Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-13
KING OPENS PARLIAMENT
Edward Expresses Qualification Over Action
Of United States at KinRston
stNTlE HINT TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Ministers st work on q Plan 90
Eliminate differences Between the
Two HOuses-Busy Session
Expected.

LONDON, Feb. l2-Ihat the members Of
the House Of Commons regard the political
situation as being especially interesting
was evidenced by the keenness shown to
secure good seats for the opening Of Pariia-
ment today. On the stroke of midnight
the competition began and thereafter
steady stream OF members visited this
House Of Commons and placed their cards
in the places they had selected Later in
the morning the customary search Of the
vaults Of the houses OF Parliament was
carried out by the yeomen Of the guard
from the tower OF London without the
discovery Of anything pointing to a repeti-
ton Of the gunpowder plot Large crowds
gathered within the precincts OF Parlia-
ment to witness the arrival of the dis
tinguished personages.
The second session Of the second Parlia-
ment Of the present reign, which promises
to be full Of interest, was opened by King
Edward this afternoon with all the i'm
posing ceremonies which has attended
these functions since his accession.
Busy Session Expected
The speech from the throne foreshadowed
a full and busy session devoted TO Ireland
and temperance, apart from the over
shadowing question of the House Of Lords.
After the usual reference to the good
relations prevailing between Great Britain
and the other powers the speech deplored
the loss OF life and destruction Of property
resulting from the earthquake at King
ston.
Il have seen with satisfaction" said the
king, that the emergency has been met
| by the governor and his officers with
courage and devotion and by the people
| With aalf-ror14r-o1 rha eli ed
forth many proofs Of practical good will
from all parts of my country and I
recognize with sincere gratitude the sym
pathy shown by the people OF the United
States and the assistance promptly offered
by their authorities"
| congratulatory reference to the visit
| to India of the ameer of Afghanistan was
followed by the -intimation that while
guarding the unity of the executive power
unimpaired" some changes in the govern
mental methods Of India were under con-
sideration to bring them more in accordance
with the wishes of the natives.
Then came a guarded reference to the
question uppermost in the minds Of his
majestys hearers. II was addressed both
to my lords and the gentlemen of the
House Of Commons
Gentle Threats for Lords.
Serious questions" said the king. 'af-
fecting the working Of our parliamentary
| systems have arisen from the unfortunate
differences between the two houses. My
ministers have this important subject under
consideration with the view of solution
Of the difficulty"
The rest Of the speech was devoted to
the proposed licensing bill, the object OF
| which is to diminish the drink evils. Pro-
posals for the improvement of the army
organization and Irish local government
and education questions and q number of
minor measures, including the establish
ment Of a court Of criminal appeal.
On the Irish question the king said /;
Your attention win be called to measures
for further associating the people OF Ire
land with the management OF their do
nestle affairs and otherwise improving
their system Of government in its admin
istratlve and financial aspects. Proposals
win also be submitted to you for effecting
a reform OF university education in Ire
land"
Among the domestic legislation fore
Swallowed was "a bill enabling women TO
serve on local boards" evidently intended
as a sop TO the woman suffragists.
The points in the kings speech which at
tracted the most attention were the ref
erences TO the Kingston disaster and the
House OF Lords. When his majesty spoke
gratefully OF the assistance rendered by the
American navy to the earthquake sufferers
he turned in the direction OF the diplomatic
body and bowed to Ambassador Reid. who
was distinguished among his uniformed
colleagues by his evening dress.
/ | When the differences between the lords
and the commons were mentioned there
was a perceptible commotion among the
audience which was all the more noticeable
because It is unusual Tor any phrase In a
speech from the throne 70 cause anything
in the way Of a sensation among those who
hear II read.
House Debate speech.
The House OF Commons was crowded In
all parts when the members assembled for
business at 4 O'Clock this afternoon and
great animation was noticeable. The entry
OF the premier, Sir Henry Campbell Ban
ministerialists
The speaker, James Lowther. read the
speech from the throne The reference &c
the aid rendered by the American navy al
| Kingston was greeted with a loud outburst
OF applause
The mention Of the difference between
the House Of Commons and the House OF
Lords also was cheered.
Debate on the address in reply to the
speech from the throne viii last for sew
eral days, after which the premier il ex
pected TO unfold his plans for dealing with
the House OF Lords.
Lords Ask Questions.
: on the resumption Of the sitting Of tbs
House of Lords, Lord Csstletown, liberal
t moved the address in reply 10 the kings
speech and In so doing praised the assist
ance rendered by the American navy TO the
> sufferers from the earthquake at Kingston
: He also declared that It was necessary Il
3 change the machinery OF the House o
/, Lords which at present gave the house
r preponderance of tories
Regarding Ireland, Lord Castletown de
clared that what was proposed was evolu
ton rather than devotion After a hun
dred years Of union II was proposed TO adop
E administration reforms, long overdue. to res
3 cue the Irish system from chaos. Ireland
appeal for financial justice had failed blu
separation was unthinkable and impossible
Lord Lansdowne. liberal unionist. said tn