The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-12-01
ACTION OF COMMONS
Continued From Page One)

| Continued From Page One)
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vo've far-reaching changes in the
British constitution. Indeed there
was unusual animation in the public
galleries, which were crowded with
| peeresses members of the house of
commons and ambassadors But on
! the floor itself complete calm pre-
vailed.
! The vote was on Lord LansdOWne'S
/ amendment that the house was not
I justified in giving its consent to the
| bill until it had been submitted to
| the judgment of the country. Near
| ly Is minutes were occupied in clearing
! the house, te,lers for division being
Earl Waldegrave, Viscount Churchill,
Baron Denman and Lord Colebrook.
When the vote was announced, just
before midnight, as $50 to IS in favor
of the amendment a few cheers were
heard. The Earl of Crewe Immediate
ly moved an adjournment and the
house rose.
An eager crowd was awaiting the
result in the central hall, and when
the vote became known there was a
slight attempt at counter 6emonstra-
ton. Officials, however, speedily
cleared the hall, and in a few min
utes the lobby and precincts were
empty.
1t is worthy of note that Lord ST.
Aldwyne, who, as Michael Hicks
Beach, was one of the ab,est chan
cellors of the excheauer of the con-
servative side, has ostentatiously alb
scented himself from all debates on
| Lord Lansdowne's resolution, and this
| morning he announced his intention
not to go to the house for division.
Dsapproves Lansdowne's Course.
His abstention was due to diSap-
prevail of Lord Lansdownes course,
and, together with that of other con-
sentative peers, will have great effect
| in the country. Among those peers
who came down especially to vote was
| the Earl of Wemyss and March, who
| is in his 92nd year When division
| was taken there was practically no
| excitement in the streets, although
earlier in the night crowds gathered
near the house and attempted a pro-
| budget demonstration. A force of
police was in readiness and so soon
] as the crowd showed a tendency to be-
come unmanagable, they dispersed
the demonstrators being assisted by
a heavy rainfall.
The final debate was distinguished
by oratorical excellence, particularly
in the speeches of Lord Curzon of
Kedleston, former viceroy of India,
and of the Archbishop of York. The
| :, I,l, Ii I'll
effort in the house of lords and its
eloquent periods added to DR.. Lang's
| downe's resolution, declaring that it
would be unprecedented for the lords
| fine presence and beautiful voice,
! made a deep impression. The arch
! bishop strongly opposed Lord Lans-
| to reject a finance bill passed by the
house of commons with such a ma
jority.
Lord Curzon was plainly suffering
from his recent indisposition and had
| to ask the indulgence of the house.
but, despite physical weakness which
| several times in his 90-rninute speech
| threatened to overcome him, he spoke
with his accustomed vigor and art.
He maintained that the lords had an
|
bill, and he agreed that the country
was on the eve of a momentous strug
gle, which might lead to the reform
| of the house Of lords.
Cawder Supports Lords Action.
Earl Cawder, former first lord of
the admiralty, who wound up the de-
bate for the opposition, maintained
that an attempt had been made to
evade the lords ancient right to re-
| ject each tax by placing all taxes on
one bill. 1t was idle to pretend, he
| said, that such a change Of procedure
| by the house Of commons could af-
| feet one iota of the responsibilities
and duties Of the second chamber.
He quoted Premier Asquith as stating
on assuming the premiership that
the function of. the house Of lords
was to check slovenly and precipitate
legislation. This, Earl Cawder
thought. fairly represented the action
| the lords proposed to take. Refer
ring to lacking on license proposals
and land valuations to the budget, he
| said that, as both these had pre-
viously been rejected by the house OF
lords, it would destroy all the power
Of the upper house If the lords were
unable to veto the finance bill, in
which these were included. He as
| serted the budget already had driven
capital from the country to an alarm
inc a~%o~< hoA u&,,pnod fhc hniIding