New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-02
LANSDOWNE PLANS
Life Peerages in Place OF
Municipal Councillors.
London. March 1S.


arranged the party policy on this ques-
ZION ea- the impending canvass. This ne
has done in the debate on Lord Rose
hers resolutions. and while the plan OF
operations has not been reduced 70 final
form he cues have already been sup
pied for candidates on the Unionist SIDE
Tbs House Of Lords Will not remain
5srlrercrued i the EJnionists obtain con-
frsl o. the next Parliament It WI De
strengthened and rendered more efIlcient
i,.- re self-developlng powers OF tne
British constitution AS soon as MI
Paifotr has a trustworthy majority IN
the Commons 10 ratify the measure the
Conservative peers. under Lord Lans-
dor-ne's leadership. Will set their mouse
IN order IN their own way.
The official Conservative proposals fol-
lew the lines Of the Rosebery report IN
recommending the appointment Of loros
cr Parliament who are qualified by eX-
rerfence II public affairs. and the cleo
1ior Of a considerable portion OF the
NON 5ership BY the peers themselves
The hereditary principle Will not he
abandoned. but retained in historical
continuity IS a tradition from antiquity
The House Of Lords was relnodelled by
the Appellate Jurisdiction Act Of 1876 as
= court Of final appeal. and the law lords
were authorized TO perform the judicial
functions OF the peers; Yet technically
cen member OF the upper chamber re-
tanned the supreme right u an ultimate
izre~r-etation Of acts Of Parliament
=, he same way every peer OF the re-
formed Parliament will enjoy theoretl-
,allz- the inalienable privileges OF leg
isistor. but practically the rights viii be
exercised only By lords Of Parliament
chosen on order Of merit and public ser
vice. Ike the law lords. or elected by
their colleagues. like the Scottish and
Irish peers. II this way the number Of
hereditary legislators viii be materially
lowered and the majority OF the peers be
reduced 70 an electoral college for the
choice OF representative lords Of Par
lament Lord IIansdoHne did not refer
10 an important detsil-the removal Of
tse prohibition against standing for Par
lament. but undoubtedly this will be
one Of the compensations for the back
lench peers when the reform is taken
up by q Conservative government
LORD Lansdowne has admitted the
nreticalIy the expediency OF reinforcing
the experienced and representative peers
with fresh blood drawn from other
sources: but practically he has rejected
the county councils and the interests
Of art and letters. which Lord Rosebery
suggested as new base OF supply He
has pointed out what he considers bet
Ter method Of removing the disparity
between parties in the upper chamber
and II bringing il into closer connection
With the political opinion represented by
the government Of the day This expedi-
7nt is the direct exercise Of the royal
IreroEative in the creation OF life peer
yes. Instead Of having decorative
.7unty councillors and chosen repre-
-entatives Of special interests, religious
educational or commercial, he would
dispense with indirect elections and al
low 2 Liberal government 70 nominate
and the crown 10 appoint certain
number OF life peers. so as TO provide
-dequate representation OF its own po-
Iftical opinion in the upper chamber
This seems al first glance an effective
proposal for meeting the objection that
the House Of Lords is invariably Tory
and uninfuenced By q democratic triumph
I'M general elections. Il does not take
ne shrewd Radical politician more than
aalf al hour 10 find in this proposal
a. insidious attempt al constitutional
revolution without parallel in English
history"
Lord L-ansdoW mes apparently inno-
-ent recommendation Of \ well thought
7.ft and properly restricted scheme" for
-emoz-irg the disparity between parties
o. rczaI prerogative in the creation Of
ooe-e * condemned at once by Radical
psrtisans as al onslaught against the
institution He is charged with reviV-
NJ the principle Of the peerage bill Of
fEIo OF seeking 70 restrict the royal pre-
rasatfve Of creating peers and Of redUc-
Y t-5rh crown and Commons TO help
se=z-zss n 4 conflict with the upper
hose. theoretically the Radical cen
so-s are righ-. The only weapon with
which \ Liberal government IS armed
F1r resisting TIE aggression of the titled
chamber is that Of multiplying peers /
l. this be taken away or impaired by
limitation Ct the number Of peerages 4
v--5ct. czl be created. TIE upper h-use /
vEE speedily be outside the constitution T.
-rd The ration viii have TO safeguard I
raisst the uncontrolled power OF an I.
ne-eiita-g chamber.
This seems 5ncoutestabls Yet p-ac- !
talk II what value can this safeguard I.
II ~hen the upper house Is so one
sided IN politics that the creation - be 4
treen ,hree hundred and four hundred (
feers * necessary IN order TO restore The /
h7lan-e II mower? The weapon has be /
-orie 80 rusty that il has ceased 10 be I
r-.,lrea5l= when the principles Of repre- 4
.rn7s-fxe government and the prerosa- 1
fixes s.E the crown itself are attacked I
Lord Lausdovre may have 10 drop
73s -pro7erl5 restricted system Of peer !
.g-e before as plan 81 reforming the
.--,,~l louise can be accepted b. the /
.-ldust~fai North and Scotland as d orac- I
t---i ,...s-zicut for preventing a dead /
LEX between the legislative chambers. f.
Wheeler he falls back Gpon Lord Rose +
i.-T-v's g.orified County Councillors or /
-,t f.= must Leave the ministers % the I
r.~t.ru free 20 make al least a pretence Z
- a-hting BIZ threatening N certain 4
CONTINGENCIES 70 create hundreds Of peers. +
ot-.rr-s-e his reform scheme IS suft1- /
arf=