[26] It was named by Mr. Sexton the "Put 'em in the dock Bill," and that phrase practically killed it. [27] See the Local Government Board Reports _passim_:-- "Before concluding our reference to the Local Government Act we may be permitted to observe that the predictions of those who affirmed that the new local bodies entrusted with the administration of a complex system of County Government would inevitably break down have certainly not been verified. On the contrary, the County and District Councils have, with few exceptions, properly discharged the statutory duties devolving upon them. Instances have, no doubt, occurred in which these bodies have, owing to inexperience and to an inadequate staff, found themselves in difficulties and have had to receive some special assistance from us in regulating their affairs; but this has been of rare occurrence." (Annual Report of the Irish Local Government Board for year ending March, 1900.) "In no other matter have the Councils been more successful than in their financial administration. After the heavy preliminary expenses necessarily attending the introduction of a new system of local government had been provided for, and the Councils and their officers had succeeded in obtaining a satisfactory basis on which to make their estimates of future expenditure, they found it possible to effect considerable reductions in their rates, and there seems to be every reason to anticipate that, with extended experience, there will be a still further general reduction of county rates." (Annual Report of the Irish Local Government Board for year ending March, 1902.) Our impression as travellers was that the Irish County Councils do not yet spend enough money on their roads. THE HOME RULE CASE THE CASE THAT HAS CHANGED--(CONTINUED) i.--THE CONGESTED DISTRICTS ii.--THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE iii.--OLD-AGE PENSIONS iv.--THE UNIVERSITIES "Although while I live I shall oppose separation, yet it is my opinion that continuing the Legislative Union must endanger the connection." O'CONNELL (1834). CHAPTER III. THE HOME RULE CASE But Land Purchase and County Councils are only part of the great change that has come over Ireland since 1893. There are other great transformations. There is the redemption of the congested districts. There is the revival of agriculture. There is the Old Age Pensions Act. Finally, there is the reform of the Universities. THE CONGESTED DISTRICTS BOARD Take, first, the daring policy of social renovation by which the forlorn peasantry of the West are being saved from the grey wilderness into which they had been thrust by the landlordism of 1830 to 1880.