The Compensation for Disturbance Bill (Ireland - 1880), under pressure from John O'Connor Power, member for Mayo, was introduced by Ireland's Chief Secretary, W.E. Forster, on June 18, 1880 as a temporary measure to deal with a deteriorating situation in Ireland brought about by the Irish famine and Land League agitation.[1]
It empowered courts in certain cases to compensate a tenant upon eviction even if the eviction was for non-payment of rent, provided that the tenant could prove that inability to pay was a direct result of agricultural and economic depression.
The Bill was to apply to designated areas in the west and south of Ireland for a period of eighteen months only.
The Bill passed through the House of Commons of the United Kingdom but met with a devastating defeat (282 votes to 5) in the House of Lords.
Contemporary reports estimated that the House had rarely been so crowded as during the debate on this Bill which so deeply affected the landlord class. Joseph Chamberlain remarked 'The Bill is rejected; the civil war has begun'.[2]
Rejection of the Bill resulted in an escalation of activities by the Land League