Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-22
Associated Press1

[Associated PressJ
LONDON, Feb. 21.-Parliament was
opened formally lis afternoon by
King Edward who was accompanied
by Queen Alexandra, and 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 these occasions since the aScen-
sion of Henry VIII. The royal progress
through the troop-lined streets from
Buckingham palace to the palace at
Westminster drew the usual huge
crowds, but widespread as always has
been the interest in the brilliant func-
tions both among the public and
those personally participating in them,
today's ceremony had an attraction all
it's own.
Uppermost in the minds of thou
sands who witnessed the spectacle IN
the streets and among the occupants
of the red-clothed benches in the
gilded chamber was the thought of the
forthcoming fight which threatens the
very existence of the hereditary house
of peers and the conjecture whether
they were spectators of acts preluding
historic changes in centuries-old in
StitutionS.
The ceremony did not differ out
wardly from scores of previous state
openings except in the presence close
to the throne of the Prince and Pr1n-
cess Henry of Russia. The former
wore the uniform of an officer of the
british navy, of which he was recently
appointed an admiral of the fleet.
Every corner of the chamber was
filled and the varied colorings OF the
peers, bishops and judges robes, the
court, diplomatic, naval ana mllltary
uniforms with those of the gowns OF
richly dressed women, made scene
of brilliancy.
King Edwards Speech Given
King Edward in a momentous speech
from the throne said:
"Recent experience has disclosed Sc
rious difficulties due to recurring ar
ferences of strong opinion between the
two branches of the legislature. FRO,
oosals will be laid before you with all
Convenient speed to define the rela-
tions between the houses of parlla-
ment. so as to secure the unolVldeu au-
thority of the house of commons over
finance and it's predominance in leg
islation. g
"rhese measures, in the opinion or
NV advisers. should provide that this
house should be so constituted ana
empowered as to exercise impartlally
in regard to the proposed Legislation
the functions of initiation, revision and
subject to proper safeguards of delay.
The kings speech, which had been
awaited with much interest, made plain
that the work of the session would be
confined to the matter of finance ana
the question of the house of lords.
The king opened with the usual ref
erence to the friendly relations existing
with foreign powers and dealt at length
with the establishment Of the union of
South African and the approaching
visit of the prince of Wales to open
the first legislature of the United Do
minion of South Africa
The financial estimates for the COM
ing year were next set forth.
'These," said the king, "have been
framed with the utmost desire for
economy, but the requirements for the
naval defense of the empire made it
necessary to propose a substantial in
crease in the cost Of my navy"
Finances Must Be Settled
Recording the fact that the expendi-
lures used by the last parliament were
being incurrerd and met by a recourse
to temporary borrowing, the speech
declared: " Arrangements must be
made at the earliest possible moment
to deal with the financial situation thus
created"
4lilS WAS ldhtu DIS COullT1IldllOn vi
Premier Asquith's avowed determina-
tion to regularize the present conduct
of financial affairs before attacking the
house of lords. The most important
pronouncement was reserved for the
end of the speech which closed with
the foregoing paragraph on the rela-
tions between the two houses.
The reading of the speech occupied
only four minutes, and at its conclusion
the session was suspended for two
hours.
The paragraph Of the speech refer
ring to the house of lords is admitted
to have been obscurely worded, and
parliamentarians are awaiting with
great interest Premier Asquith's inter-
probation.
The rather modern expression, "in the
opinion of my advisers" which the king
seemed to emphasize especially, is a.
novelty in speech from the throne,
and 1t is believed the king himself was
responsible for the insertion of the
phrase, with the palpable object of dis
sociating himself from the views ex-
pressed on behalf Of the government.
This deduction has added piquancy
to the situation.
Lower House Crowded
The chamber of the house of COM
IuOuS WAS CROWDED TO ltS capacity when
the house met for business at 4 o'clock.
Up to that time no one could predict
with any confidence the course of
events, and even as Premier Asauith
led the composite force into action it
appeared uncertain whether the guns
of his army were leveled against the
common enemy or in the direction of
the general himself.
The first business to be transacted in
the house of commons was the adoption
without division, of a motion delegating
the seasonal order prohibiting peers
from participating in elections. Then
the debate on the address in reply to
the speech from the throne was COM
menced.
In the course of the debate in the
house of lords on the address in reply
TO the kings speech, Lord Lansdowne,
leader of the opposition, said if the new
house of commons adopted the finance
bill the lords were ready to expedite its
passage, although their opinion with
regard to 1t was unchanged
The proposed sequence of the events
was clear. he said First, the financial
bill was TO be disposed of, and then
the veto power OF the lords was to go,