The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-12-03


speech lacked the ring of sincerity
and conviction that characterized the
prime minister's. The latter had an
easy task in pouring ridicule upon
what he described, amid the rousing
cheers of his supporters. as a new
tangled caesarism," this arrogant
usurpation" of the lords
The premier's ironical reference to
the instinct of divination" of the
peers on reaching manhood dissolved
his hearers in daughter. He quoted
with trenchant effect the speech of
Mr.. Balfour less than a year ago in
which the ex-prernier described him
self as a f'house of commons man."
and said: 1T is the house of com
mons, not the house Of lords, which
settles, uncontrolled, our financial
system. If the house of lords could
touch the money bills the whole eX-
ecutive machinery of the country
would be brought to a StandSt1ll.'
The amaZement with which the lib
erals listened to the quotations from
Balfour against himse f, was on Y
equalled by the chagrin Depicted on
the faces Of Mr. BalfourS followers.
Altogether Mr. AsQuith surpassed
himself and his e,ated followers de-
clare that he never made a finer or
more effective speech.
MT. SpetClI lOI tie
! Dor party also-1las given the liberals
great encouragement for the coming
election, as showing that the whole
party is of one mind.
Many Hear Asquith.
The house was crowded and the
galleries were filled with lords, dip
lomats and other distinguished per-
sonages when Premier Asquith, on
behalf Of his government, delivered
today the reply to the action of the
| lords upon the budget. The nation
| alists were conspicuous by their alb
sence Premier AsQuith's first words,
! as he arose amid the widest demon
! stration OF enthusiasm to move the
resolution of which he had given no
| tice Tuesday, were:
I'VE are meeting this afternoon I'M
| der circumstances without example in
the history Of the British parliament"
| The prime minister pointed out that
| in opening parliament the king had
| invited the house of commons alone
! to make provision for the heavy ad
| ditonal expenditures, in view of the
| necessities in the way of social re-
form and national defense. The bud
get represented, he said in a greater
degree than could be said of our time,
the delinquent work of an overWhelm-
|
! the people. In the course of the week
! that who'e fabric had been thrown
/ to the ground by a body which, adj
mitted,y had no power to increase or
| decrease a single tax. With much
/ emphasis Premier ASQuith declared
| that the house of commons would
! prove unworthy of it's traditions if it
allowed days to pass without making
| clear that it did not mean to brook
| this grave indgnity and arrogant
usurpation of it's rights.
| He contended there was not a single
clause in the budget bill not relevant
to the matter of raising revenues. If
| the contention of the lords that in re-
jecting the budget they were only re-
| ferring it to the people held god, no
liberal government would be safe.
They might have to refer all taxes
to the peop'e, and the lords would
have power to advise the king to dis
solve parliament After quoting au-
thorities in favor OF his contention
that the commons had the exclusive
right to determine the matter of tax
alton and expenditure. Asquith con-
Guided:
System Is False.
1--WE are living under a system OF
false balances and loaded dice. When
democracy voted for a liberal govern
ment the dormant second chamber
awoke from its s.umbers and nullified
the work of the house of commons.
1--WE shall ask the house by this
vote and we shall ask the eonstitu-
encies at the earliest possible moment
to declare that the organ, the voice
of the free people of this country, is
to be found in the accredited repre-
sentatives Of the nation
Following the premier, A. j. Bal
four strenuously defended the action
of the lords, who, he said, had a clear
conviction of their powers. Labor
Leader Arthur Henderson declared
the government would have the whole
hearted support of his party. The
resolution then carried $40 to 134.