Evening journal., 1909-12-28
WILL REFORM
HOUSE OF PEERS
Plan Of Liberals Should They
Win at the Coming
Election
SOME RADICAL CHANGES
WILL BE PROPOSED


ager Of The United Press)
LONDON. Dec. 2s.-The English Lib
eral party leaders have finally partially
made up their minds what to do with
the House OF Lords in case they win
at the coming national election.
Whatever plan may be adopted FOR
genuinely popularizing Englands gov
ernment will involve such radical
changes In the country's present Leg
| islative system that much difference
OF opinion naturally existed as to ends
and methods The oxtrme radicals
have advocated the complete abolition
OF the second chamber Those Of a
more moderate type demanded an
elective upper House The element
which may be most accurately describ-
ed as conservative Liberal has argued
for combination OF the elective and
hereditary principles.
The group In favor OF the single
chamber system has been completely
overruled England Is too conserva-
tive for such an innovation. Between
the two other groups Of Liberals a
compromise has been affected and the
program Is this:
the polls IN January the Lloyd George
budget will be rcintroduced. Il will
unquestionably pass.
The Lords themselves are pledged 20
cease their opposition 10 the chancellor
OF the exchequer's proposals II the
country declares for them I'm the cleo
ton
That will dispose OF the financial
problem and leave the Liberals free
TO turn their attention to the reforma-
tion OF the Legislative system They
propose 10 accomplish Il by the con-
stitutional change AT which Premier
Asquith has been limiting. A bill Will
be passed by the Commons declaring
the Lords unentitled to interfere with
any financial legislation passed by IN,
lower chamber. Il may be decided not
even 70 send such bills 20 the Lord.
for ratification, but even n ratification
Is required. It will be merely nomina
az tho latter viii have no veto power
The next step viii be TO the introduction
OF measure providing that any hlll. no
a financial measure issued by the Com
mons rejected by tho Lords. repassed b.
the Commona. afain rejected by M
Lords nnd then repasscd by the Com
mons. after an Intervening election is &
become law without further submission &
2 tho upper House
n VIII Require Referendum.
It This VIII mean that two sessions o
/. parliament and referendum viii be re
4 auircd for the passage Of such a oontro
4 verted measure. il will deprive the Lord
OF the power TO more than delay fulhn
1 ment OF tho popular will. The last vest
10
3 Then will come the very last step TIL
r House Of Lords WIN be reduced by iegis
% iation TO a membership OF probably $50
y This number will include the office hold
p ers whose positions carry peerages will
them.
It Is assumed that men who have risei
i TO high positions I'm the government ma
y be taken TO be competent Legislators. Tn
e balance OF the 150 win be chosen from
. among the present peerage whom IN
, Commons consider really 10 have don
!. something for their country as soldiers
y lawmakers and administrators. The origi
n nal selection will necessarily be some
% what arbitrary, but II viii not be per
manent. The members who are peers b.
!, virtue OF their government officers hav
4 always been what Is known In England a
q life Lords. Their titles do not descend Z
d their children. This same system will b
$ continued under the new arrangementTh
p innovation will lie IN the fact that othe
l. peers will also only be life lords. Thei
e titles will descend to their sons but no
y their privilege 10 sit in the upper branch
: Creation Of New Peers.
q AS these peers die. their places viii b
u filled by new members. not necessaril
r titled. chosen by the House Of Commons
y either from among its own membership o
u outside OF IT, The present plan is tina
these members shall serve for two ses
Is sion OF parliament. The commons win max
& their selections politically, in proportio
2 to the political color OF their own mem
bership.
The ultimate result will be that IN
, House OF Lords viii include a small pro
- portion OF life members. the balance con
= sisting Of two session members OF IN
= Commons selection. The life peers VIII b
nominally appointed by the King, but
a inasmuch as these appointments are al
Ways made in accordance with the wishe
OF the leaders OF the party in power a
the time. they win necessarily represen
D. the majority OF the people.
u It Is conceded that under this arrange
IT ment It win be possible TO have upper an
lower houses occasionally OF different DO
lsicsl comple5ions.
a ravAwww --n.wnwn