Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-01

volve far-reaching changes in the
| British constitution.
| True, there was unusual animation in
| the public galleries, which were crowd
| ed with pecresses, members OF the house
| of commons and ambassadors. But on
| the floor Itself complete calm prevailed.
The vote was on Lord Lansdowne's
amendment that the house was not JUS
tilted in giving its consent to the bill
until 1t had been submitted to the
judgment of the country. Nearly Is
minutes were occupied in clearing the
house tellers for division being Earl
W4aldcgrayc, Viscount Churchill, Baron
Denman and Lord Colebrooke.
THE DIVISION.
When the vote was announced just
before midnight, as $50 to 10 in favor
of the amendment, q few mixed cheers
were heard. The Earl of Crewe i'm
mediately moved an adjournment, and
the house rose.
An eager crowd was waiting the re-
suit in the central hall. and when the
vote became known there was slight
attempt at counter demonstration. Of
ficials. however. speedily cleared the
hall, and in a few minutes the Hobbies
and precincts were empty.
II is WOIluN VI lOlC ludt Lulu 81.
Aldwyn, who. as Michael Hicks Beach.
was one of the ablcst chancellors Of
the cXcheouer Of the Conservative side
has ostentatiously absented himself
from all debates on Lord Lansdowne's
resolution. and this morning he an
Dounced his intention not to go to the
house for division. His abstcntion was
duo to dlsapprovel Of Lord Ians-
downe's course. and. together With that
OF other weighty Conservative peers,
will have great effect In tho country
Among those peers who came down es-
peci3lly to vote was the Earl of
Wemyss and March, who is in his nine
ty-second year.
When division was taken there vas
practically no excitement in the streets.
although earlier in the night crowds
gathered near the house and attempted
to pro-budget demonstr7t ton A force
OF police was in readiness and SO soon
as the crowd showed a tendency TO be-
come unmanageaIblc. they dispersed the
demonstrators, being assisted by
heavy rainfall.
The final debate was distinguished by
oratoricaI excellence. particularly i'll
the speeches of Lord Curzon Of KedIes-
ton former vlceroy of India and of the
archbishop of York. The archbishops
speech was his maiden effort In tho
house of lords and its eloquent periods
added to DR.. Lang's fine presence and
beautiful voice, made deep impress
sion.
The archbishop strongly opposed
Lord Lansdowne's resolution declaring
that It would be unprecedented for the
lords to reject finance bill passed by
the house OF commons with such MA
jority.
A MOMENTOUS STRUGGLE.
Lord Curzon was plainly suffering
from his recent indisposition and had
to ask the indulgence of the house, but.
despite physical weakness, which Sow
eral times in his so-minutc speech
threatened to overcome him he
spoke with his accustomed Wig
or and art. He maintained
that the lords had an absolute
right to reject the finance bill, and he
argued that the country was on the eve
of a momentous struggle, which might
lead to the reform of the house OF
lords.
Earl Cawdor. former first lord of ad-
miralyty. who wound up the debate for
the opposition. maintained that there
had been an attempt to evade the lords
ancient right to reject each tax by
placing all taxes on one bill 1t was
idle to pretend, he said. that such
change of procedure by the house of
C'1flIDOIS COulu dllCCl OnC lOld I6bppn-
sibilities and duties OF the second cham
ber He quoted Premier Asquith as
stated and assuming the premiership
that the function of the house of lords
was to checio slovenly and precipitate
legislation. This, the Earl Cawdor
thought. fairly represented the action
the lords proposed to take.
referring to tacking on license pro-
posals and land valuations to the bud
get he said that, as both these had
previously been rejected by the house
OF lords. 1t would destroy all the power
of the upper house If the lords were
unable to veto the finance bill. in
which these were not included. He as
sorted the budget already had driven
capital from the country an to alarming
extent. had stunned the building trade
and had increased unemployment.
They were told that the rejection OF
the bill would couse financial chaos. but
Lord Lansdowne's offer of assistance
to avoid inconvenience. had not been
cordially received by the government.
Therefore. he said, IL chaos came the
responsibility would rest upon the min
is:f-y. The government wanted single
chamber. independent of any check,
while the lords had been fighting for
one principle. namely. the separation OF
the judicial and administrative func-
tiops.
3 'ho ProPiS, 1ciu Nd'Muo' colciuneu,
could get rid OF the decisions OF the
second chamber by an election, but they
could get rid of an autocratlc single
chamber only by revolution
WHAT AMENDMENT IS.
The Earl of Crew. secretary of state
for the colonies. and lord privy seal
closed the debate in speech frequently
interrupted by ministerial cheers Lord
Lansdowne's amendment. he contended
was the negatlon of all precendent and
houted all usage. All agreed that II
was necessary this year to raise largo
amount OF extra money by taxation.
necessitated by tho claims OF national
defense and the adoption of old age
pensions, The sum total OF the long de-
bate. he declared. was that the oppo-
sition considered tho governments
method OF raising money illusory and
that that justified revolution