Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-09
PEERS REFORM PLAN
| ord NeWton's Scheme for That
Body Discussed.
SOME NOTABLE CHANGES
Daring Innovation Ventured by the
House Speaker.
IMPRESSIONS OF PALACE LEvEE
Gossip Over London Times Plans
King of Slams Forthcoming Visit
to England-Gen. Booth.
IMPRESSIONS OF PALACE Level
Special Correspondence Of the Star.

uouSc VI iOTOS, the main PROVISIONS OF
which are now issued, is ingenious, but it
leaves the essential character of that body
as misrepresentation body unchanged
Lord Newton Is not liberal, but con-
sentative peer, who has given considerable
study to the reform of his political body,
which he declares necessary, but which
he says should proceed from within and
not by force. He proposes to diminish the
hereditary element in three ways. In the
first. no hereditary peer is to have right
to sit in the house of lords unless he has
held high political, military. naval or civil
appointment, or has been elected twice to
the house of commons before he succeeded
to the peerage. The hereditary peers who
are not included in the above categories
are to elect one-fourth Of their number to
sit in the house Of lords, such election to
be for parliament, and not for life.
In order to secure the representation Of
various interests not now represented, the
peers up to 100, and Lord Newton no doubt
expects that in this way the great non-con-
forming bodies will secure representatives
In the upper house. In some unexplained
number Of bishops. The peers to be elected
by their fellow peers will be chosen SUBJ
stantially in the same way as the Irish
and Scottish representative peers. The bill
seats In the upper house under either of
the methods provided in the bill may be
elected to the house of commons.
Under this scheme there would be q moro
interesting house Of lords than at present,
but 1t would leave that assembly still pre-
dominantly conservative in character. I
may point out that the provision that a
peer who had twice been returned to the
house OF commons before succeeding to
the peerage might be a member of the
upper house would greatly assist to main-
tain Its present character Many eldest
sons of peers get elected to the house Of
commons, and most Of them have been
returned twice. Only in a few cases do
they show any real qualification for public
life, and In the great majority of cases
they are conservative. The second read
ing OF Lord Newton's bill will lead to an
interesting debate, and 1t will reveal how
far the peers themselves are inclined to
entertain the idea of reform.
Lord Newton himself speaking about his
bill, says: There are certain radical de-
fects in the upper house which have been
admitted over and over again, and which,
moreover, have been pointed out with re-
markable frankness by our opponents. For
example as legislating body the peerage
is far too large. At the present time it
numbers about $40 members and, allowing
for fair rate of increase, the member
ship will shortly be larger than that of the
house of commons The hereditary system.
too, remains absolutely unmodifed, al
though the peers in attendance. even in
critical divisions, only on very rare occa-
sions exceed third Of the total number
. Now, as IN the peerage there is always
large proportion of men who have neither
the inclination to take part in legislative
work nor the training which would fit
them to do it. why should 1t be consid-
cred necessary to thrust upon those peers
duties and powers they have no wish for?
Surely, 1t would be far more sensible
policy to employ a system of selection,
whereby every peer summoned to attend
some reason, in addition to that of heredity
for his presence.
But the time for reform has arrived,
and although 1 confess that am neces-
I have every hope of getting my bill
through the upper house. despite numer-
Gus threats which have recently been ut
tered by various members as to our prob
able fate"
Mr.. Speaker, as official host of the house
of commons, has this week ventured on q
daring innovation in the matter Of the cos
tune of his guests. He has invited mem
bers to luncheon at Speakers House lin
dress"
The present parliament contains an unu-
sually large proportion Of men who do not
possess, or cannot afford to buy, or would
disdain to wear, court costume-the velvet
suit, knee breaches, lace ruff1es, steel but
tons, and shoe buckles, and the fancy
rapier, a survival Of Georgian times So
tanned probably one-ffth Of the house of
commons would never have enjoyed the
hospitality Of Mr.. Speaker. For only those
members who attend the speakers levees
tend a levee member must wear court
dress. This is why Mr.. Lowther has COM
by his luncheon parties between
dinner in velvet and swords or no dinner
at Speakers House at all.
The great dining room at Speakers House
will now be entered by labor members. 1t
is lined by full-length portraits of past
speakers, which may be imagined as look
ing down on guests in everyday costume
with panied surprise. The nation provides
for the use Of the current speaker and his
official guests a splendid service of plate
and a special butler. That service OF plate
has been augmented lately 1t contained
covers" for thirty persons complete, ex-
cept in one particular and that was this,
that there were only two salt cellars-a
curious survival that Of the times when the
salt cellar was a big receptacle into which
guests plunged their hands The absence
of suff1cient number of salt cellars lasted
until five years ago.
A prominent American just presented at
court, who has often attended receptions
at the White House, gave me today his
of the levee at Buckingham
Palace. 1t reminded him very much Of
what occurs on similar occasions at WASH
ington, though, he observed, ut is notice
able to an American that there is no hand
shaking" Otherwise there are the same
brilliant army and navy uniforms, the same
diplomatic CORDS and the same music Of a
band Nothing, he said, struck him more
than the good looks of the king. who ap-
peared uncommonly well, and his gracious
manner, as II his majesty was pleased to
be there. He was, however. much i'm
by the silence and expedition Of 1t
excellent organization. With
the exception Of court dress there is great
similarity between the English and Ameri-
can state function.
The future of the Times, the ''Thunderer,"
which has fallen into low waters in the
past few years. has been the subject of
many rumors during the last few weeks.
and it may be well to state the facts-as l
can with authority. In future the Times
will be the property Of a private limited
liability company, having, OF course. at Its
head, as governing director, Mr.. Arthur F.
Walter. The names Of several other per-
sons, more or less well known In the po-
liticai world, have been mentioned with