New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-20
REFORM OF LORDS
Merit and Standardization
WGH0uUTeS.
London. March O.


Reform % the Lords is now the fTst
step toward the UniOnist goal Of a tariff
for the empire. Confronted with an cleo
ton IN the course 4 few weeks or
months. neither Mr.. BaIfour nor Lord
Lansdowne is willing % face the general
electorate without definite plan for the
reconstruction Of the hereditary cham
Der. There will not be time for carrying
a bill through the upper house. but a
single debate on a series Of carefully
phrased resolutions win be an earnest Of
the deliberate intention Of the UniOnist
lords to set their house in order. When
the elections come on there viii be an
alternative Tor the Radical plan Of
single chamber government. with the
upper house deprived Of coordinate
legislative powers. There will be rea-
sOnabIe assurance that the financial ad-
ministration will not again be thrown
into extreme disorder by the action Of an
irresponsible body Of hereditary legisla-
tors. There are shFeWd tacticians on the
Conservative side. and they will act with
presence OF mind II they accept the lead
ership Of Lord Rosebery in this timely
reform movement
Not long ago there was talk on the
Liberal side about an examination Of the
records OF attendance Of peers during
the last decade and limitation Of sum
monses 90 those who had been present
az Westminster at least ten times dur
ing the period. Nothing came Of IL be-
a 81 Ia
uary elections was too unstable % war
rant strenuous exercise Of royal pre-
rOgative in a reduction OF the writs.
The Conservative peers themselves
have now ordered a return OF attend
ance during the last three arliaments.
so that there can be facts at hand for
1ustifying the exclusion Of a large body
Of peers who peFsistently negIect their
duties and privileges as legislators.
Lord ROsebeFy's favOrite argument Of
efficiency will suffice for this purpose.
Peers who have not answered their
summOnses or have appeared at West
minister only two or three times IN the
course Of ten years cannot complain IL
their personal services are dispensed
with and they are asked 70 join in the
election of representative Legislative
lords. In this way the whole body Of
English peers will be reduced to equality
with Scottish and Irish peers and con-
stituted as a special electorate for the
selection Of Lords Of Parliament.
The enlargement Of the list Of elective
peers will be one method OF dealing with
Z lin
the creation Of an order OF merit Lord
OnslOw has already moved for a return
OF the names Of peers who have held
high Office. and II is a requirement Of the
reform schemes Of Lord ROsebery and
Lord Newton that experience as viceToy.
ambassador. admiral. lieutenant general
privy councillor. member OF the Cabinet
or members OF the Commons shall be an
adequate qualification for service in the
upper house without the necessity fOl
election. AS a certain number Of bishops
all the law lords and other distinguished
servants Of the crown win naturally b.
included in this privileged order OF
merit. there will be no difficulty In dis
! pensing with heredity as the basis OF
legislative service
With a reinforcement OF elective peers
the House OF Lords. if reconstructed on
these lines. will become the most expe-
rienced and efficient second chamber in
the world. With additional reinforce
ments Of representative men from thu
/ governing commemorative. IL may
also be readily enlarged into an i'm
periaI assembly. Who win say that the
dream of imperial federation may nc
be converted into reality through a com
I prehensive scheme Of reform OF the
Lords?
Since Lord ROsebery now has the CO.
operation OF Lord CurzOn. Lord Lans-
dOwne. Lord Miner. Lord Newton ant
other distinguished peers. the resolution.
which are to be debated this month SHOULD
be the foundation for a practical reform
measure Twenty-Five peers presented 4
thoughtful report on the subject soOr
after the House OF Lords threw out thu
licensing bill at the dictatiOn Of a party
caucus in LansdOwne House With thC
suspension or rejection Of the bulge
and the Radical or coalition campaign
against the Lords. the subject has be.
come more urgent. and the resolutions
against heredity as the basis OF Iegisla-
tive service cannot be dispensed with. Il
the Unionists expect to carry the indus
trial Northern belt and Scotland in thu
next general election.
Details cannot be supplied in advance o
the debate. but the motive and scope Of IN
reform measure as II viii be presented an,
urged by Lord Rosebery can be safely as
sumed. In place OF an irresponsible UP
per chamber whose members were heir.
TO peerages or had been rewarded will
coTonets for political subscriptions. Their,
would be "A body OF eminent servants o
the crown, who had either rendered ser
vice % the state or had been chosen b,
their titled colleagues or by the crow
for the exercise OF legislative functions
This increased authority for the uppe
house would impaTt more weight To IL
veto upon LEGISLATION than II now DOS
I sesses. For this reason the more al
vanced section OF the Radical party hai
been strenuOusly opposed TO any reform
scheme. IL has wanted TO muzzle an,
\ Taralyze rather than to reform an,
strengthen the upper house. Even mod
crate Liberals like SIR Edward Grey an,
Lord Crewe are constrained 10 ADM
-