Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-20
British Revolt Against the Upper
o.. House of Parliament.
MOVE TO ABOLISH THE Veto POWER
The Liberal Party Called on to
Act.
GENERAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS

LEEDS, England, June 20-Two thousand
delegates were present today in Albert Hall
when Mr.. Spence Watson called the anti
lords conference to order. The conference
was organized by the national liberal fed
Grafton and committee of that body sub
mitted the following resolutions:
LIST That the power now exercised by
the house of lords to mutilate and reject
measures passed by the representatives
of the people in the house Of commons has
been systematically used to defeat reforms,
is Inconsistent with the right of free pop
ular self government, and should cease to
exist.
ID That this meeting call upon the gov
eminent to introduce a measure for the
abolition of the lords veto power by pro-
viding that whenever a bill passed by the
commons shall be altered or rejected by
the lords, the same bill may be reaffirmed
by the commons, with without such al
teration, be subject only to the royal as
sent, and thereupon become a law.
Sd. That this meeting assures the gov
eminent of the resolute support of the
party in any steps that may be deemed
necessary to enforce the passage of this
great constitutional reform.
Contrary to expectations, there were few
important delegates present the most prom
inent persons on the platform being Chair
man Watson, Mr.. James Henry DalzIel,
member OF parliament for the Kirkcaldy
district OF Scotland; Sir Wilfred Lawson,
president of the United Kingdom Alliance
for the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic
and member Of the Cockermouth division
of Cumberland; Mr.. Michael Davitt and Mr.
Henry Labouchere, the radical leader and
member for Northampton.
During the course of his address at the
opening of the conference Mr. Watson said
that the present position of affairs was I'M
bearable. loud cheers)
Continuing the chairman said that the
time FOR action upon the part OF the liberal
party had come. There must be a definite
policy, because the government itself was
endangered. When once the policy of the
party toward the house of lords was formu-
lated. there could be neither wavering nor
compromise. The battle must be fought
out to the end and the end must be victory.
Mr. watson then moved the first reso-
lution that the power now exercised by
the house of lords to mutilate and reject
measures passed by the representatives Of
the people in the house Of commons has
been Systematically used to defeat reform,
Is inconsistent with the rights of free popu-
lar self government and should cease to
exist.
Secretary Hartford of the Society of Rail-
way Servants. in seconding the resolution
condemned the house of lords for its at
t!tude in regard to labor questions
After other speeches had been made upon
the same subject, Delegate Barnard COM
planned that the racing and gambling pro-
ed in the resolution. Uaughter.)
The resolution was then adopted as pro-
posed.
The second resolution, that the meeting
call upon the government to introduce a
measure for the abolition of the lords veto
power. by providing that whenever bill
passed by the commons shall be altered or
rejected by the lords. the same bill may
| be reaffirmed by the commons, with or
| without such alterations, be subject only to
the royal assent. and thereupon become
| law, was then moved.
Mr.. Henry Labouchere moved a substi-
tute for this resolution declaring that
| the lords, being useless and dangerous.
ought to be abolished and calling upon the
| government to Introduce a measure for
| the abolition of the house of lords.
Mr.. Labouchere met with an enthusip site
! reception and during the speech which he
| made upon the subject of his substitute
| he DECLARED that self government was a
| farce so long as hereditary legislators ex-
\ listed.