Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-12-08
LansdoWne's Amendment Car
rieS After Six Days
of Debate.
Creates Situation Unprece-
denied in Three Hundred
Years of History.
Action Makes 1t Illegal, in
Theory, to Collect
Taxes

London, Dec. I'm a Sedate, de-
tached manner, characteristic of the
proceedings of a gilded chamber, and
in direct disregard of the advice of
some of it's ablest and oldest mem
bers, the house of lords yesterday Gre
ated situation unprecedented in Eng
fish history, at least in 800 years, by
refusing assent to the budget bill and
referring it to the country itself for
judgment, thereby in theory, making
it illegal to collect taxes and carry on
the government.
After six days of debate, notable for
high standard of oratory, and able
arguments for and against the budget,
and placing in every possible light
all the aspects of the great cOnstitu-
tional questions involved the house
of lords cleared for division at 11:30
last night. The scene was impressive,
not exciting, except that the house
was packed to it's utmost capacity
and a great array of strange faces
were on the benches, owing to the
presence of numbers of peers who
only appear in the house in the most
exceptional cases. None would have
supposed that the event proceeding
was destined not only to prove mem
orable in British history, but possibly
also far-reaching changes in the Brit
ish constitution. There was unusual
animation in the galleries, which were
crowded by peeresses, members of the
commons, ambassadors and others,
but in the house itself complete calm
prevailed. There was none of that
tense excitement or exuberant enthu,
siasm so distinctive of similar occa-
sion in the lower house
The vote was on Lord Lansdowne's
amendment that the house was not
justified in consenting to the bill un-
til it had been submitted to the judg-
ment of the country. Nearly Is min
utes was occupied in clearing the
house for division.
When the vote was announced, just
before midnight, $50 to Is in favor
of the amendment, few mixed cheers
were heard. Adjournment was i'm
mediately taken.
An expectant crowd awaited the
result in Central hall When the vote
became known there was a slight at
tempt at counter demonstrations, but
the officials speedily cleared the hall.
Lord St. Aldwyn, who as Michael
Hicks Beach, was one of the ablest
chancellors of the exchequer of the
conservative side, absented himself
from all the budget debates and was
absent when the vote was taken on
account of his disapproval of Lord
Lansdowne's course. His attitude
will have great effect. The earl of
Wemyss, who is in his Cpd year, was
present and voted.
When the division was taken there
was no excitement in the streets, al
though earlier in the evening consid-
cradle crowds gathered in the vicinity
of tho house and attempted a pro-
budger demonstration.
Yesterdays debate again was dis
tinguished for oratorical excellence.
particularly the speeches by Lord
Curzon, former viceroy of India, and
Archbishop York. The latter made a
deep impression and strongly opposed
the rejection of the measure passed
by so large a majority of the peoples
representatives in the house of com
mons.
Lord Curzon maintained that the