Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-02-25
SCENE ONE OF BRILLIANCY WHEN
MONARCH DECLARES ASSEM-
BLAGE is ORGANIZED.
BITTER FIGHT GROWING NEAR.
Existence of Hereditary House of Pears
Threatened in Contest Between
the Political Parties.
REDMOND MAPS OUT PROGRAMME.

LONDON, Feb. 21.-Parliament was
opened formally this afternoon by King,
Edward, who was accompanied by
Queen Alexandra. The assemblage is.
now fully organized and ready for the
work of the session.
The state opening was marked by all
the pomp and pageantry associated with
such occasions since the accession Of
Edward VII. The royal progress through
the trOOp-lined streets from buckingham
palace to Westminster drew the usual
huge crowds, but widespread as always
has been the interest in these brilliant
functions both among the public and
those personally participating, today's
ceremony had an attraction all its own.
UppermOSr IN the minds OF the thou
sands who witnessed the spectacle III
the streets and among the occupants OF
the red clothed benches in the gilded
chamber was the thought of the forth
coming fight which threatens the very
existence of the hereditary house Of
peers. Conjecture was rife as to wheth-
er spectators were witnessing acts pre-
luding historic charges in the centuries
old institutions of Great Britain.
Prince Henry There.
The ceremony itself did not differ out
wardIy from scores of previous state
openings, except that close to the throne
were present the Prince and Princess
Henry of Prussia. The former wore the
uniform of an officer of the British navy,
of which he was recently appointed ad-
mira of the fleet. Every corner of the
chamber was filled and the varied color
ings of the peers, bishops and judges
robes, and the court, diplomatic, naval
and the military uniforms with the beau
e hi lad
made scene of brilliancy.
In a mOmentOus speech from the throne
King Edward outlined the plan of the
ministerial campaign against the House
OF Lords as follows:
Recent experience has disclosed Sc
riOuS difficulties due to recurring differ
ences Of strong opinion between the two
branches of the legislature. Proposals
will be laid before you with all con-
yenient speed, to define the relations be-
tween the houses of Parliament so as to
secure the undivided authority of the
House of Commons over finance and it's
predominance i'll legislation. These
measures, in the opinion Of my advisers,
should provide that this house should
he so constituted and empowered as to
exercise impartially in regard to pro-
posed legislation, the functions of init
alton, revision, and. subject to proper
safeguards, of delay"
Alng'S speech Brlet.
The Kings speech, which had been
awaited with such profound interest,
proved to be unusually brief and made
plain that the work of the session would
be confined to the matter of finance and
the question of the House of Lords. His
majesty opened with the usual reference
to the friendly relations existing with
foreign powers and dealt at length with
the establishment of the union of South
fpip nd 70 r. vic of bp
Prince of Wales to open the first Legisla-
ture of the United Dominion of South
Africa.
The financial estimates for the coming
year were next set forth. These" said
his majesty, have been framed with the
utmost desire for economy, but the re-
Quirements for the naval defense of the
empire made it necessary to propose Il
substantial increase in the cost of my
navy"
Recording the fact that the expendi-
lures authorized by the last Parliament
course to temporary borrowing, the
speech declared:
arrangements must be made at the
earliest possible moment to deal with the
financial situation thus created"
This was taken as confirmation of Pre-
mier Asuuith's avowed determination to
regulate the present conduct of financial
affairs before attacking the House of
Lords. The most important pronounce
ment was reserved for the end of the
speech, which closed with the paragraph
upon the relations between the two
houses as given above.
The reading of the speech occupied only
four minutes At the close, their males
ties retired. and the session was suspend
ed for two hours. American Ambassador
Reid and William Phillips. secretary of
i, the American embassy, were among the
diplomats present.
Much Gossip in Lobbies.
During the intermission the speech was
the subject of keen analysis in the lob
bies of both houses. 1t was regarded as
evident that the cabinet had decided,
against the extremists who desire the
abolition of the upper chamber, and is
anxious only to deprive the House of
Lords of the mower of veto.
A meeting of all the Irish Nationalists
in the new House of Commons was held
This afternoon to determine the party
attitude toward the governmental pro-
gramme John Redmond leader of the
Irish parliamentary party, presided, and
that he is in 4 mood to fight unless Pre-
mier Asquith clears the way for Irish
aspirations may be gathered from his
appeal to the people of Ireland for party
funds issued this morning.
This appeal" said Mr.. Redmond, sis
vitality urgent by reason of the strong,
probability that another dissolution Of
! Parliament will be upon US Immediately
perhaps before Easter"
Decision Is Suspended.
Today's meeting authorized Mr.. Red
mond 10 voice the already expressed
opinion of the party regarding the policy
| that should be pursued, but suspended
| decision upon the final action to be taken
until the Kings speech had been read
and the position of the government more
| fully disclosed.