The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-20
FUTURE PROGRAM
DEPENDS0NLORDS
May Accept Veto Bill, but Will
Probably Fight to
Finish.
TALK OF A REFERENDUM
Promise Of Unionist Party for
Reform Deceives No
One.
TALK OF A REFERENDUM
ny WILLIAM II. STEAD.

1 LII w 1AL1AV1 1AOs
Especial Cable to Tho Times Dispatch.)
| London, November 1a.--According to
present arrangements, Parliament is 10
be dissolved on tho 2sth. Before that
time the budget will be rushed through
and an immediate appeal will be made
to the constituencies.
| Such Is the program drawn UP by
the government and assented to by the
King, and II will be carried out to the
letter, provided the peers do not capt.
ulate on Monday There are some VINO
think that as the opposition decided
1t was we'll to come down out OF the
tree when 1t was quite sure the man
meant to shoot the Lords will decide
that discretion Is the better part OF
valor and accept the veto bill at the
eleventh hour. II they did there would
be no need for y general election. and
Parliament would run its course: but
1t Is very doubtful whether the peers
have sufficient OF the instinct of self
preservation to Induce them to adopt
this course.
They had chance or retreut wEh
honor when the conference was sit
ting. Their rejection of the olive
branch offered by the Liberals would
seem to indicate that they were deter
mined to have one moro fight to finish
before surrendering their Veto II we
must capituiate, they said. let It be to
the constituencies, and not to the con-
ference. But now that they are look
Ing down the muzzle OF the Liberal
blundcrbuss. their courage may begin
to ooze out OF their finger tips. Tho
King has at least secured them another
hour In which they may repent. while
the lamp holds out to burn the vilest
sinner may return" and 1t would un-
doubtedly be the wiser course II they
could make up their minds to bolt the
veto bill and make the best of it.
Talk of Referendum.
Tariff reform promoters are furious
at the prospect of another election in
which tariff reform would be definitely
shelved, and they are said to be COM
passing heaven and earth in order to
induce the peers to yield and to pass ,
the bill. Some have suggested that
the Lords might be induced to swallow
the bill. II they were allowed to add to
1t that in case Of grave differences be.
tween the two houses, tho matter
should be referred to a referendum OF
the people. But the terms OF the gov
ernment are absolute. The bill must
be passed as 1t stands. without the al
teration OF n comma or the addition or
a provtso.
To stipulate for the referendum
would enable the Lords to appeal to
the country whenever they pleased |
Personally, Mr.. Asauith might have no
objection 10 the referendum II 1t were
limited to constitutional questions OF
the first magnitude, such as home rule.
and then only in case the major
ity OF the Commons should fall below.
say, 100. But the Irish would not lis
ten to any such compromise. and II
the Lords demand the referendum. they
Will do so merely in order to secure
what they consider would be a plat
form of advantage at the coming cleo |
ton.
All these calculations are idle. The
country has made up its mind as to
how it is going to vote. and nothing
that the peers can say or do will in
the least affect tho issue.
Mr. Balfour is in very bad spirit.
and in Indifferent health. which rem.
ders him fretful and peevish. and he
entertains the gloonaiest views as to
prospects Of his party at the election.
feat and following defeat period OF
chaos. confusion and revolutionary
change
Talk about the readiness OF the
Un!onist party to carry out reform
OF the Lords deceives no one. It rather
the irritation of tho Liber-
ais. for 1T adds insult to injury. What
House of Lords is not to make a
BODY which would give the Liberals as
good chance. or MS bad chance, of
passing their LEGISLATION as that en-