The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-09-26
THE KING INTERPRETERS
British Ruler Insists New Cabinet
Must Be Efficient.
MINISTER'S GREATLY SURPRISED
his Majesty is Exercising His Veto
Powers TO Such an Extent as to Be
Regarded More OF a Cabinet Maker
Than RaIfoup

| powers 10 Such an Extent as 10 81
Regarded More OF a Cabinet Make
Than 5aifour.
London. Sept. 24.-The political cri
as has taken on a phase which lend'
10 the present situation an historica
and constitutional Importance Of al
most unprecedented interest. The king
has interfered, not uncOnstitutional!y
or beyond the powers vested in he
crown, but in the exercise OF his pre-
negatives. TO an extent never dreamed
OF in the Victorian era.
Premier Balfour's continued pres
ence at Balmorsi has given rise 10
much surmise and comment. but II is
due 10 the kings determination not TO
assent 10 the formation OF a new cabi-
net until thoroughly satisfied that its
personnel and combination is such as
to insure the efficient carrying on OF
the affairs of the empire pending the
resumption OF parliament For years
previous. cabinets were formed or min
isterial vacancies filled with the mere
formal presentation to the sovereign
OF the names of the new ministers.
King Edward has done away with this
tradition. He has spent the last few
days in constant discussion with Mr..
Balfour as to the advisability from the
point of view of the national welfare
Of the latter's appointments. Ministers
now holding Office and those nominated
for Office have been summoned TO Bal
moral to join in these conferences, and
all have been subjected to a degree OF
Interrogation such as has surprised
even those who knew King Edward in
timately as Prince OF Wales.
To such an extent is King Edward
holding his power OF veto in reserve
that now he is almost regarded by the
inner circles as more the cabinet maker
than MIR. Balfour himself Though
with his usual tact the king has re-
Trained from expressing any political
views or infringing on any rights be-
longing 10 the ministers. this has not
prevented him from expressing his de-
sires, amounting almost to command.
that steps be taken to remedy the
scandals in the army administration
revealed by the report of the South At
rican war commission, and insisting
that the new cabinet shall be one
adapted to deal with that question.
After the long conversations he has
had during the last few days at Balmo-
raj the king is said to have expressed
the opinion that Lord Lansdowne's
record as war secretary was due more
to the badness of the system then in
vogue than to any defect in Lord Lans-
downe's own judgment. King Edward
has not shared the keen public indig-
nation against Lord Lansdowne aroused
by the report Of the South African war
commission, and after minute exam
nation Of the circumstances. he is un-
ierstood TO have consented to his lord
ship continuing. as foreign minister.
This decision has not prevented his
majesty from frankly telling the minis
ers that he wanted something done to
improve the military muddle, and that
he hoped some man would be appointed |
Who, with the commissions report as
/ basis. would be capable of changing
he system which rendered ineficiency |
Unavoidable.
Dealing with the surmise upon some
" the foregoing points, the Morning
advertiser said: "The king has in this
emergency resolved to play
he part of ruler instead of being
ontent with that of figurehead."
In the meantime. every detail of the
regulations for filling up the vacan-
les in the cabinet are submitted to
he king. who for the time being has
transformed Balmoral into the political
entire of the empire from which. owing
o the unusual influences at work, sew
raj surprises may emanate. Whatever
he results may be, they can safely be
attributed to large extent to the
'ing's interest in the crisis.