The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-25
BOUND TO DOWN The LORDS
All the Liberal Measures Pitfalls for
the Upper House.


Be Forced Before the Country With
an Unpopular Legislative Record at
Their Back The Registration Bill
One of the Features Of the Pro-
gramme-Gladstone May Return to
Public Life-Cashier May and the
Brokers.
Copyright. 1881, by the United Press.)
London March 24-The draft Of the
registration bill, which is about to be in
troduced in the House of Commons, con
firms the impression which has lately
obtained that it is the intention of the
government to bring about dissolution
of parliament next autumn. The bill is a
much briefer measure than was expected.
1t provides simply for half yearly reg
istration with a three months residence
qualification, and that all elections
shall take place on the same day instead
of spreading over several weeks, as has
hitherto been the custom. These two
provisions are all that are contained in
the bill. The one-man one vote principle,
upon which the opposition relied as pre-
text for demanding the redistribution of
the electoral areas, will form a separate
measure, in the introduction of which the
government will not be in any great
hurry. The decision to introduce this
measure as a distinct bill has
taken the opposition by surprise.
The liberals in effect aim at
the destruction of the system
of plural voting, which will be accom-
plished by the establishment of a system
of simultaneous elections. The unionists,
of course, will not take kindly to this de-
vice, which completely takes the wind
out of their sails but the op-
position to registration cannot help
themselves. A bill drafted in the simple
form indicated will meet no obstacles to
its speedy passage by the House of Com
mons, and 1t is difficult to see now 1t can
be rejected by the House of Lords.
AS a matter of fact, the lords,
inconsistent as they usually are, can find
no preteXt for the rejection of a measure
that effects the official status of nobody
but the members of the lower house,
who have themselves voted to abide by
the results of its operations. No other
leading measure viii be introduced until
the registration bill is out of the way.
PIrFALL FOR THE LORDS.
The programme of the government is
designed 10 put the House of Lords still
further on record as opposing needful leg
lslation, and il is difficult to see how it
can fail of its purpose. Before the min
lstry resigns and appeals to thecountry
the electors will be given several new il
lustratiOns Of the hostility of the House
of Lords TO popular legislation. The
evicted tenants bill will contain clauses
which will ensure its rejection by the
peers and the one-man-one-vote proposal,
which, as separate meas
ure, will be introduced after the
passage Of the registration bill, will also
be of a character calculated to secure for
it the conformation Of the lords. Then
the Welsh disestablishment bill and the
proposal to relegate Scottish measures to a
Scottish grand committee will follow, and
these two are relied on to awaken the en-
nifty of the upper house. The almost
certain rejection OF these measures will
have the effect to confirm the determina-
tiou of the people to shatter the legisla-
tive power of the House of Lords.
A CHALLENGE.
A decisive exposition of the attitude of
the majority Of the House of Commons
towards the House of Lords has been ar
ranged and this will be put forth very
much in the form of challenge through
the resolution which is soon to be intro
duced by James Henry Dalziel a Scot
tiSh liberal representing the Kirkcaldy
OISILlCb MI. lJdIL4Gl, w llO Is Il pronounced
home ruler and holds advanced views on
all political and social questions, will
unquestio bly, secure to his resolution a
strong Scotch support. The resolution
will be framed under the approval of the
government, so that though Mr.. Dalziel
may be its father, it will have the spon-
sorship of the ministry. The exact terms
of the motion have not yet been decided
upon, but it will define with precision
the intentions of the government towards
the House of Lords, and pretty clearly
outline the future status of that body as
the opponents OF that heredity
house think it should be. The
measure will be seriously discussed
by the cabinet before it is placed on the
notice papers Of the House preliminary
to its formal Introduction. 1t is expected
that the debate on the resolution will be
finished SO that division can be taken
on April II. In anticipation of the strug-
gle over the resolution all the parli-
mentaUy whips are mastering their forces.
A full attendance is assured and the event
will unoubtedly be the most momentous
of the session.
GLADsTONE's FUTURE.
Mr. Gladstones constituents do not ac-
cept the eX-premiers s letter to Mr.
Cowan, the chairman Of the Midlothian
liberals, as a farewell address, but merely
QouulJlOu OF LIle pO4lLlcdI SlLQdllOn, as
affected by his retirement from active
leadership. Everybody is now satisfied
that there is to be not only no departure
from the GladstOnian programme, but
that Mr.. Gladstone is still the
leader of the liberal party, though
Lord Rosehery is nomipally at its head
The operation which will necessarily
be performed upon Mr.. Gladstone's
eyes, will likely be delayed for three
months, and until that time the EXPIRE
mier will rest, though it is possible that
he may make his appearance in the House
in the meantime, should any important
occasion require 1t. The understanding is
that if the operation is successful, and
Mr.. Gladstone is assured that it will be,
he will soon return TO pubic life, and lead
the campaign as a candidate for re-elec- /
tion from Midlothian, and after months
OF perfect rest, what is more likely. bar
ring the trouble with his eyes and slightly
defective hearing, physically well and
strong. His return to active political
work would ensure him an ovation every
time he made his appearance onithe stump
and in the populus centers, and that, to-
gether with his eloquence. would make
such an effective appeal to popular senti-
ment thar he would carry the liberals
back to power with increased maiorities.
This is one of the possibilities that the
uni0nsts dread, and one Of the prObabili-