The Detroit times., 1910-12-12
THE ENGLISH ELECTIONS
1.-THE TORY REFORM SCHEMES
By FREDERIC ] H4SkIN

ment chosen from outside.
Lord Roseberry In speaking TO these
resolutions refused TO go further into
detail. and he failed TO explain why.
II the hereditary principle was to be
abandoned, the first and presumably
largest class OF Lords OF Parliament
were TO remain hereditary peers elect
ed by hereditary peers. He did not
say what officers should sit ex-officio.
although everybody knew he intended
TO include the bishops, and lie failed
TO intimate how many Lords OF Par
lament should be chosen from out
side. or by whom they should be Sc
lected. Lord CurZon, OF Kedleston. in
speaking 10 the same resolution went
far enough TO say that i'm the third
class of Lords OF Parliament would be
found direct connection between the
classes specially represented In the
upper chamber and the democracy OF
the nation, but he did not make clear
just what proportion OF power in the
reconstructed Lords OF Parliament
would )e granted TO the democratic
and popular element.
The Eoseberry resolutions represent
ed the concessions which the lords
were willing 20 make. few days
later the Conservative leader in the
upper chamber. Lord I.ansdowne.
offered a series of resolutions which
embodied the positive proposals OF
the -ory party with respect to the
pending issue. These resolutions are
assumed To embody practically the
II 'posals made by the Conservative
leaders in the constitutional confer
ence. They do not add TO the Rose
berry suggestions for the reconstitu.
ton or the upper chamber, but are di-
rected entirely toward establishing
system OF bringing about agreements
betw een the two houses OF parlia-
ment IN such cases as have repeated
~ come up since the advent OF the
present Liberal government.
The resolutions are as follows: 1T
Is desirable that provision be made
! for setti NJ differences that may arise
! between the House of Commons and
I this house. as reconstructed, reduced
i in numbers In accordance with the
recent tROseberry) resolutions OF this
/ house. That as 10 bills other than
! money bills. such provision should be
made on ths following lines:
! ii a difference arises between the
( houses in regard to any bill other than
y
stems, and during an interval OF not
less than one year and such differ
enceS are unable to be adjusted by
other means. ii shall be settled at a
icint sitting composed OF the mem
hers of the TWO houses; provided. that
/ n the measure relates 10 a matter OF
great gravity. and has not been ade-
/ Quately submitted 10 the judgment OF
the people IL shall not be referred ia
joint sitting but submitted for de-
| cision 10 the electors by referen.
dun.
That as TO money bills, the provi-
sion should be on the following lines:
ID, The Lords are prepared TO forego
their constitutional right TO reject and
amend money bills which are OF a
purely financial character. provided
Ell 1ctual provision Is made against
tackiag; and provided, that II any
question arises as to whether n bill
or any OF the provisions thereof ar.
or a purely financial character that
question shall be referred to a Joint
committee OF both houses with the
Speaker Of the House OF Commons
as chairman, and who shall have a
casting vote only. II the committee
holds that the bill or the provisions
In question are not OF financial
cl aracter they shall be dealt with
&c 'thwith at joint sitting of the
houses"
The Liberal leaders. represented I'm
the House of Lords by the Earl OF
Crewe, objected to both the Roseber.
rs and the Lansdowne resolutions on
the ground that they did not strike at
the evils complained of. The Rose.
perry resolutions providing for the
reconstruction OF the house were too
vague, and at any rate. CONTEMPLATED
the retention OF a majority i'm the re-
| FORMED upper chamber by the direct
representatives OF the classes certain
10 be overwhelming Tory In politics.
rms being the case. Joint sitting of
the two houses ii the lower house
was not altogether Liberal, would give
the conservatives a certain majority
In the joint session and therefore
would effectually block all Liberal
legislation just as IL now Is blocked
by the present House of Lords. The
second portion OF the Lansdowne reso.
lutions dealing with money bills. was
met by the same objection since the
commons now claim. as they have for
three centuries. the right Of exclusive
cohlrol over finance bills and The fur
/ ther right TO decide for themselves as
TO what Is a purely financial provi-
sion
As matter of fact the Roseberry
ana LansdoWne resolutions We're put
forward 10 serve as a political CAM
paign platform and not with any hone
OF their being adopted or even con.
sidered by he lower house. The lords
had vanished when the constitutional
conference broke up. and their reso-
lutions were made with an eve single
! TO their politicaI effect