The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-03
HOUSE Of LORDS
FLATLY REBUKED
House Of Commons Claims Ab-
so|ut3 Control Of Finances
GREAT STRUGGLE At HAND
Premier Asquith Delivers Telling
Speech Upon the Budget and
Pours Ridicule Upon the
Attitude of Peers.

London, December BY a majority of
215, after a brief but exciting sitting, the
house of commons today recorded its
claim to exclusive control of the nation s
purse. a claim never before challenged
in modern times. The vote was taken on
a resolution offered by Premier Asquith
which declared "That the action of the
house of lords in refusing to pass into
law the financial provisions made by the
chamber for the expenses of the year was
a breach of the constitution, and a usur-
patton of the rights of the house OF
commons. and the resolution was passed
by a vote of s4s to 1874.
BY this vote the opposing forces of the
lords and commons are placed in battle
array for one of the greatest constitu-
tional struggles that has come before the
countrys Judgment for centuries. The
scenes of enthusiasm which accompanied
the voting on Mr.. Asquiths resolution
were in marked contrast TO those wit
messed during the recent debate in the
house of lords.
Mr.. Balfour, leader of the opposition,
evidently was suffering from the effects
of his indisposltion, and did not speak
at his best. His speech lacked the ring
of sincerity and conviction which charac-
terized the prime minister's.
RidicuIing Lords.
The latter had an easy task In pouring
ridicula ,,,on u,l,ot l,a dasor,haa an,onr
the rousing and encouraging cheers of his
supporters. as a ''new-fangled Caesar
ism,, this arrogant usurpation' of the
house of lords
The premier's ironical reference to "the
instinct of divination', of the peers on
reaching manhood dissolved his hearers
in laughter. He quoted with trenohant
erect the speech Of Mr. Balfour less than
a year ago. In 'ash the Ag>premier de-
scribed himself as a house of commons
man. and said:
ut is the house of commons, not the
house of lords, which should have con-
troll of our financial system. If the
house of lords could touch the money
bills the whole executive machinery of
the country would be brought to a stand
still"
The amusement with which the liberals
listened to these quotations from Balfour
against himself was only equaled by the
chagrin depicted on the faces of Mr.. Bal
four's followers. Altogether, Mr.. As
quith surpassed himself and his elated
followers declare that he never made a
finer or more effective speech.
Asquth's Argument.
The prime minister pointed out that in
opening parliament the King had invited
the house of commons alone to make pro-
vision for the heavy additional expendi-
ture in view of the necessities in the way
of social reform and the national defense.
The budget was the result and it repre-
sented, he said, in a greater degree than
could be said of any other measure of
"our time the deliberate work of an
Overwhelming majority of the representa-.
tives of the people. In the course of the
week that whole fabric had been thrown
to the ground by body which admitted
ly had no power to increase or decrease a
single tax With much emphasis Pre-
mier Asuuith declared that the house Of
commons would prove unworthy of its
traditions If it allowed a single day to
pass without making clear that it did not
mean to brook this grave indignity and
arrogant usurpation of its rights
The session of parliament was closing,
the premier said, without a financial act,
and until fresh provision could be made
the necessities of state could be sup
piled only through borrowing. He ex-
pressed the hope that the ultimate loss
to the government would not be very
great, but added that SO far as the pres
ent financial year was concerned it was
obvious the result of the action of the
house of lords must create the largest de-
felt yet faced His warnings. he said,
had been unheeded, and the responsibility
of the chaos, confusion and loss must
rest with the lords.
Balfour Speaks.
Following Premier Asquith's speech, A.
j. Balfour strenuously defended the ac-
ton Of the lords. who, he said, had a
clear conviction of their powers. These
were not excessive and the efforts made
to curtail them partook of a pettiness in
cs,racter and were extremely detrimen-
tai to the public interest. In declaring
that the constituencies should be consult
ed the lords had not gone beyond the
functions which should be left to a sec
ond chamber, he said. Though the refer
ence Of bills TO the country by the lords
YVES rare. their opponents had no right
to Law claim to this rarity as showing that
the power Of the upper chamber In this
respect should fall into desuetude. Mr..
Balfour said he hoped instances when the
lords referred such question to the
country would be rare. He hoped also
that the lords would never abandon the
essential point of the controversy which
was whether the lords In declaring that
the constituencies should be consulted had
zone beyond the functions which ought
10 be left to the second chamber, however
rarely they might deem 1t proper to exer-
else them. That was a point which the
country would have to decide.
II the country was desirous of getting
the budget they would get 1t just as much
after the vote of the lords as before If
the government was returned the ques-
zion would be settled an dthe budget, Mr..
Rslfour presumed. would be passed with
ont alteration That was what the Sec
ond chamber was for. It was erroneous
to confound the process OF reiactin"
hill WITH the process which the lords had
p,rsued in this instance. Their course
had been strictly in accordance with the
whole theory of the second chamber. and
his belief was that the country would
talse the same view OF the matter.
Following the debate division was had
on the resolution which carried by 4 vote
At ~ to ~