Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-08
FATE Of THE PEERS
IS NOW DISCUSSED
IN GREAT BRITAIN
What viii Government Do on
Re-AsSembIing of Parlia-
ment?--Some Radicals Fa-
vor Elimination of Lords
OTHERS WOULD CUT
THEIR VETO POWER

LONDON. Feb. 5.-Of even greater in
terest than the possible changes in the
cabinet is the course the government is
likely to pursue upon the reassembling
of parliament Thus far on this. as on
all other matters. the prime minister. Mr.
Asquith. has kept his own counsel. and
the views Of the Liberals vary accord
ing to their shade OF radicalism.
Extreme members OF the party. like
the LabOrites, and even some of the
more moderate men. strongly favor an
immediate attack upon the veto power Of
the house OF lords. leaving the budget
and ali other legislation until the party
has settled its account with the peers,
who are held responsible for all the po-
litical troubles that have arisen
The Irish members. too. are believed to
support this view. although John f
Redmond. leader OF the Nationalist.
who since his election has been in retire
ment at his country home in Ireland.
has not made any announcement of his
intentions.
URGE THE BUDGET.
possibility Of the disorganization Of the
finances OF the country by this course Of
action. are urging the government first
TO introduce the budget. which the lords.
accepting the result Of the election as an
Endorsement of the governments financial
policy. are already pledged to pass.
On the question of the future status Of
the house OF lords. opinions differ almost
as widely. The Laborites and extremist
Radicals are for the absolute abolition OF
the upper chamber. which hardly comes
within the peers view of practical poll
tics. Another section OF the ministerial
lists demands the abolition of the lords
right Of veto on financial legislation and
the curtaiIment OF their veto in other
legislation.
So that, in the words Of the resolution
passed By the house Of commons, when
the budget was held up by the house of
lords. the viii of the people as express
ed by the house Of commons must be
adopted by the house OF lords within the
limits OF 4 single parliament"
In other words this means that any
measure passed by three SUGGESTIONS OF
the house Of commons must be adopted
etes are expressed by Sir Edward Grey.
the foreign secretary. who said:
GREY's VIEWS.
NO reform OF the house OF lords can
be real reform unless Il provides for
the abolition OF the hereditary principle
and the substitution OF popular election Z"
The Spectator follows up this with the
suggestion that the upper house be mod
eled after the American senate. the house
70 consist Of go members chosen under a
system OF proportional representation
from equal electoral areas.
In the meantime the Unionists, with the
exception OF a few peers who under no
circumstances would Hpd a place in the
reformed chamber. are practically unani-
nous for a change in the constitution or
the house Of lords. Many schemes are
being put forward. the most popular
probabaly being that embodied in the re-
port OF the Rosebery committee which
provides for the election Of the hereditary
peers OF 30 OF their own number. togeth-
er with 80 peers qualified by service to
the nation. 10 bishops. ) judges and 40
life peers
The imperialists among the Unionists
look with considerable favor upon the
suggestion made by Horton Griffiths. a
new member. who has had great expe-
Renee in the colonies and elsewhere. He
has proposed when the moment is op-
perfume to establish senate of the en-
pire TO include representatives OF the coll
onies
ASQCITH MAY HAVE MAJORITY.
Premier Asquith can count on a ma
tority for the curtaiIment OF the house
90 lords veto. for in this the Nationalist
and doubtless the Independent Nation
lists. too. will be with the government
On the budget. however. the attitude OF
the NatiOnalists is still uncertain. Mr..
Redmond has not committed himself be-
yond giving out his cable correspond
ence with NJ j. Ryan. national presi-
dent OF the United Irish League OF
America, but many members Of the party
strongly oppose the clauses imposing
whisky duties and If they do not vote
against them would in their own political
interest have 10 abstain from voting.
Several Liberals are in the same posi-
ton and when the budget is introduced
they VIII be given permission by the
William O'Brien, who heads the in
dependent Irish members, has made his
intended attitude quite clear in a let
ter In which ne says:
There is no doubt that the Irish
party contsmplates the blacklist treason
perpetrated against the Irish since the
act Of union. The NatiOnalists propose
TO assist the government in passing
the budget. which will impose on Ire
land sIe.OOO.0OO IN taxation per an
num-
The coming week will see a clearing
Of the atmosphere. Premier AsqJith
and Chancellor Lloyd-George and other
members OF the cabinet who went to
the country after the campaign, are
now on their way back TO London.
The first formal meeting Of the min
istry win take place February 10 and the
changes in the cabinet, the wording OF
the kings speech for the opening of par
lament and the course OF business for
the commons will then be decided. The
king viii be absent from London at that
time. the plan being that he shall spend
a week at the Brighton course. in order
TO prevent the suggestion that he is TAX
ing any side In the controversy. At the
same time, his majesty will be near at
hand. when the premier desires to ac-
quaint him with the decision OF the gov
eminent
T. p. O'COnnOr. in an article i'm Rey-
noldsf newspaper. expressed the opinion
that the question as to whether the
king win assist Premier Asquith to cur
tail the vote OF the house OF lords by
the creation OF peers has already been
fully discussed between the king and
the prime minister and that there is a
fairly clear understanding on the sub
iect. Nh. OCOnnOr takes most cheer
ful view OF the prospect and sees no
AZ - he ne