The San Francisco call., 1907-02-10
MAY CURB POWER
Of THE LORDS
Dissolution Of Parliament
Likely to Follow Struggle
Between the Two Houses
ATTITUDE OF KING

LCNDON. Feb 9.-The reassembling
Of Parliament February u arouses in
tense interest here, as the Government
intends TO inaugurate Immediately
measures 10 check the powers OF the
House OF LORDS. making it subordinate
10 the win Of the people a represented
h. the House of Commons. This is
nothing less than a revolution in the
political constitutional methods and
1oreshadows a bitter contest between
rho two houses, with the Government
already prepared for a dissolution and
an appeal TO the country on the neces-
sity Of curbing TIE power representing
Tho aristocracy in the interest OF the
democracy. Recent councils OF the Min
listers have determined the main lines
Of the Governments action, which is
expected to begin with the introduc-
tion OF q resolution laying down the
House Of Commons in2lienable rights.
This viii be merely preliminary TO a
series of measures by which Premier
Campbell -Bannernsan proposes TO frame
2 clear Issue against the Lords, and
then appeal 10 the people upon il. The
Governments determination to make
tho Fight now IS due to the defeat OF
the education bill by the upper house
and tho prospective defeat OF all other
features = of = the existing ministerial
programme. II IS seldom that q prin
ciple from the throne has been await
ed with SO much interest, as it is said
that the ministry has induced the
crown TO make an allusion TO the dead
lock between the Lords and Commons.
Whether King Edward is ready to
take such ST signifcant action is open to
doubt. Formerly a forecast OF the
speech from the throne was given out
before the opening OF the session OF
Parliament, but the King row insists
on strict secrecy, so nothing definite
viii be known until the speech actually
is delivered.
STRUGGLE BETWEEN HOUSES
Public attention is entirely directed
To the struggle between the lords and
commons, and IL is probable that any
reference the King NAV make on the
subject OF the House OF Lords will be
coCcbed N modern incontroversiai Ian
guage, because the speech is addressed
10 both houses.
The proposed Government resolution
challenging the power OF the House of
Lords can have little effect in itself.
bat the passage OF such a resolution Is
designed TO give the keynote OF the
ministerial plans. These viii consist
chiefly of sending the lords a number
Of popular measures, including
drastic land bill affecting the estates
OF peers and other aristocrats. These
measures are sure 20 be rejected by
the House of Lords, thus giving the
Government the opportunity to appeal
20 the country. Members Of the min
istry predict several dissolutions before
Q reform of the House Of Lords can
become effective.
IRISH QUESTION AHEAD
The Irish question also is likely 10
occupy the attention of the session,
as the Government is about ready 70
submit the proposed reform measure.
Although its terms are withheld, 1t IS
believed that II will follow the lines
Of the revolution bill, giving Ireland
q certain amount of authority to frame
measures relating to her own interests,
subject TO the supervision Of the i'm
perial authorities. However, Timothy
N. Healy and other Irish leaders do
not expect immediate results, owing to
the opposition of the House of Lords
and other obstacles. Besides the i'm
portance of the issues, the presence of
he King, Queen and Princes in the
gorgeous court ceremony will lend un-
usual spectacular interest to the OPEN
ing Of Parliament.
Elaborate preparations are being
made for the street pageant and the
ceremony in the House of Peers, where
King Edward, robed in crimson velvet
edged with ermine and surrounded by
a brilliant thrOng, will read the speech
from the throne.