El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-26

proposed since the reform Dill Oh 1907
Three Peers n Quorum
Only three pears may constitute a
quorum of the house of lords, and less
than 90 have more than once negat1ved
the work of the commons without con-
sideration or argument. In one instance
the representatives of both parties from
Scotland were supporting bill Whlch
applied only TO Scotland 1t passed the
house OF commons unanimously and was
unanimously rejected by the house or
lords II peers being present. because,
as one OF the leaders said, we had
rather have the word of one Scotch peer
than of all the people in Scotland
Claim of Commons.
In 1871, in the reign Of Charles H.
and Immediately after the house Of lords
and the king had been restored. the
commons passed a resolution claiming
absolute control over the finances or
the nation. This exclusive right was
never afterward seriously disputed IN
til the rejection Of the Lloyd-George
budget. But until 1882 under the cor
rupt elections and rotten borough sys-
tenn. the peers actually controlled the
house OF commons.
Since the enactment of the reform bal,
which was passed against the terrific
opposition of the lords, the two houses
have been growing further and further
apart. But always, until now. the
lords have admitted that the commons
had the exclusive control over the
finances-the sole power Of the purse
strings The crown has admitted this,
the speech from the throne always ad-
dressing the commons separately when
discussing revenue and disbursements
of funds.
Power Limited.
That the sudden use of this mort
bund power was revolutionary is proved
hot a. n
sidered an impossibility- Less than Is
months ago, in the commons. Mr. Bal
four who led the campaign for the
lords said: I'VE all know that the
power OF the house of lords is limited
by the fact that IT cannot touch these
money bills, which, II it could deal with.
! no doubt it could bring the whole exc
cutive machinery Of the country 10
standstin" The late lord Salisbury,
prominent Conservative leader. said in
1894: The house of lords takes no
share whatever in that which is the
most important part Of the annual, con-
slant business Of every legislative body
viz, the provision Of funds by VIII
the public service is TO be carried on,
and the determination # the manner in
these services are to be carried on"
Taxes 'VOluntary Gift
William Pitt, in 1866. in speaking
against the American colonies stamp
act, said: The taxes are a voluntary
gift OF the commons alone. In leg1sla-
tion the three states Of the realm are
alike concerned but the concurrence Of
the peers and the crown TO a tax is only
necessary to clothe II with the form Of
law The gift and grant is OF the
commons alone" In fact, this princi-
pie OF the constitution never had been
questioned from the time of Oliver
Cromwell until ii was found necessary
to do something TO prevent the principle
OF taxation of land values from becom-
ing a part Of the British system of
taxation
In 1898, under the leadership Of Mr..
Gladstone. the commons passed a home
rule bill for Ireland Tu lords sent
out a wild alarm and many peers who
never before had seen the inside of the
chamber attended to vote against the
BILL which was rejected by a vote OF
419 to Il. Since that time the lords
have rejected and amended many bills
sent up from Liberal commons, never
those from Conservative houses.
The Budget.
Then came this much discussed Lloyd
George budget. Another alarm was
sounded. and the wild peers" as they
are called. trooped in Many Of these
backwoodsman peers. who noid tr~
right to vote in a legislative assembly
by virtue of birth, had never before
taken their seats, and dozens of them
did not know how the division. or pro-
cess OF voting. was conducted. The
budget was rejected by a vote OF $50
to 40. Even then there were 1877 lords
not present or not voting.
While the Conservative parry attempt
ed to place the emphasis upon other
questions, it did not shrink from its
task of defending the lords, despite the
old speeches OF Mr.. Balfour, Mr.. Cham
berlain and other leaders. which were
so widely quoted by the Liberals One
of the leaflets circulated by the Ma
tional Union of Conservative associa-
tions said: why not abolish the house
OF commons because it often vetoes the
legislation Of the house of lords? The
house of lords has the older standing,
the greater intellect, and. above all. the
freedom TO consider questions on their
own merits alone, which the house Of
commons. subject as it is to electoral
caprice can never have That hun
dreds of thousands OF copies Of this
leaflet were distributed broadcast
throughout the kingdom IS proof suffi-
Gent that the Englishman still dearly
love lord. Nevertheless. a great many
Englishmen are thoroughly IN earnest
whom they cry. Down with the lortist''