The Washington herald., 1907-02-17

London. Feb. 16-Curiosity has not yet
been satisfied regarding what measures
the government proposes to adopt for
getting rid of the obstructive powers Of
the House Of Lords. Sir Henry Camp
bell-Bannerman's speech on the subject
at the opening Of Parliament was en-
tirely vague. asserting merely that the
opposition to the viii Of The people inter
posed by the House OF Lords might be
overcome by necessary legislative
changes.
The premier meant by the viii OF the
people, the viii OF the liberal majority
in the House Of Commons. The support
ers Of the House Of Lords are quite ready
to join issue wih him on This point
They reply that the lords are always
willing 10 give way In any matter on
which the VIII OF the people has been
clearly demonstrated They argue that
II is the House of Lords, prerogative. as
well as that of the House Of Commons.
TO interpret the popular will They in
stance the passage Of the trades disputes
bin by the lords entirely against their
Judgment, because they believed the coun-
Try favored st. Moreover. they are will
ing 10 test the question at any time
Suggests "A Referendum.
It is suggested in-behaIft Of the present
system that in case Of a deadlock Of the
two houses. the House Of Lords should
be required to pass a disputed bin with
an amendment reading. This act will
not take effect until approved by a ma
iority in a popular referendum. This is
the Swiss system. where all disputed bills
in the legislature are referred to a popu-
lar vote. The Liberal party. however, IS
utterly opposed to this solution.
Several interesting plans for reform Of
the upper house have been advanced this
week. Goodwin Smith advocates a some
what enlarged privy council in place OF
hereditary legislators The Spectator Of
fers somewhat elaborate scheme.
whereby only such hereditary peers rs
have held high office in the army or navy.
the administrative or the judiciary. should
be entitled 10 seats. The remaining heredi-
tary peers should choose one-f0urth Of
their number 10 represent them. The
crown should also be entitled to create
life peers Such house would number.
roughly, 200. It is suggested that in case
of deadlock the two houses could then
vote on d disputed measure in one body.
Lord Newton VIII introduce a bill 10 this
effect in a few days
Many Dramatic Phases.
It is obvious that there are many loop
holes for partisan abuse in this measure.
The temptation viii be great for the re-
firing party TO create many life peers and
appoint temporarily 90 qualifying high
Office hereditary peers OF their own COM
plexion. ia order to retain power in the
upper house. Taken all in all. British
domestic politics present more phases Of
dramatic interest ct present than at any
moment since the defeat of Mr.. Glad
stones home-rule bill The suffragettes'
riotous performance this week has not
raised them above the category Of an az
gravaung nuisance as a political factor. in
the estimate Of most members Of Parlia-
ment one aspect Of the question was ex-
pressed by Claude Hay who protested to
the House OF Commons against the House
of Parliament being guarded ike a fort
Tess, and declared that the police precau-
tions exhibited. the men within the build
ing as towards who were frightened OF
women"
On the other hand the public does not
take the matter very seriously. and the
martyrdom which nifty Of Tuesdays riot
ers who are now suffering aroUses little
public emotion beyond amusement Ii IS
very genuine martyrdom, however, for a
week or fortnight in "a London jail is
no joke.
Evade Old Age Promise.
One Of the prediction proposals Of the
party now in power was in favor of old
age pensions which would cost the coun-
try about Sl25Oo000 annually. but when
the subject arose in Parliament on
Wednesday it met only evasions from the
government benches. The ministers were
verbally sympathetic. Mr.. Aisquith de-
clared that. as a man, he cherished the
project in his innermost heart, but as
chancellor of the eNchequer he did not
know where he would find the money.
p ,ssibly he wished TO make the problem
as hard as possible in order TO get it out
of the way. he disclaimed the idea either
Of imposing conditions or exacung con-
tributions.
John Burns was equally elusive in his
human capacity, but as a minister he
was disposed to pour on the philanthropic
project the cold water of a departmental
committee. Socialists who are not in Of
fee are indignant at the ministerial eva
sions The general impression is that
nothing will be done this year.