agreed to.
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