New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-06
NENDING THE LORDS.

Lord Rosebery's commission has made an in
teresting report In favor OF radically "mendng'
the British House of Lords. The proposal IL TO
abolish the principle that all noblemen Of GER
tain rank have an hereditary right to sit in that
house and to make the ajority Of the house
elec,.ve for single parliamentary term. OF the
remainder Of the house the majority would con-
sst Of life peers selected by the Crown for dis
tinguished services and qualifications There
would also be representatives of the chief colo
MES and a few spiritual peers. The elected
peers would be chosen by the entire body Of the
peerage. This would transform the theoretical
constitution of the House of Lords. but would
probably leave It's actual personal composition
little changed, save by the formal exclusion OF a
great many peers who are entitled to sit
but seldom exercise that privilege. 1t would
make the British upper chamber conform to the
constitution of the upper chambers in other
monarchical countries For it is a noteworthy
fact that at present the House Of Lords IS
unique No other legislative chamber in the
world resembles it in its inclusion of entire or
ders Of nobility on an hereditary basis.
Thus in Austria the Herrenhaus contains 162
life peers nominated by the Emperor for distin-
guished services and 90 hereditary peers nomi-
mated by the Emperor. In Hungary the FOrendl-
haz contains fifty life peers nominated by the
King a number of mobiles paying certain tax,
and large number of life peers elected by the
house In Germany the members Of the Bundles
"a tn are appointed for each parliament by the
sovereIgns. In Prussia the Herrenhaus consists
Of life peers nominated by the King, peers elect
ed by the land owners and peers nominated by
the King for specified terms of years In Baden,
Bavaria Saxony and Wurtemberg some peers
are appointed for life by the Crown, some are
elected and some are the mayors Of cities acting
ear oNcio In Belgium and Holland and in Swe-
den and Norway the senates are elected. In
Denmark the Landsthing contains II members
appointed for life by the Crown and % elected
by the people. In Italy the Senate consists OF
members nominated by the King for life, for
DISTINGUISHED services or for the amount OF
taxes which they pay. The japanese House or
Peers comprises representative nOblemen elected
by their respective orders and numbering not
more than one-ffth Of each order, members NOM
mated by the Emperor for distinguished ser
vices and members elected by the people In
Rumana the Senate is elected by the people. In
Portugal the members of the Camara dos Pares
are chiefly nominated by the King for life. In
Spain there are so hereditary Senadores. 100
nominated by the King for life and $50 elected
The proposed new House Of Lords in Great
Britain would include all the best members of
the present house. with some infusion of new
blood of similar qua lily. The political COM
pIexion Of 1t would probably remain unchanged.
The house would continue to represent the same
interests as at present. But it would be more
efficient and busnesslike body and probably
more responsive to and more in sympathy with
popular sentiment. The fate Of the proposed
reorganization is uncertain but it is scarcely
likely that the commissions report will pass
without some effect. and it seems probable that
in time some such scheme will be adopted.