The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-12

q itiuotu W 10 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 know he intended
to include the bishops, and he 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 In 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 De granted TO the democratic
and popular element.
The Roseberry resolutions represent
ed the concessions which the lords
were willing 10 make. A few DAYS
later the Conservative leader In the
upper chamber. Lord Lansdowne.
embodied the positive proposals OF
The Tory party with respect to the
pending issue. These resolutions are
assumed TO embody practically the
proposals made by the Conservative
leaders in the constitutional confer.
ence. They do not add to the Rose
berry suggestions for the reconstitu.
ton OF the upper chamber, but are d.
| fectR1 anfirQlV
| system OF bringing about agreements
between the two houses of parlia-
ment in such cases as have repeated
| ly come up since the advent of the
present Liberal government
The resolutions are as follows: at
Is desirable that provision be made
for setti-n differences that may arise
between the House of Commons and
this house. as reconstructed. reduced
In numbers in accordance with the
J recent (Roseberry) resolutions of this
/ house. That as to bills other than
money bills. such provision should he
made on the following lines:
III difference arises between the
houses in regard to any bill other than
money bill i'm two successive SEES.
siCns. and during an interval of not
J
ences are unable to be adjusted by
other means 1t shall be settled at
! joint sitting composed OF the mem
| bers Of the two houses; provided that
| If the measure relates to a matter OF
great gravity, and has not been ade-
/ quately submitted to the judgment OF
the people it shall not be referred to
joint sitting but submitted for de-
] clSIOn 10 tha Alanfnrc nv
DUN.
That as TO money bills. the provi.
sion should be on the following lines:
| The Lords are prepared to forepo
! their constitutional right to reject and
f, amend money bills which are of a
purely financial character, provided
enectual provision is made against
! tacklng; and provided, that II any
question arises as 10 whether a bill
or any OF the provisions thereof are
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
casting vote only. If the committee
holds that the bill or the provisions
III question are not OF financial
| character they shall be dealt with
forthwith at joint sitting OF the
houses"
! The Liberal leaders, represented In
the House OF Lords by the Earl OF
Crewe objected TO both the Roseber-
ry and the Lansdowne resolutions on
the ground that they did not strike at
the evils complained Of The Rose
berry resolutions providing for the
| reconstruction OF the house were too
vague. and at any rate, contemplated
the retention OF majority I'm the re-
formed upper chamber by the direct
| representatives OF the classes certain
TO be overwhelming Tory in politics.
rms being the case, a 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 1t now is blocked
by the present House OF Lords. The
second portion OF the Lansdowne reso-
| buttons 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
| control over finance bills and the fur
| ther right 10 decide for themselves as
TO what Is purely financial provi.
sion
AS matter OF fact the Roseberrv
ana Lansdowne resolutions were put
! forward to serve as political cam
| palgn platform and not with any hope
OF their being adopted or even con
sldered by the lower house. The lords
| knew That any hope OF a compromise
| had vanished when the constitutional
conference broke up, and their reso-
lutions were made with an eye single
TO their political effect.
TomorroW-The Liberal Demands.
TAnAX I'M IIYcnnnxx