8 APPENDIX II. 



3. I now proceed to state the reasons which induce me to doubt 

 whether the provisions in the measure before me are at all adequate 

 for grappling with the evils which have been so prominently brought 

 to light in the report of the Deccan Riots Commission. 



4. When that report arrived in this country in May 1876, Lord 

 Salisbury was so deeply impressed with the distressing picture 

 therein given of the agricultural population in the Deccau, that he 

 awaited with great anxiety some communication from the Government 

 of India as to the steps intended to be taken. But none such having 

 arrived after an interval of nearly a year-and-a-half, His Lordship 

 appointed a Select Committee of his Council to consider the report. 



5. The Committee began to sit in November 1877, held several 

 meetings and examined some experienced witnesses well acquainted 

 with the Bombay Presidency ; but before they had terminated their 

 inquiries, a despatch was received from Your Excellency in Council in 

 February of the present year enclosing the draft of a Bill for the 

 relief of Indebted Agriculturists in the Presidency of Bombay, and 

 which you desired to have introduced into the Council of the Supreme 

 Government. 



6. That Bill contained three main principles : 



(1) That the Courts should be obliged to enter into the merits 

 of every money claim whether secured by bond or not, 

 and should only award such sums, whether for principal 

 or interest, as they deemed just, and should in no case 

 give compound interest or a larger amount of interest 

 than the principal sum. 



That the principle of the Insolvent Act, as prevailing in 

 the Presidency town, should be applied to the Deccan 

 Agriculturists. 

 That land should not be sold in execution for debt, unless 



specially pledged in a bond duly registered. 



Lord Salisbury, although not fully satisfied with all the principles 

 contained in this measure, thought the occasion for attempting 

 remedial legislation to be so urgent that he sanctioned by telegram 

 the introduction of the Bill, being quite willing that the experimental 

 legislation contemplated in the Council of the Governor- General 

 should be attempted. I also am of the same opinion. 



7. Leave was accordingly given for the introduction of the Bill 

 into the Council of the Governor-General on the 28th June last, but, 



