Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-10

Reform of the house of lords has been
discussed in a desultory fashion, both In
and out Of that body, for many years
past. No positive action looking toward
the adoption of practical reform
scheme was taken until about three years
ago, when Lord Rosebery secured the
adoption of a resolution providing for q
committee to consider ways and means
Of changing the constitution Of the up
per chamber Of the British legislature to
conform more nearly with the needs OF
the times. This action, taken early in
1908, followed the great liberal electoral
triumph of 1906.
The liberal party, which came into
power nearly FIVE years ago, was q differ
ent party. q much more democratic party,
than the liberal party which had last con-
trolled the British government under the
premiership of Lord Rosebery. The house
of lords perceived that the new radical
government was determined to destroy
some. If not many. OF the special privileges
enjoyed by the aristocratic and plutocrat-
ic classes represented In the house Of
lords. Peers who called themselves
liberals and who. indeed. were influenced
by whigEiSh traditions. were inclined to
stave of destruction by making conces-
sions. Thus it was Lord Rosebery. the
successor Of Gladstone as the titular head
Of the liberal party, who first took up the
gage Of battle laid down by the militant
democracy Of the commons. The commit
tee formed under his resolution met. Lord
Rosebery was its chairman, il made q
long report. and that report speedily found
Its way into q piseonhole. never again to
see the light OF day. The tory lords were
not yet sufficiently frightened to take
counsel OF their whiggish brethren
Then came the dispute between the
commons and the lords with reference to
the land values
Peers Reject taxation pro.
the Finance Bill. Lloyd George
budget. The peers rejected the finance
bill and forced dissolution OF parliament
and a general election. in which they
were defeated and the commons were
sustained. Immediately the prime minis.
ter. In his Official capacity as the head OF
the government, decided to force the
lighting by declaration that his males.
tvs government would not again proceed
with the business of general legislation
until after it had obtained assurance thai
il had some reasonable prospect of enact
ing its will into statutory law.
The peers personally and the colsarva.
tive-unionist party collectively. had dis
covered in the election campaign OF Janu
AIRY. 1910. that it would be utterly impos
sible to defend before the electors of thu
Kingdom the hereditary principle as q
basis for the continuation OF the uppel
chamber OF parliament. Then the tor,
peers turned eagerly toward Lord Rose
berry and I'm everything but name ch0s,
him to lead their faction. Lord Rose
berry. whflom liberal premier. refused t,
unite himself to the tory party and de
scribed himself as standing aIoof from
all party politics" Nevertheless tn,
Rosebery scheme was adopted as tn
basis of the tory plan of reform Of tn
house of lords. and late in the presen
campaign Lord Rosebery openly joine,
the tory ranks.
No one knows in detail what was pro
posed on either side in the constitutions
conference, bu
Proposals Made it is accepts
BY the Opposition. the op ass ~,
to the government made series of pro
posals which were reflected in principle 4
a. co1 hx- no a