Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-14
THEY DIVIDE AGAIN
Another Vote Taken in the
House of Commons.
LABOUCHERE'S AMENDMENT DISAVOWED
Statement by Sir William Vernon
Harcourt.
HAUNTED BY THE TORIES

LONDON, March 14.-When the house
of commons met today Sir William Yer
non Harcourt, chancellor of the eXcheq-
uer. announced that the government
had decided to move the rejection
of the amended address in reply 10 the
queens speech when it is put from the
chair and to substitute another short ad-
dress in reply.
Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, the conserva-
tive leader in the house and the Right Hon.
Joseph Chamberlain, the unionst leader, as
sured the government of their support in
this matter, but Mr. Chamberlain ADDED
that yesterdays proceedings showed it was
time that the government asked their con-
sttuencies for fresh mandate.
Mr.. Henry Labouchere, the radical leader,
said that the amendment to abolish the
veto power of the house of lords, which Was
passed yesterday, was not intended as a
vote of want of confidence in the govern
ment, but 1t was intended to quicken their
action in the execution of what the major
ity of its supporters in the country demand
ed. Mr.. Labouchere added that the radicals
were satisfied that the majority Of yester-
day evening was the best they Were likely
to get and therefore they would not oppose
a substitute for the address
The house was densely crowded when Sir
William Vernon Harcourt announced that
lection OF the amended address. During the
course of his remarks. the chancellor Of the
exchequer said that it was a proceeding for
which the government made themselves
responsible
They could not formally present the SOW
erejgE with a document for which they
were not prepared to accept the entire re-
spor sibility. The avcwed object of the
amendment Incorporated into the address
was TO raise definite form of action to be
taken by the house of commons in resisting
the action of the house of lords. The gov
eminent fully accepted the declarations
made on the subject by Mr.. Gladstone in
the house of commons. loud cheerS.)
Continuing. Sir William said that Mr..
Labouchere had stated that the amendment
might be taken a motion for the aboli-
ton of the house of lords a motion
limiting the veto power. But responsible
MINISTER'S, if they tendered advice to the
sovereign upon such a question, must ten
der am biguouS advice. They must make up
their own minds. He had consulted author
ity, and as the address did not express
deliberate amendment of the house the gov
eminent proposed to move the rejection of
the amended address when IL was put from
the chair and to substitute another short
address.
Sir William added that he had stated yes
terday that the government proposed to
oppose Mr.. BaIfour's doctrine that the
house of commons was to be subject to the
control Of the house Of lords. (Renewed
cheering)
me government was not prepared to fol-
low Mr.. Labouchere's advice and create
800 new peers. In order to make the gov
eminent directly responsible be- Sir VIII
lam. would himself move a new address SO
soon as the amendempts were disposed of
and the present address negatived. Cheers
and laughter.)
Mr.. Balfour denied that he had ever said
that the house of lords should control the
house of commons, and called attention TO
the fact that ninety unionists yesterday
evening supported the government against
thirty Gladstonians. who voted in opposi-
ton to the government.
Mr.. IabOuchere, who followed. WAS re-
ceived with ironical cheers and laughter
throughout the course of his remarks.
He said. in part: You may withdraw
this address and bring in another; but the
first one remains the decision Of the house
We are the representatives of the people
and the government are our representa-
tves. i do not recognize that the govern
n ents are my masters. / always regarded
them as the servants Of the majority of
the house. Whether you take the majority
OF the members on this side of the house
or the views of the majority OF liberals
outside the house, they are with me in this
matter and demand prompt, speedy and
drastic action. tRadical cheersD Outside
the house they do not care whether you
abolish or destroy the house of lords"
The McCarthyite section of the Irish
parliamentary party resumed its stormy
discussions this afternoon in committee
room No. Is, making the third DAYS ses-
sion of this party.
The chief subject OF debate today was the
appointment of a committee of eight, the
latter to act as the advisers of Mr.. Justin
Mccarthy. the chairman Of the Irish par
hamentary party.
The Dillonites and Healeyites are pretty
evenly divided. So far, however, Mr. Dill
Ion seems to be slightly in the lead.
LabOuchere's Amendment Defeated
Finally. the house of commons rejected
the amended address in reply TO the queens
speech and passed the address substituted
by Sir William Harcourt