The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01
APLACE FOR THE LORDS.
4 PROPOSITION 10 ALLOW PEERS
TO ENTER THE LOwEH HOUSE.
II 10 Tory Measure but tho Radicals Sec
in It Chance to Deplets the House
of Lord--Eff-ct OF the Bill.
Copyright. 1891. by the United Press)

copyright. 1891. by the United Press.)
LONDON, March 31.-The suggestion of
the destruction of the House of Lords
as a hereditary legislative body is rap
idly gaining strength. and is In a much
more vigorous condition that its most
ardent supporters have had reason TO
expect. William Broderick member of
Parliament for Surrey; George Nathaniel
Cursor, member Of Parliament for South
west Lancashire, and Viscount Miner,
member OF Parliament for West r.dn-
burgh, all heirs TO peerages. are living
in daily dread OF their elevation to the up
per house. and. to mitigate their fate, they
have prepared n bill, notice Of the intro
duction of which they have given, to
change the present order Of things. which
removes member from the House of
Commons upon his succession to the
peerage.
The bill prepared by these gentlemen
provides that any person elevated 10 the
peerage shall have the option of remain
ing in the House Of Commons. IL he be
a member Of that body at the time of his
succession 10 the House OF Lords, or or
Offering himself as a candidate for cleo
ton TO the House OF Commons in prefer
a.
Won I'D. pc, the Cpps Gu e.
The announcement of the provisions or
the proposed bill. and the publication or
the appeal signed by the trainers of the
bill have excited widespread comment.
The Radicals admit that II the bill was
TO become a law 1t would deplete the
.ouse Of Lords of all of the ablest men
In that house and leave it without
shred Of political vitality. but they also
contend that the lords would still be
able when their hereditary privileges
should be assailed 10 offer as much re-
sistance 10 the House of Commons AS
they are enabled under the present con-
diton OF things.
The Conservatives also recognize the
fact that the measure would haze
direct tendency 10 deprive the upper
house OF such men as Lord Salisbury
the Duke of Devonshire. Earl Rosebery
the Earl of Kimberly. the Duke Of Ar
gyll. Earl Spencer. and other peers of
conspicuous ability. and such deprivation
would inevitably lead TO the extinction OF
the House of Lords as a legislative body.
They are mindful, too. Of the indisputabe
fact that whatever authority, legislative
ability, and craftsmanship still appertain
to the House Of Lords is due to the pres
received their training in the House OF
Commons, and many Of them admit that
If a peer were permitted 10 go before
the country as a candidate for seat in
the House of Commons, the very next
election after the passage Of the bill
would find every one of the recognized
leaders of the House OF Lords seeking
the endorsement of the voting Glasses for
seat In the representative body.
wiz A iiate she rr posi- ion.
The bill will have a very small chance
of being discussed in the House of
Commons during the present session. but
they will do IL no HARM Now that its
purport has been made public. it will
infallibly receive sufficient attention in
the columns of the newspapers and on
the platforms at public meetings TO
prevent its becoming a dead issue before
the House of Commons can reach IL.
The measure obtained place very near
the bottom Of the calendar. and is far in
the rear of a mass of public and private
bills that must be disposed of before IL
can be taken up. The possibility IS sug-
gested. however. that before Mr. Bro
derrick becomes Lord Middleton. Mr. Cur
son succeeds to the title Of yiscount
Scarsdale, and Viscount Wolmer becomes
Lord Selberone. their proposal may be-
come embodied in a drastic law abolish
Ing the veto power of the House of
Lords. The Radicals will raise no objec-
ton TO the peers sitting In the House
of Commons. If the law that permits
them 10 sit as commoners also destroys
the principle Of hereditary legislation.
Both Broderick and Cursor are excep-
tionally able men. and each aspires 10
the occupation OF a high office under the
next Conservative Government Cursor
even entertains the ambition to become
the Conservative leader in the House Of
Commons.