ness was not an objection that hindered the
passage of the Act of Union, although to-day the same omission is
absurdly used as an argument in favour of the repeal of that measure. At
the same time, it is true that the requirements have immensely increased
in proportion as the resources of the country have been developed since
1800. The introduction of railways, telegraphs, telephones and electric
appliances, together with the grant of compulsory powers to
municipalities, has involved the promotion of numerous private Bills at
vast expense to Ireland. Mr. A. W. Samuels, K.C., who contributed a
paper on the subject to the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of
Ireland in November, 1899, quoted some instances of the cost of private
Bill legislation in Ireland:--

"The ratepayers of Dublin, of Rathmines, of Pembroke, of Clontarf,
and other suburbs of the city, long will feel the burden added to
their rates by the London litigation of the Session that has
passed. The Dublin Boundaries Extension Bill of 1899 has cost the
city, as I am informed on reliable authority, between L12,000 and
L13,000. There were twenty-four separate sets of opponents. The
cost to Rathmines of its opposition approaches, I am informed,
L8,000. To meet it about one shilling in the pound must be added
to the taxation of that township. The costs of Pembroke cannot be
far short of the same sum. If we add those of the oppositions of
Kilmainham, Drumcondra, Clontarf, and of the County of Dublin, and
of private persons and public bodies, the total expense to the
inhabitants and ratepayers of the city and its suburbs will not
fall short of L45,000.

"Mr. Pope, Q.C., stated before the Committee which considered the
Irish Railways Amalgamation Scheme of last Session, that the Bill
at hearing was costing L5 per minute. A high authority conversant
with the proceedings in this case has informed me that this was an
under-estimate rather than an over-estimate, having regard to the
fact that there were twenty-seven separate oppositions. The Bill
occupied twenty-seven working days of four hours each, and its
cost to the shareholders of the promoting Company were calculated
to amount to about L400 per day. What the loss was to the
shareholders of other Companies, and to the ratepayers represented
by public bodies, it would be impossible to sa