The herald., 1894-03-14
A Great Sensation in the
British Commons.
LabOuchere Catches the Gov
ernment Mapping.
A Motion Adopted to Abolish the
House of Lords.
The Result of the Division Created
Great CommotIOn-The Cabinet
Cons doring the ProprIety
of Resigning.
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, March 13.-In the house of
commons today Henry Labouchere pro-
posed an amendment to the address in
reply to the queens speech, the aboli-
tion of the house of lords. After come
discussion and considerable excitement
the amendment was put to vote and
passed, 147 to 145, in spite of the oppo-
sition of the government. When the
figures were announced. they caused an
outburst of prolonged cheering, whic h
was renewed when the deputy speaker
read the address in reply to the queens
speech with the Labouchere amendment
attached to it,
The division on Labouchere's amend
ment occurred earlier than expected,
and many members were absent at
dinner. The majority is composed of
73 McOartbyites and Psrnellites, the
remainder being Radicals. When the
division paper was handed to Labou-
chers, tremendous cheer broke from
the Irish and Radical benches, and the
members standing below the gangway.
Tanner was excitedly cheering and
waving handkerchief, while the gov
ernment tellers looked pale, especially
Chief Whip Ellis. All the ministers
looked downcsst, while Balfour smiled
ironically.
manifesto iseued by the National
Reform union tonight, calls for deter
mined efforts to establish self-govern-
ment of the British people upon truly
democratic basis, and by the abolition
of the house OF lorde.
Previous to the vote on the house of
lords, after the chief secretary for Ire.
land, Rt. Hon. John Morley, replied to
the references of Balfour in the house
yesterday, John H. Redmond, Parnellite
leader, said he sympathized with Nor
ley's humiliating position in explaining
Lord Rosebery's utterances, and added
he must express dissatisfaction at the
recent declarations of the ministers.
Joseph Chamberlain followed Red
mond. He believed it impossible that
Rosebery accepted the leadership of the
party to betray it. When he closed,
Labouchere moved an amendment abol-
ishing the power enjoyed by persons
not elected TO parliament, to prevent
bills from being submitted to her
majesty, and he expressed the hope
that, if necessary, her majesty, with the
advice of the ministers, would use her
power to secure the passage of this
much needed reform. He suggested
that this object could early be achieved
by creating 500 new peers who would d
vote for the extinction OF the house oil
lords.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said he
could not understand the process by
which Mr.. Labouchere reckoned to
achieve his object.
Lsbouchere said he had list OF SOC
stalwarts who were pledged to vote for
the abolition of the house OF lords, il
they were sent. Loud laughter.
Harcourt said the method was inn
practicable. 1t must be left to the gov
ernment to find means to put an end to
the intolerRble situation.
A division on Labouchere'e amend
ment was then taken, and the cheering
which followed the announcement OF
| the result lasted fully minute. Some
members acted in a most frantic man
ner. The waving of hsndkerchiefs and
hats continued until the deputy speaker
left the chair for short interval.
The result of the division on La
| bouchere's amendment was a surprise.
not only to the government but to many
who mad voted in favor of the amend
ment. Several of the latter avowed this
evening their object in supporting the
amendment was merely to give q good
division against the house of lords.
They had no idea that there was pros
pect OF the amendment being carried.
The prospect of the resignation of the
cabinet was the general topic in the lob
bies of the house of commons this even
ting. Itis expected that the cabinet will
meet tomorrow to discuss the matter.