El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-20


general parliamentary election
now in progress in England IS in
many respects the most important po-
litical campaign since the ballot box
was invented. The peculiar issues involv
ed are such that whatever the result of
the voting, the constitution of the Brit
iSh empire Will be radically changed.
Usually it is impossible to weigh the
Importance of a political campaign in
advance; but from the first it has been
known here THAT a Liberal victory would
mean the reduction of the power of the
house of lords to the extent that it might
not veto or amend bills affecting rev
enues, and that a Conservative victory
would mean that the power of the house
Of lords would be augmented and that
of the house of commons reduced to a
point approximating the condition Of af-
fairs before the revolution under Oil
yer Cromwell.
Most Exciting Campaign.
Here England decides whether it will
adopt the newest notions of political re-
form and advance toward socialism, or
whether it will return to a more pro-
nouncedly individualistic system. The
campaign was the most exciting that
England has ever known-far more
fast and furious" than any campaign
the United States ever has known
The most important reason for the
unprecedented interest in this particular
campaign is the fact that there was a
real, living, burning issue. At the be-
ginning Of the campaign this issue of
the people against the peers was clear
cut, and it was sufficient TO get the
country thoroughly awake. Then other
questions were injected. until, at the
close, the speakers were competed to dis
cuss many side issues, each of over
whelming importance. Seldom has so
he'd inf0 ion
never has so much depended on the re-
suit of an election.
Power of Chancellor.
To begin at the beginning: The Lib
eral party came into power in 1906 by
an overwhelming majority. It attempted
to legislate along progressive lines,
but its great majority in the house of
commons was of no account when the
house of lords could veto or emascu-
late every measure. The house of lords
Is always overwhelmingly Conservative.
The first prime minister sir H Camp
parliamentary died, and was succeed
ed by Herbert H Asquith, the present
premier.
David Lloyd-George became chancel-
Tor of the exchequer. a position which
amounts. if transferred to the United
States. TO a combination Of all the pow
er held by the secretary Of the treasury,
speaker Cannon. senator Aldrich and
chairman Tawney of the house commit
tee on appropriations.
The Annual Budget.
Each year the chancellor of the ex-
chequer makes up the budget. a bill pro-
viding for the collection and expenditure
of all the revenues of the country This
budget goes into effect as law on the
day it is introduced in the house Of
commons
1t is just as If secretary MacVeagh
had the power TO draw up a bill fixing all
taxation, including the tariff. ana max
ing all appropriations including fixed
charges upon future administrations
and that such a bill would become law
at the moment it was transmitted to
congress. EOwever, the budget, although
already in effect, must be passed by
parliament and approved by the king
The kings approval is purely perfume
tory, as the crown has not exercised the
right Of veto since the days OF queen
Anne.
Lords Reject 1t.
The budget Introduced on April %.
1909. is the cause of all the trouble 1t
provided for the revolutionary process
of taxing land values
After much stormy debate it was passed
by the house of commons by huge ma
jority and sent to the house of lords. That
body on November 80, 1909. rejected and
ing an amendment to it declaring that
this house is not justified in giving its
consent to this bill until it has been
submitted to the Judgment of the coun-
try" This action was taken by a vote OF
$50 10 rs. Whereupon the campaign was
on.
Constitution Not Written
Some understanding of the nature of
the British constitution. and of the
sharp practice by politicians Of both
Liberal and Conservative parties. is
necessary to explain this crisis. The
British constitution is not a written
document like that of the United States
but is the collection Of governmental
precedents from early times until the
present.
Since the reestablishment of English
affairs after the Cromwell revolution the
house of lords, under the accepted con-
stitution, has had no right 10 reject or
materially 10 amend revenue bills. The
budget has been exclusively the work (
of the house of commons, and the as
sent of the lords has been given just as
the perfunctory approval of the king |
is required.
The Liberal government was unable to /
pass its proposed progressive" legisla- |
ton in separate bills. so the whole So !
cial reform scheme was tied up with |