New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-03
ASQUITH ENDORSED
GREAT MAJORITY IN
THE COMMONS.
Premier's Speech, appealing to
En- gland. Enthusiastically
Upheld.
rEy Fnenoh cable to The Tribune


London. Dec 2.-The Prime Minister'S
speech to-day in support Of the remon-
STRANGE against the peers new bin OF
rights was heard by denseiy crowded
house The peers gallery was filed. and
Ito Commoners who could not find
standing room on the fOOr took refuge
n the other galleries.
The Prime Minister spoke FOR one hour
IN has best debating style and warmed
tne hearts of his supporters as Ne had
never done before. He was fluent. elo-
cuent logical and ironical. and did not
repeat the Marquis OF Lansdowne's mis-
take ~ being too discursive and cover
inC too many points
After denouncing the suspension Of the
finance bin az a breach Of the constitu-
zion and an arrogant usurpatiOn. he de-
scribed succinctly the consequences OF
this unprecedented action. Ten or eleven
taxes had been authorized by the
budget resolutions These could not be
collected after The propagation % Par
Lament and the Treasury would Ice
liable for actions for the recovery OF
taxes already paid.
A large deficit and heavy losses in rev
enu- were inevitable. for which the Lords
we're responsible. The government could
Tot submit another ad interim budget
without conceding the right OF the Lords
To- amend and make over the finance bin.
There was no alternative FOR the dis
solution OF Parliament at the earliest
possible moment. and financial measures
would Re deferred until the election Of a
new House These dry details gave
satisfaction 10 the Radicals because
there was no attempt 10 minimize the
disastrous effects Of the Lords action.
Great enthusiasm Was aroused by his
ineisive structures on the breaches OF
constitutional law and what Mr.
AsQuith described as a new-fangled
Casarism. He accepted Pitts dictum
ti.at taxes were the voluntary grants ana
gifts of the Commons alone. asserting
that the rejection Of all taxes en- bloc was
without shadow OF precedent. and con-
tended that the Lords were animated BY
q hatred Of the budget rather than love
~ Jle people" He quoted Balfo,1- as a
blouse ~ Commons man against Bal
four as an apolOgist for the usurpation
0f The Lords, and closed with genuine
ei"Guence q speech devoted 10 the de-
fence % the first principles OF representa-
1--WE government.
There was a fairly electrical demon
strafion OF homage and appreciation
from Liberal and Labor followers when
Ine mastery speech was finished. Ny.
Baifour ~ once replied. having dragged
himself 10 the Commons when he ought
20 have been al home nursing serious
cold
u was short speech. which his fol-
lovers frequently applauded, and he
needed encouragemen1 as he was in an
unenyiabie position. since ne was con
strained 20 condone the attack OF the
privileged house upon the traditions Of
the representative government He re-
preached the Prime Minister for neglect
inr o. take legal precautions Cor collect
inE taxes. referred with fine irony 70
Ihe Radical passion for the passage 81
high sounding resolutions and ridiculed
what DE contemptuously termed THE
death bed threats OF ministers. The
nearest approach 10 argument on the
constitutional issue was his contention
the right ~ the Lords 10 reject the
finance bills; that suspension OF the bud
g,t vas justified by its extraordinary
character and the necessity Of submit
tng b 20 the people, and that the gov
eminent Dog charging its own privileges
had forced the Lords 10 make a stand in
ssIf-Cs-ence.
u Was a clever but unconvincing re-
py o. the Prime Minister'S well rea-
soned defence II the rights Of the Com
mons The debate was confined TO the
leaders and the division was speedily
takar resulting in the passage Of the re-
mousrrancc by vote Of $40 10 l34 The
majority. "a. was smaller than that
gr0u for final passage. In the reading
oi tls budget the Nationalists abstained
from voting. but the Labor party solidly
supported the government.
TIE Propagation Of Parliament viii fol-
low r1c close of the debate Tomorrow.
L F