New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-15
[Rr Tie Associatsd Pr.ss


London, March 14-An interesting phase
of the political situation to-day was
Premier Asquith's announcement IN the
House Of Commons that the budget would
be reintroduced and disposed of before the
houses rose for the spring recess. This an
nouncement revived political conjecture in
the Hobbies. It is generally believed that
the Nationalists will abstain from voting,
and in this case the budget will be passed.
II the budget is defeated, there Is no doubt
that the government will resign and go to
the country again on the questions of the
budget and the reform OF the House OF
Lords
The debate on the naval estimates in the
House of Lords was only noteworthy for
the breeze between Lord Charles Beresford
and Reginald McKenna, the latter fatty
accusing Lord Charles Of making 4 mis-
statement
Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary.
in strong speech at a Liberal dinner in
London tonight, said that II was not suff1-
cient 10 veto the limit OF the Lords, but
that the upper house must be radically re-
formed A single chamber system. he said,
would result, politically speaking. 'Tn dis
aster. death and damnaton."
Admiralty, introducing the naval estimates
in the House of Commons to-day, expressed
regret that he was unable to hold out any
hope for a decline in the estimates. He
defended the present large increase, which,
he said. had been rendered necessary by
the building programmes of foreign nations,
An expenditure OF over 100000 was i'm
perative properly to safeguard the country
and provide against contingencies
Mr.. McKenna explained that counting the
Australian and New Zealand ships which
would still be in British waters, Great
Britain would have in the summer Of 1912
twenty-five Dreadnoughts. while in the
following January five Dreadnoughts in ad-
dttion to this years programme would be
added TO the feet. anG thus Great Britain
superiority through this type OF ship would
be assured.
The Lords began a discussion to-day OF
the seIf-denying ordinance PROPOSED by
Lord Rosebery preparatory TO the radical
reform of the upper chamber. The great
crowd present indicated the general inter
est in the subject. Not a seat in the
chamber was vacant when Lord Rosebery
rose 10 move that the house resolve itself
into a committee of the whole to consider
The best means Of reforming the existing
organization, so as to constitute itself a
strong and efficient second chamber. At
the same time he presented a set of reso-
Iutions to the effect that there was a neces-
sity of a strong and efficient second cham
Der for the wellbeing of the state: that
such a chamber would be best obtainable
by the reform and reconstruction Of the
House Of Lords. and that a necessary pre-
liminary to such reform and reconstruction
~ hat
the possession Of peerage in itself should
no longer afford the right TO sit and vote in
the House Of Lorls.
Lord Rosebery said that the time had
come for a reform from within without
waiting for the government to carry out
its proposals to hamstring the peers and
so ernascuIate the House Of Lords tlIat il
would become no better than a painted
chamber. in which no seIf-respecting person
would care 10 sit. He said that it was
wished TO establish the elective principle,
but it must not be through popular cleo
tons, but by elections by associations, cor
porations and county councils.
Lord Rosebery scorned the suggestion OF
q single chamber, which. he said. was a
proposal to dig the grave OF the empire.
In America. he said, the veto of the Senate
was stronger than was ever the veto
of a sovereign. He trembled at the scorn of
the United States when contemplating
Great Britaiu's one-eyed, ore-legged search
for a constitution.
The Lords adjourned the debate after a
discussion which revealed marked differ
ences Of opinion as TO the value of Lord
Rosebery's proposals. NiscOunt Morley ex-
pressed surprise that Lord Rosebery had
not waited for the governments proposals,
and pointed out that the Rosebery plan of
reform would entirely fail to remove the
possibility OF future deadlocks arising be-
tween the two houses. which was the real
difficulty TO be solved.