The Washington times., 1909-12-28
Advocates of Abolition of
the Second Chamber Are
Overruled.
WILL REINTRODUCE
AND PASS BUDGET
Plans Are All Laid in Case of Vic
tory-Compromise Is
Reached.

LONDON. Dec. 2S-The English
Liberal party leaders have finally pretty
definitely MADE up their minds what 60
do With the house Of lords In case they
win at the coming national election
Whatever plan may be adopted for
genuinely pOpularizing EnEland's gov
eminent will involve such radical
changes IN the country's present leSls-
lative system that much difference of
opinion has naturally existed both &c
70 ends and methods The extreme
Radicals have advocated the complete
abolition Of the second chamber. Those
Of a more moderate type demanded au
elective upper chamber The element
which may he most accurately described
ar Couservatively Liberal has argued
for g combination of the elective and
hereditary principle.
The group in favor Of the single
chamber system has been completely
overruled. England is too conservative
for such an innovation Between the
two other groups Of Liberals a con-
promise has been effected and the pro-
gram is this:
To Reintroduce Budget.
Assuming that the Liberals win al
the polls in January. the IIoyd-George
budget will be reintroduced. II Will UNI
questionably pass. The lords them
selves are pledged 20 cease their oppo-
sition to the chancellor Of the OK
chequer's proposals If the country de-
cIares for them In the election
That will dispose OF the financial
problem and leave the Liberals free %
turn their attention to the reformation
Of the legislative system They propose
TO accomplish i; by the constitutional
change at which Premier AsQuith has
been limiting. 4 bill will be passed by
the commons. declaring the lords un-
entitled TO interfere with any financial
legislation passed by the lower cham
her. II may be decided not even 20 send
such bills to the lords for ratification
but even IL ratification is required it
will be merely nominal, as the latter will
have no veto power.
The next step viii be the introduction
Of a measure providing that any bill
not a financial measure. passed by the
commons. rejected by the lords. repassed
by the commons, again rejected by the
lords and then repassed by The com
mons, after an intervening election. is
20 become law without further suomls-
sion TO the upper house.
May Mean Referendum.
This will mean that two sessions Of
parliament and referendum viii be re
ouired for the passage Of such a con
rr0vsrted measure IT will deprive th'
.ords Of the power 10 do more than de
lay fuldnment Of the popular will Th'
last vestlge of their veto power vii
then be gone.
Then will come the very last step. Th'
house Of !C,ds will be r-Uuced by legis
lasion 10 4 membership of probably 100
This number will include the Office
holders. whose positions carry peeraEe!
with them. II Is assumed that mel
who have risen 90 high positions in th
government may be taken 10 bo com
petcslt legislators. Balance Of the II
will he chosen from among the preseu
peers whom the commons conside
really TO have done something for thel
country as soldiers. IIWma kers end al
ministTators. The original selection wi
necessarily he somewhat arbitrary. bu
- Will not be permanent.
The members who are peers bv viTtu
- their government offices have alwav
been what is known iu England as no
lords. Their titles do not descend u
their children. This same system wi
no continued under the new arrauge
mcnt The innovation viii lie 90 p
fact that the other peers viii also ouI
lc life lords Their titles win desccn
Co. their sons, brf not their privilege 2
f.t in she upper branch.
Serve Two Sessions.
As these peers die their places will %
filled by new members. not uecessarH
tiued. chosen by the house Of common,
either from among IFS own membershi
or outside Of it The present plan
that these members shall serve for tv.
sessions Of parliament Tho common