The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
HOUSE OF LORDS
REJECT BUDGET
Situation En}ues Not ParaI|eIed
In Three Hundred Years
DIRE PREDICTIONS MADE
Opponents of Lord Lansdowne's Mo-
tion Declare That Lords Have
Made Grave Mistake and
VIII Regret 1t.
DIRE PREDICTIONS MADE

London, November SO-In the sedate,
detached manner characteristic of the
proceedings in the gilded chamber, and in
direct disregard of the advice of some
of its ablest and oldest members, such
as Rosebery. Morley, Lord James of
Hereford Lord Cromer, Lord Balfour of
Burleigh, the Earl of Lytton, Lord Court
ney and the Archbishops of Canterbury
and York, the house of lords today ere
ated a situation unprecedented in Eng
lish history. at least In 300 years. by re-
and referring it to the country itself for
judgment. thereby, in theory. making it
Illegal to collect taxes and carry on
the workings of the government
After six days debate. notable for the
high standard OF the oratory, as we'll as
for the able and convincing arguments
for and against the budget. and placing
in every possible light all the aspects OF
the great constitutional questions in
volved. the house of lords cleared for di-
vision at Ii 30 o'clock tonight The scene
was impressive. but in no sense excit-
ing, except that the house was packed to
its utmost capacity and a great array OF
owing to the presence of numbers of peers
who only appear in the house in most ex-
ceptional cases. None would have sup
posed that the proceeding was destined
not only to prove memorable in the an
nails of British history, but possibly also
involving far-reaching changes in the
british constitution. There certainly sas
unusual animation in the public gall
leries, which were crowded with peer
esses, members of the house of commons,
ambassadors and others. but in the house
itself complete calm prevailed. There
was none of the tense excitement or ex-
uberant enthusiasm so distinctive of a
similar occasion in the lower house.
Lansdowne's Amendment.
The vote was on Lord Iansdownes s
amendment that the house was not JUS
titled In giving its consent to the bill un-
til 1t had been submitted to the country.
Nearly Is minutes were occupied In
clearing the house, the tellers for di-
vision being Earl Waldegrave. Viscount
Churchill, Baron Denman and Lord Cole
brooke.
When the vote was announced, just be-
fore midnight. as $50 to 75 in favor of the
amendment, a few mixed cheers were
heard. Owing to the crowded state of the
chamber the tellers had some difficulty in
forcing their way through to Lord Lore
burn, lord high chancellor. The Earl Of
Crewe Immediately moved an adjourn
menth and the house rose. An eager and
expectant crowd was waiting, and when
the figures of the vote became known
there was a slight attempt at demonstra-
tions The officials. however. speedily
cleared the hail. and in a few minutes
the Hobbies and precincts were empty.
Lord StaIwyn Absent.
1t is worthy OF note that Lord Stall
wyn, who as Michael Hicks Beach was
one of the ablest chancellors of tn
excheQuer of the conservative side, has
ostentatiously absented himself from all
debates on Lord Lansdowne's resolu-
ton, and this morning he announced
his intention not to go to the house for
division.
His abstention was due to disap-
proyal of Lord Landowners course, and
together with that OF other weighty
conservative peers. will have great ef
feet on the country.
Among those peers who came down
especially to vote was the Earl OF
Wemyss and March, who is in his 92d
year.
When division was taken there was
practically no excitement in the streets.
A force of police was in readiness and
as soon as the crowd showed ten
dency to become unmanageable they
dispersed it, being assisted In this task
by heavy rainfall.
Archbishop Of York's Speech.
The final days debate was again dis
tinguished by oratorical excellence
particularly the speeches of Lord
Curzon of Kedleston. former viceroy of
India, and the Arch bishop Of York, both
of which were of exceptional brflliancy
The Archbishop OF Yorks speech was
his maiden effort in the house Of lords
and its eloquent periods, added to DR..
Lang's fine presence and beautiful voice.
made deep impression.
The archbishop said that 1t would
be unprecedented for the lords to re-
ject finance bill passed by the house
Of commons with such a majority. The
peers would be judged. he thought, not
by their Intentions but by their per-
formance, and no matter what they said
it would be understood that in refusing
supplies for the year they had rejected
the budget
Quoting Lord Chatham he contended
that the consent of the peers only to
clothe with the form of law a tax
determined by the crown. The gift of
grant was of the house of commons
alone.
The constitutional question was one.
the speaker declared, which would pro-
foundly stir the people Of the country
and many persons would prefer the
passing Of a bad budget to tampsring
with the fundamental principle OF the
constitution. 1t was not enough %
prove that the budget was bad.
On that point sufficient had been al
lowed.
The question was whether the lords
were competent apart from the. pre-