Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-05

given a few weeks In which to compound a
specific warranted to reduce the swelling
OF the peers, or so out OF business, Premier
, Asuuith and his associates by a quick
change Of 'front.' practically abandoned the
budget, which formed the bone OF conten-
ton last fall. and adopted the Redmond
plan Of reserving the budget as a fulcrum
to move the peers TO the commons way
Of thinking. The fiscal year Is nearly ended
and temporary financial relief will be Sc
cured by resolution. After this comes the
plan for limiting the power OF the House Of
Lords over legislation, with a new budget
held in reserve as a sort OF club. The task
Of reconcillng moderate and radical sup
porters puts to the test the ability Of the
ministers. Their political lives are at stake
as well as their sincerity in fulfilling pat
form pledges. Various plans Of dlsposing
Of the veto power of the lords are under
consideration in the public prints. Much
sentiment is being worked up for an cleo
tive chamber Of peers. But the manner in
which the peers are chosen. II their legisla-
tive power remains unchanged, would not
benefit the liberal party, for the tory
majority would still dominate. Meanwhile
the more progressive peers, seeming dan
ger ahead, are urging reform for the
double purpose Of heading off the liberals
and sloughing off the execrescences. Lord
Rosebery is pressing for reform within
the body, wisely contending for revision
Of the peerage by it's friends instead of
its enemies. The weeks following the
Easter recess hold the promise Of lively
times In Parliament, presenting another
phase Of the irresponsible conflict between
the forces of progress and standpatism-
zee
The machinery OF self government under
the constitution Of the South African
union is being put together and made ready
for the start at a date in summer not yet
settled. The new governor general, Her
bert Gladstone. recently raised to the peer
age, will he installed this month and it
Is expected he will cali upon General
Botha to form the first union ministry.
According to current reports, the motor
ious DR.. Jameson, leader Of the British
raid on johannesburg, an event that set
in motion the wheels which a little later
ground the life out OF the Dutch republics
Is to be a member Of the new ministry.
General Botha and DR.. jameson represent
the forces at war ten years ago, and their
cooperation in starting the new self-gov-
ernlng colony is a cheering example Of
buried animosities. The election of sena-
tors by the four separate parliaments of
the colonies will take place in April. This
will be practically the last Of the
Parliaments before they are dissolved on
May 81, after which date the entire ad-
ministration Of South Africa will be trans
ferred to the Union government. The cleo
ton for the representative assembly will
not take place until an advanced date
in the summer, on account of the delays
necessitated by the fixing Of boundaries
for the distribution of seats In each Of
the four colonies. During the interval
between May 81 and the close of the popu-
lar elections the government of General
Botha, as nominated BY the senators, with
the approval of the governor general, will
be in power in all South Africa
zee
A Paris correspondent writes concerning
an unexpected result of the recent flood:
This recent visitation seems likely to
prove in many respects a blessing in DIS
guise, morally as well as physically. Not
only is Paris being swept and garnished,
~cleansed and purified as it never was be-
fore, but the disaster has had a chasten-
ing and humanlzing influence on public
sentiment which is worth noting. The
impression created by the spontaneous
sympathy and generous aid which have
flowed coward France from every part of
NHS WIN D PAOAOaAAhs ~ AlhAAlAASNlAb
contribution OF the united kingdom,
America and the British colonies are the
subject of wondering comment. German
liberality has been accepted without a
thought Of any Interior motive. The help
ing hand Of the most distant states, like
far Japan and Of humble communities,
hardly mentioned on any map has been
taken and warmly grasped. The whole
press voices the popular recognition and
gratitude. Surely this must count for
somthing in the polity Of nations.
ss$
The duke of Manchester, who married the
heiress OF the Zimmerman family Of Gin
cinnati, and thereby rejuvenated his an
cestral castle in Ireland, is visiting his
relatives in Ohio. He has been interviewed
on the subject Of British politics and the
proposed reform Of the House of Lords.
Three hundred members Of the House of
Lords" he says, could be dropped and
nobody would know the difference. They
are neither useful nor ornamental. If they
were to run for office they could never be
elected. They are incompetent" He de-
clared, however, that If the incompetent
800 were eliminated the peerage would be
reduced to a Woodworking body which
would, presumably, be on duty at other
times than when some reform measure af-
fecting their own interests should be pend
ing. He did not exactly declare that there
should be an elective House of Lords,
though his suggestion that many Of the
hereditary peers could not be elected may
have limited at this view.
ssP
The fact that IL is almost impossible for
married couples with children to find
steady employment on farms and stations
in New South Wales and other parts of
Australia is creating a public stir, which
is almost assuming the dimensions Of a
national scandal. 1t is q common thing, 1t
appears, for a man and wife to be dis
missed II a child is born to them. It is said
that the employer is often willing to retain
such q couple, but that his wife insists on
their dismissal, refusing to have an en-
cumbrance about the house. The clergy OF
several denominations are taking the mat
ter up. The Sydney Herald declares that
the complaints are not merely serious, but
deplorable, 1t says: stations, which are
the largest employers of married labor, pay
wages representing the current rate for the
labor OF two persons. Consequently. If
children arrive the economic relation OF the