The Washington times., 1909-12-11

ireland. The dukes are highest in
rank" but the rank does not really
make any difference. being only nomi-
nal. II does not mean that duke has
a larger estate or that he is OF greater
influence court or in the GOV eminent
than a peer OF lower re- k.
The next lowest nominal ranl- is that
Of maTquesse. There are tweuty-three
marquesses in England, four in Scot
land, and ten IN Ireland. Next come
the earls. of which there are 128 in
England, that is imperial forty-four
Scottish. and twelve Irish. The next
grade IS that OF viscount. there being
forty imperial viscounts, four Scottish,
and thiTty-six Irish And tho lowest
grade Of peers is that of baron There
IS a great host Of these. 235 Imperial.
forty-four Scottish, and siNty-f . Irish.
Constitute Peerage.
These. together with the bishops and
archbishOps, constitute the ''peerage,
but only the imperial peers have seats
in the house of lords. those from Scot
land and Ireland choosing only a small
number from among themselves. In all
there are 6l7 members of the house or
,, fdS. only a small percentage Of whom
attend the sessions except in great a. .svs
IKE the recent vote on the resolution
TO ask the people TO vote on the budget
before they passed it. when IL was said
that long delays were caused by the ig-
nora nee of numerous lords who did not
know where to sit or what to do. having
been there but 50 seldom.
or the 6l4 lords. AS re termed either
ConserH atives or Unionists- All OF these
belong 70 the opposition" 70 the present
Liberal government. and are alike by
the Liberals termed Tories
The Liberal peers number 100, and
there are a. lords who are known as
Gross Benchers." That IS. they do not
align themselves with either party or
ganization, but are strictly neutral, vot-
aHc ira ara F-.rr H. a.
They are called "cross-benchers' be
cause thew sit on the cross benches be
tween the seats occupied by the Liberal
on one side and the Tories on the
other, facing each other.
Now this body Of men is generally
considered throughout the country as
utterly Incompetent in affairs OF govern
ment They know II, and they do not
generally NEEDLE in affairs az govern
ment.
Have Not Meddled.
Especially have they heretofore been
known not to neddle with the financial
affairs of the government. 1t has been
900 years since the house OF lords has
failed 20 pass n financial bill sent I'D by
tho house OF commons.
Various suggestions have been made
all through the country for reforming
the house OF lords. out IN the parks,
In public halls In the newspapers, and
I'm private conversation I'm practically
be discussion OF what to do with the
house of lords.
The thing was not altogether acad-
emic, either, like our question Of What
to do with our former Presidents "
These mass meetings, park gatherings.
and street parades are expressions OF
public opinion, and public opinion IS far
more Influential with the government
in England than ii is in this country
You must not leave today" said a
man 10 me In one of the British towns
one day. wait till tomorrow and see
the street parade. That. you know. il
part OF the British constitution, being
an expression Of public opinion
Chief Objection.
The chief objection or at least the
most palpable fault Of the house OF
lords, as the people generally seem TO
see IL, is the hereditary feature of it
The most radical ones I heard speak.
and heard some pretty radical ones.
did not advocate abolishinC the upper.
house altogether. They do not even
mind having the peers appointed by the
crown so ICuch, but do not want the
son Of a man appOinte allowed to sit
in the seat given his father for extra
ordinary service to ,iis country
Let a man be made duke or an
earl or what not and given a seat i'm
the house Of lords" I heard one say out
In Hyde Park before a large imprompu
gathering. but let him be so n lnored
because Of some meritorious service
But when his son grows up let that son
win his laurels and his seat in the
house Of lords just like his father did "