The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-02-16
SHACKIE THE LORDS
BRITISH CABINET PLANS REVOLU.
TIONARY STEPS.
Challenge Will eMade by Com.
mons and Radical Bills Passed.
When Lords Reject Them,
Parliament Will Dissolve and
Appeal to Nation.

London, Feb. 1.-THE reassem bling
of parliament tomorrow arouses inter-
est here, as the government intends to
inaugurate Immediately measures to
check the powers of the house of lords,
making it subordinate to the will of
the people as represented by the house
of commons. This is nothing less
than revolutionary in political consti-
tutional methods, and foreshadows q
bitter contest between the two houses,
with the government already prepared
for dissolution and an appeal to the
country upon the necessity of curling
the power representing aristocracy in
the interest of democracy.
Recent councils of ministers have
determined the main line of the gov
eminent action, which is expected to
begin with the introduction of a reso-
luton laying down the house Of COM
mons inalienable rights. This will
be merely preliminary to series Of
measures by which Premier Campbell
Bannerman proponses to form q clear
issue against the lords and then appeal
to the peop.e upon it.
Due to Lords Obstruction
The government determination to
make fight now is due to defeat Of
the education bill by the upper houee
and the prospective defeat Of all other
features of the existing ministerial
program.
It is seldom that speech from the
throne has been awaited with so much
interest, as it is said that the ministry
has induced the crown to make an al
fusion to the deadlock between the
lords and commons. Whether King
Edward is ready to take such signifi-
cant action is open to doubt. Former
~ q forecast of the speech> from the
throne was given out before the OPEN
ing of the session of parliament, but
the king now insists on strict secrecy,
so nothing definite will be known until
the speech is actually delivered. Pub
lie attention is entirely directed to the
struggle between the lords and COM
mons, and it is probable that any ref
erence the king may make to the sub
ject will be confined to moderate un-
controversial language, because the
speech is addressed to both houses.
Many Radical Measures.
The proposed government resolution
challenging the powers of the house of
lords can have little effect in itself,
as the lords power remains, but the
passage Of such a resolution is de-
signed to give the keynote of minis
terial plans. These will consist chiefly
of sending the lords number of pop
ular measures, including drastic land
bill affecting the estates of peers and
other aristocrats. These measures are
sure to be rejected by the house Of
lords, thus giving the governments an
opportunity to appeal to the country.
The members of the ministry predict
several dissolutions before the reform
of the house of lords can become
effective.
More Liberty For Ireland
The Irish question also is likely to
occupy the attention of the session, as
the government is about ready to sub
NIT the proposed reform measure. Al
though it's terms are withheld, it is be-
lieved that it will follow the lines Of
the revolution bill, giving Ireland a
certain amount of authority to frame
measures relating to her own inteA ests,
subject to the supervision of the impe-
rial authorities. However, Timothy
Healy and other Irish leaders do not
epxect immediate results, owing to
the opposition of the house Of lords
and other obstacles.