The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-03

London, March 2-Interest IN the fight
against the House Of Lords continues
to increase. and It is the one aIl-absorb-
ing topic Of interest IN England to-day.
Tie British constitution seems daily more
and more likely 10 be seriously amended.
Conservative as the Britisher is. attached
to his ancient institutions as he is, he is
getting tired Of the House Of Lords.
On the trades-disputes bill, however,
which rendered trades unions funds I'm
mune from liability FOR Illegal acts OF an
official member. the Lords stood out Of
the way. Lord Lansdowne decided mat
the bill was disastrous, calamitous, IN
just, and tyrsnnical:" K should be let
through, because, If rejected. he believed
the Lords would find in the country "de-
mand for a similar bill renewed with
greater Intensity, and in q form ernbit-
tered by the suggestion that the House of
Lords was in conflict with the general
desire Of the workingmen Of the coun-
try" In other words. Lord Lansdovne
saw the red light Of trade union and
feared TO stimulate the growing power Of
the labor party.
Lords Forms Motley Crew.
The Lords now number 9 princes, Q
arcibishops, = dukes, 3 marquises, I47
earls, 40 viscounts, a bishops, 81 barons,
10 Scotch representative peers. 3 irish
representative peers. and 4 legal life peers.
Some Of these are minors, some chronic
invalids, some completely impecunious.
others too Indifferent 10 vote. and AT
least one has been declared BY legal ALI
thority TO be partially of unsound mind.
The Liberal ministry has big schemes on
hand, and has promised TO deliver
promptly a measure dealing with the bet
ter administration Of Irish affairs an
Irish university. the reform Of the liquor
laws. the reform Of the army, and the
better housing Of the rural poor. Every
one OF these hits at the interests OF the
Lords. and out Of the SO peers only q can
be counted In any way Liberal.
People VIII Prevail.
To meet this difficulty Sir Henry Camp
bell-Bannerman has declared that "the
resources Of the constitution are not ex-
hausted a way must and will be found
to make the viii Of the people prevail"
There are at least three ways Of over
coming the Lords resistance: first. by
creating a sufficiently large number of
new peers TO insure the passage Of re-
forms; second. by calling a limited num-
Der OF peers 70 Parliament for the tenure
Of the Office Of the party in the Commons
so as TO insure that party a majority in
both chambers; third, through a resolu-
ton limiting the power Of the Lords veto
TO six months.
Thus, if the Commons, after that lapse
Of time, renewed the demand for the pas
sage Of any measure by a substantial ma
jority, the Lords must get out OF the way.
ireland Is Expectant.
Dublin, March 2-'Ireland is in a state
of comparative peace. comparative crime
! Iessness. but undoubtedly is in a state Of
/ expectancy"
These are the latest words Of Augustine
! Birreu. the new secretary for Ireland
/ They describe the situation accurately,
for with a Liberal government again in
power. headed by a premier and an Irish
secretary known 20 be convinced home
rulers, the Irish Nationalist again look
with hope 10 the fulhllment Of at least a
part Of their long dream OF controlling
/ their own domestic affairs.
But the measure introduced VIII not be
the home rule outlined by Gladstone's biz
Of 1893. There viii be no independent par
/ lament sitting in Dublin. Birreh has so
I far only indicated that the bill viii in
clude an Irish council. Tt viii lead up 10
( home rule" and be in line with the 'revo-
I luton policy actually developed during
/ the tenure OF the Conservative party. Bal
( four the Conservative premier, repUdiated
+ the movement later. Earl Dudley. eX-lord
/ lieutenant Of Ireland. who sympathized
with this progressive policy, has in cOnse-
Iduence announced at last a Parliament
( allegiance 10 his hitherto Liberal OpnO-
tnents. Moreover. the Conservatives, while
Mr. Wyndham was Irish secretary, car
ried a land-purchase scheme for the pur-
chase Of land by tenants.
Liberals Give Pledges.
Many Liberals gave pledges at the last
election not TO vote for complete home
rule. Asquith the chancellor Of the ex-
Ichequer, has said he viii resign rather
than break his election pledges. This does
not mean that there Is dissension in the
party. and the recognition of different
circumstances TO those dominating the sit
luation when Gladstone ruled the Liberal
camp.
/ Meanwhile the Nationalist look with
cordially to Birrell. He is singularly
broad-minded, magnetic, and good
humored, and all parties regard him as
/ the brightest. spirit Of the House He has
promised TO deal with evicted tenants
promptly. so they may be restored to their
/ holdings. He is ready to use the law TO
force a better administration. Ireland,
/ therefore. Is ''expectant,' and John Red
mond declares concerning the new Irish
( secretary that 1T is not necessary TO
speak of his sympathies for Ireland-that