Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-15
COMMONWEALTH BILL.
Introduced in British Parliament Yes
crdnN-R Is emlIies Our Constitution

A dispatch from London yesterday says:
The secretary of state for the colonies. Mr.
Joseph Chamberlain, today introduced the
Australian commonwealth bill. which he
described as a great and important step to-
ward the organization of the British en-
pire.
Continuing, Mr.. Chambe rlain said it would
make Australia an indissoluble federal
commonwealth. united for the most impor-
tant functions of government, with inter
colonial free trade. a common tariff for all
the colony and common control of the ma
tional defense. Such a contamination the
secretary declared, was as much to Great
Britain's interest as to Australia's as what
was good for Australia was clearly good
FOR the whole empire The empire rejoiced
at TINS great. free, progressive movement,
which was monument to legislative com
potency and worthy of all the great labor
that had been expended on it.
After explaining the difference between
the Australian proposals and the Canadian
constitution. Mr.. Chamberlain pointed out
mat as foreign countries were concerned
in the new constitution it was important
that measures which might involve the i'm
perial government in the most serious re-
SponSlti!liieS should he interpreted by a
tribunal in which all the parties had full
confidence The government could not con-
sent to clause a, relating to the appeal
court because it meant the abolition of the
Imperial veto. would he prejudicial to the
unity Of the empire and might lead TO a
conflict of authority between the proposed
new high court and the privy council.
here was by no means he pointed ont
unan'mity on the subject in Australia, and
the government would ask the house to so
far amend the bill as to retain the power
OF the court of appeal.
The government. he added, proposed to
introduce in The house of lords forthwith
scheme to appoint for seven years a rep
reSentatlve each of Canada. South Africa
Australia and India. to be members of the
Irivy council. and who would act as lords
OF appeal Life peerages would be con-
ferred on them. that they would con-
tlnue to sit in the house of lords although
they would not act as judges after their
term of service had expired They would
hc pad the same as lords of appeal and at
the cost of the imperial government.
DURING the course of his speech Mr.
Chamberlain said the new constitution. al
though in important respects unlike any
now existing. more closely resemhled the
Constitution of the United States than any
other. State rights throughout were ieal-
o.lsIy preserved In Australia the senate
would pf elected by the same electorate as
tie legislature, and the members of both
bodies would receive the same salary
The liberal leader in the house Sir Henry
Campbcll-Bannerman. said he thought IL
unfortunate that the government had not
acceded TO proposals which had received
Inc tn% nlmous approval of Australia and.
ne ad1ec. the opposition wo':ld refuse to
support the government proposals IN ref
erence to the court of appeal.
All the Australian delegates and numer-
Gus colonial agents and peers who had for
merly been governors of various colonies
Were present in the house of commons dur
ing the debate.
After Sir Charles Dixie and others had
spoken the bill passed its first reading
The second reading was fixed for May 81.