New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-06
BUDGET SMASHING
The Lords Debatc-1 Reck-
Tess Challenge.
London. November %.

Iofl1on, NOVEMBER -
The suspension Of the finance bill by
the Lords marks a momentous change in
constitutional practice. Lord Lansdowne
end HE supporters have attempted TO
minimize Il as q temporary expedient for
enabling the general electorate TO decide
\ whether or not the budget is TO go into
Force. but there can be no escape from
Sir Frederick Poilock's conclusion in
letter 10 The Times" that thc centre Of
gravity is shifted from the representative
20 the irresponsible chamber. and that
the rights and privileges Of popular gov
eminent are fatally impaired. Suspen-
sion is equivalent 20 rejection, for the
budget cannot survive the present Par
Lament. and fresh financial arrange
ments viii be- required for a new Par
liafnent
The Lords are forcing a dissolution Of
Parliament by power over the purse
never before exercised by them. They
may succeed in destroying a govern
men; which has only beggarly array OF
supporters in the gilaed chamber. al
Enough il has an overwhelming ma jority
in the popular House. and they are at
tempting 20 establish a precedent which,
n allowed 20 stand. Will deprive tire Com
mons Of their historic supremacy and
substitute oligsrchicsl rule for repre-
sentative government Themselves III
dissoluble. they are reaching after alb
soiute power OF holding up budgets, dis
solving elective chambers and upsetting
governments whose principles and pol
icies they dislike.
While the Lords have retained as
legal formula the right OF rejecting a
financial hin in supply. practically they
have not exercised 81 for centuries. In
the address from the throne At the open
ing OF Parliament the House Of the Com
mons has been asked year after year for
supply. and when the budget has been
introduced the money resolutions i'm
posing new taxes have been passed by
the representative chamber at sight. and
have become at once operative without
authority from the Lords. These taxes
have been levied and collected since
April and the rejection OF the finance
bin will be the first departure from the
settled constitutional practice Of gener-
atoms.
A second innovation has been equally
startling. Instead OF accepting the an
nusl supply bin without debate and reg
Istering their approval automatically.
The Lords have discussed IL in detail
DAY after day as though they were the
elected Representatives OF the people.
one peer after another has condemned
the land taxes. or the licensing duties.
a. the mineral taxes. or the death duties,
sT the sBper-incOme taxes, or the sus-
pension OF the sinking fund. or the re-
valuation of the land or other features OF
the budget such discussion is unpreoe-
dented and subyersive OF the oldtime SUI
premacy Of the Commons over the ma,
uonsi purse. Moreover, Lord Lans-
downe has ostentatiously offered his CO.
operation with ministers in securing the
passage Of temporary measures for the
relief OF the Treasury, and this implies
The rejection OF the land and licensing
sections and the making over 81 the
budget 70 suit the Lords. When these
anomalies are carefully considered the
Suspension o. the budget ceases 20 be 4
safeguard for obtaining referendum.
Gao becomes o coup d'tts. for incress-