New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-01
ONLY FINANCE BILLS
UNTIL EASTER.
Measure AfterUard to Deprire
Lords of Veto Porer-The
Budget SidetraCked.

awaited as eagerly as the elimination OF
a most exciting tragedy by all the mem
bers of both houses able 70 pack them
selves into the chamber This result was
the gift of the conservatives, who were
SO anxious to avoid two general cleo
tions within so brief period that they
accepted the Premier's programme WITH
out calling for a. vote.
When the House of Commons meets
after Easter it will take up the struggle
to revolutionize the British government
system. Resolutions will be presented to
deprive the House of Lords or all au-
thority over finances and also of the
power of vetoing the measures of the
lower House leaving to the Lords only
the functions of delay and discussion
If this plan succeeds the government
proposes next year to proceed with the
transformation of the House of Lords
from a hereditary to a democratic bSdy.
Such was the programme that she
Prime Minister unfofded. aIr2 he and
Chancellor David Lloyd George said that
the government staked its existence on
it. In the mean time the budget stands
sidetracked. 1t is likely that when 1t IS
taken up it will combine the budgets or
two years. shorn of the features OBJ
iectionable to the Irish members.
Before the Easter adjournment the
House OF Commons will deal with reso-
lutions enabling the government TO con-
tinue to borrow money and the appro-
Uriation bill for the army. navy and
ether departments Mr. Asquirhs plan
gained The support OF the advanced
Radicals and the LaJorites. who have
been wavering, with the result that the
government later in the evening had
.rla jorities cf 81 and 95 respectively
against tNJ .pro3o1td amendments to Mr..
Asquith's resolution. The Irish members
had Withdrawn from the House for a
discussion Of policy when the programme
was accepted. They had, however, de-
csdsd 20 refrain from voting. Most Of
them will return 10 ireland until the
question relating to the House Of Lords
taxes the centre of the stage
Adopted Without Division.
'1he Prcmier's motion giving govern
menJ business precedence at every sitting
up 10 March - was adopted without
division In laying down the govern
r:lent's programme Mr. Asquith empha-
sized the 1lscvssity- OF proceeding with
financial business first. and he said that
after that would come the question of
reforming the House of Lords. The finan-
tiaI legislation, he added would be con-
fined to the army and navy bills and
other urgent demands. which would oc-
cupy the whole attention of the House
up to the Easter adjournment. With
regard to the House of Lords, he hoped
that chamber would agree with the pro-
posed pIan but whether il did or not
the government intended to place on the
statute books a provision which would
Sc. free the House of Commons from the
veto of the Lords.
chancellor Lloyd George delivered a
telling speech He said that the gov
ernn1ent could not ask for the exercise of
the royal prerogative O. s--oposals which
had not vet received the sanction of the
House of Commons or the opposition OF
the House of Lords
The government will stake its exist
ence." said the Chancellor. upon the ad-
vice it will give the sovereign If it be-
comes IettSSdly u NO AN-~ -
matter of the greatest moment 10 the
democracy of Great Britain and Ireland
We are fighting powerful combination
which cannot be over-hrovn without
courage and comradeship. loyalty and
He appealed to the Liberals
to trust the government Mt and work to-
gether.
The Premier explained his programme
at some length and the intense interest
with which those in the crowded cham
ber listened testified TO the Importance
attached 10 the plans of the government
The eNgencies of the financial situation
were such. the Premier said. that the
vote on the army and navy bills covering
the borrowings and other urgent de
mands must occupy the whole time or
the House of Commons up 10 March "a
when adjournment would be taken TO
March %.
The Premier added that it would be
made plain that the changes were with
out prejudice. and that the government
contemplated in the subsequent year the
substitution in the second chamber or
democratic for an hereditary baS-o- A
bill giving in effect the operative part
of the resolutions would then be intro
6uced, Mr. Asquith said. but IN order TO
avoid waste of time and labor. and TO
bring the matter TO an issue at the earl-
EST POSSIBLE moment. the resolutions
vouId be submitted 10 the House or
Lords.
Need Of Abolishing Veto.
IF the House of Lords agrees 10 them.
we'll and good the Prime Minister con-
cluded. but whether il does or does not.
the government will regard the placing
with ali possible promptitude upon the
statute books of a provision which viii
set free this house from the veto OF the
House of Lords. not only rs the first
condition OF the legislative dignity and
ut+Iitv of the House of Commons, but as
our own primary and paramount duty
In the prosecution OF that task we shall
adont all such measures within the linn
its Of the constitution which seem 10
us proper and adequate. and upon It's
successful accomplishment are at stake
not only our fortunes. but our existenee
as a government
At the conclusion OF his speech Mr.
As,uith was greeted with loud minis
terial cheers. mingled with Unionist cries
of Where is the budget"
a. j. Balfour. the Opposition leader.