The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-01
HOUSE OF LORDS
REJECT BUDGET
CONTINUED FROM PAGE II
mons TO pass a budget not its own but
one acceptable to the lords.
Lord curzon's Speech,


one acceptable to the lords.
Lord curzon's Speech.
Lord CuEon, former viceroy of In
dia- supporting Lord Transformers
amendment. objected to the assertion
that the budget bill was an instru-
ment of social reform.
Lord Cuxon was plainly suffering
from his recent indisp osition and had
to ask the indulgence OF the house, but
IN spite OF physical weakness, which
several times during his 30 minutes
speech threatened to overcome him, he
spoke with all his accustomed vigor and
art. He maintained that the lords had
an absolute right to reject the finance
bill, and he agreed that the country
was on the eve OF a momentuos strug-
gle. which might lead to the reform of
the house of lords, from which the
lords would not sh rink.
Earl Cawdor, former first lord of ad-
miralty, who wound up the debate for
the opposition. maintained that there had
been an attempt to evade the lords an
cient right to reject express tax by pfac-
ing all taxes on one bill. 1t was Idle
TO pretend, he said, that such a change
of procedure by the House of Commons
could affect one iota the responsibilities
and duties of the second chamber
The following abstained from voting:
The Duke of Connaught, the Archbishop
of Canterbury. Viscount st. A1dwyn, Earl
de la War;, the Earl of Litton and the
Marquis Dufferin and several other peers
and bishops. The Archbishop of York
and the bishops of Birmingham, Ches-
ter and st. Asaph voted against the reso-
luton. The Bishop of Lincoln voted for
the resolution, while Lord James of
Hereford, the Bishop of Hereford, paired
against the resolution. Otherwise the d.
vision was on strict party lines.
History Of Budget Bill.
When David Lloyd-George. chancellor
of the exchequer, on April 90, presented
in the House of Commons the liberal
governments budget, he precipitated
struggle which has become historic. Ac-
cumulated wealth and the trade as the
liquor business is popularity called, were
made to bear the burden OF the 915,-
762, 900 (s7s, $40 ooo) deficit of the fiscal year
incurred by the old age pensions and
the race with Germany for Dreadnoughts.
In memorandum issued prior to the
introduction of the budget the chancei-
Tor estimated the revenue for the fiscal
year of 1g09-10 as S741 $50 900 and the ex-
penditures as $500, $50 900. The chancellor
pointed out that nearly all branches OF
trade and industry suffered serious de-
preston, the foreign trade returns show
ing diminution in value to the amount
of nearly s57o,oooooo as compared with
1907
Increased income taxes, death estate
and legacies duties, tax of 20 per cent
on future increase in the value of lands
due to the enterprise of the community,
taxes on motors, to be devoted to keep
ing up the roads, and stamp taxes on
sales of property were the principal levies
on wealth.
Sir Frederick George Banbury, Austin
Chamberlain and John Redmond, leader
OF the Irish party, all condemned the
measure. The debate on the bill in the
house of commons began May 3, but the
measure was hung up on several different
occasions, and it was not until Novem-
Der that the commons passed the third
reading. the vote being 379 to 13s.
Announcement Of Vote.
The announcement Of the vote, showing
the governments majority to be very
much larger than had been expected, was
greeted with prolonged ministerial
cheers and the liberal papers pointed out
that the budget had left the house of
commons backed by a solid majority,
representing the whole strength OF the
party. including the labor members. The
nationalists abstained from voting, which
was taken as meaning declaration of
war against the house Of lords. when the
struggle was carried to the country at the
general election.
When the second reading of the budget
bill was moved in the house OF lords on
November 22 Lord Lansdowne. leader OF
the opposition. offered an amendment
that 1t be rejected because "this house Is
not justified In giving its consent to this
bill until IT has been submitted to the
Judgment OF the country"
The oratory has been brilliant. partic-
ularly notable being the speeches Of Lord
Rosebery. the former liberal prime min
ister, who warned the lords Of the crave
risks they wsre running II they adopted
tho amendment TO reject the budget: Lord
Balfour of Burisigh. Lord Crome, Lord
IAnsdowne and Lord Morley Of Black
burn. Lord Rosebery, during the course
of his addfess, said:
This IL the greatest political moment