Foreseeing this evil did not help to combat it, and on the whole it was Redmond's inclination to take a sanguine view of his country's good sense and generosity.
The Committee stage of discussion lasted beyond the end of the year.

On the finance arrangements Redmond had to face fierce opposition from Mr.
O'Brien's party, which was endorsed by the Irish Council of County Councils.

Here difficulties were inevitable, and attack was easy either for the Unionists, who pressed the argument that Ireland was to be started on its career of self-government with a subsidy of some two millions per annum from Great Britain, or for the O'Brienites, who urged that the country was already overtaxed in proportion to its resources, that it needed large expenditure for development, and that the possible budget indicated by the Bill left no serious possibility for reducing taxes or for undertaking even necessary expenditure.

Redmond, on the other hand, was bound to conciliate the vested interests of civil servants, officials in all degrees, and the immense police force.
Retrenchment on the vast area of unproductive expenditure which Castle government had created could only be hoped for at a very distant date.
He could not therefore promise substantial economy; nor could he argue for a further increase of subsidy without playing into the Tories' hands.

On all this detail of the measure, the attack in debate was bound to be very powerful.
So far as Great Britain was concerned, the reply of Home Rulers was tolerably effective.