Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-23
CHANGE OVER BUDGET
King Edward Takes a Hand in
the Controversy.
COMPROMISE IS EXPECTED
"Cross. Bench" Mind in the House Of
Lords.
FIGURES IN ALL ELECTIONS
Forthcoming New Lord Mayor.
Launching Completes the First
Dreadnought Squadron.
FIGURES IN ALL ELECTIONS
)ecial Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON, October Is, 1900.
There was another shift In the wind of
| political opinion and there is feeling
that, after all. the lords might let the
| budget through. Today's sudden change
| was probably produced by an antf-cy-
clonic system which came from the d.
rection of Balmoral. 1t seems that Lord
| Rosebery has been spending four days
| with the king, and it is at once assumed
| that their talk was Of the budget and
the action Of the house Of lords. 1t Is
| also assumed that the king, carrying
out his role Of peacemaker. had suggested
caution and compromise. and on these
premises hopes were at once established
that the lords would come to their senses
and avoid a political earthquake.
But there is also another and more in
teresting suggestion. 1t was that the gov
eminent has been taking opinion on the
legality of making the budget law With
out even the formal assent of the house
| of lords. 1t seems that by decision of
the court of kings bench In Edward Tvs
reign "a grant Of money by the COM
mons would be binding without the as
sent of the lords" If this were estab-
iished the government could ignore the
house of lords and merely ask the king
for his assent to the budget to make II
become legal.
It is significant in connection with this
argument that the king in his speech at
the opening of parliament always ad-
dresses the commons alone when ne
comes to deal with the finances of the
commons" he says, estimates for the
expenditure Of the country Will IN due
course be laid before you" This sugges-
ton raises up new vista OF possibilities
and makes confused SITUATION more
confused.
Whatever happens, 1t Is certain that
there will be general election either In
November, December or January. II 10
also certain that should the government
be returned to power there will be a con-
siderable Encouragement of the cabinet
There is an ideaN that Mr.. Asquith Will
himself go to the house OF lords, leaving
the leadership Of the house OF commons
in the hands of Mr.. Lloyd George The rea-
son given this belief Is that next SEES
sion, whatever party may be In power,
the question OF the house OF lords will be
supreme. It is felt that at present there
Is no representative of the government In
the house Of sufficient caliber to match
Lord LansdOwne and other unionist peers
not to mention Lord Rosebery. Recent
debates IN the upper house have shown
the lamentAbie weakness of the liberal
aware that this weakness must be rem
edied.
Will Create Number Of Peers.
II 10 also probable that before dissolv-
ing parliament Mr.. Asquith will create
considerable number Of peers. This Is the
habitual practice OF retiring premiers
Some present members of the government
will be found administrative posts abroad.
such as Lord Pentland. Mr.. Gladstone and
perhaps Lord Crewe. Lords Morley and
Wolverhampton. both Of whom are be-
coming rather infirn, will probably seek
the opportunity OF retiring. Vacancies Will
thus be created for the successful young
men OF the ministry. such as Mr. Har-
court and Mr.. Samuel. 1t Is impossible
as yet to be more definite but there is
no doubt that some REIMBURSEMENT Will
take place generally on these lines II the
government remains In power.
Opinion In the house Of lords Is tenn
pered by what is known here as the
''cross-bench" mind. I suppose the term
"mugwump" is not now In use In Ameri-
ca, but It is the nearest term l can think
of to express "cross-bench'' mind. The
phrase is drawn from the cross-benches
in the house OF lords--four or five rows
of seats capable OF holding nine occu-
pants and placed at right angles to the
are filled by the supporters Of the gov
eminent and the opposition in the upper
chamber.
Upon the front cross bench. In the right
hand corner
the seat reserved for the Prince Of Wales.
and next to him sit the Duke OF Con-
naught and the other members of the
royal family when they visit the house
of lords.
usually occupied by retired pro-cOnsuls.
who have served both governments-men
like Lord Cromer and Lord Miner: adj
mirals who have been raised to the peer
age. and generals, Lord Roberts and
Kitchener. for example. who do not desire
to identify themselves with the whole
political program Of either party tn the
state, together with those whO-for one
reason or another-are determined to re-
tain an independent judgment and will
not prematurely mortgage their votes In
the party leaders
The house of commons contains no such
harbor Of refuge. though IL it did exist 1t
would be eagerly sought by men whose
cast of mind Is inclined to be troubled by
the extreme measures which are occa-
sionally introduced by the government
| which they we're elected to support. Their
only refuge Is in some seat below the
gangway," which indicates, though less
than in past days. that they are not to be
expected always in the same division lob
by as their leaders.
This "cross-bench" mind has also to
be taken into account at every general
election, as frequently an election Is de-
cided by the silent voters who differ from
their party. 1t was the suffrage Of these
the home rule question and which, In
the middle Of the Boer war. gave an In
creased majority to the unionist party
They are likely to sway the coming cleo
ton one way or the other, and they will
probably cast their vote against a social
revolutions.
Thousands OF them are liberals by ira
dition-men OF the old whig type, which
is fast disappearing from the platforms,
but Is by no means extinct in the indus
trial provinces Of the kingdom. Theirs
Ia q conservative liberalism, and they are
for social reform and for domestic pros
perity within these islands, but education
and tradition has taught them how best
these things may be achieved-at what
price and what pace.
New Lord Mayors Personality.
Sir John Knill, who will become lord
mayor in November, is wharfinger. land,
like the present lord mayor. a member
OF an old city family and son of a lord