El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-08-03
BRITISH HISTORY Is ONE
LONG SERIES OF COMPROMISES
XIXX.-THE BRITISH CRISIS.

ONDON, Eng. Aug 2.-The British
constitution is an unwritten and
@S intangible collection of working
agreements and compromises crystal
lied into a political conscience. The
king has a legal right and power ito We
to a bill passed by parliament but the
constitution forbids. The royal veto
has not been exercised since the days
of Queen Anne, and the failure to use
it has established a precedent which
now has the fOrceI of constitutional au-
thOrity. But the 1aws,-the written
statute the solemn enactment of the
egiSlature-never has been changed.
Many things in England are legal, hav-
ing the authority of legislative statute
or royal edict, which are uncOnstitu-
tional- These laws are not set aside
as null and void, as is the case when
the supreme court of the United States
decides that a Legislative enactment is
in conflict with the provisions OF the
federal constitution, but they remain on
the statute books waiting for a time
when the public conscience will change
the constitution
Lords Could Not Amend.
The present constitutional crisis is an
outgrowth of this peculiarly British
system For nearly 500 years the house
of lords had no constitutional right to
amend, reject, or in any way whatever
interfere with the. exclusive right of the
commons to legislate concerning money
matters. But the house of lords always
retained its legal right, and always
went through the form of giving its
approval to the money bills, just as
the king still goes through the form of
giving the royal assent to every act of
parliament.
Suddenly, and almost without warn
ing the house of lords decided the con-
stitution could be violated with i'm
punity. It rejected the budget, exer-
cising a clear legal right, but violating
the constitution. The case went to the
country, and although the result Of
the election was not clearly decisive,
the government was retained in power,
and the lords passed the disputed bud
get without further ado.
Question of Rights.
Then the question arose: Has the
constitution been changed? Has the
house of lords the constitutional as
well as the legal, right fEfther to inter
fere in financial as welIas general leg
iSlative matters? Or has the house OF
commons the right TO insist upon the
binding force of the old constitutional
theory which has not been disturbed for
nearly 500 years? If the house of lords
has recovered its constitutional status
lature, shall it be permitted to continue
in its present form. or shall il be re-
formed? Or, if the old constitutional
presidents be reaffirmed and reestab-
nshed, and the lords be given only a
suspensive veto in matters of legislation
not financial, shall the house of lords
be consulted as to its own disposition
and fate?
Expected Compromise.
To aQV mind other than English IL
would appear that the lords and the
commons would fight out the quarrel
until one or the other had succeeded in
besting its rival. But it must be adj
mitted that the great majority of the
British people, everybody in fact except
a few of the most ardent partisans on
each side. hope for a compromises
working agreement.
In England the people demand the
substance, regardless of the form. In
America the people insist upon having
the form, although often cheated out
of the substance Therefore it is with
perfect seriousness that a great London
journal advocates the retention of the
house of lords in its present form
hereditary principle. titles and all:
while delegating its legislative func-
lions to a committee of one-sixth or
one-elghth of its membership selected
because not more than that fraction of
the membership is fit to exercise the
duties of legislative chamber. 1t
would be the same as if some Ameri-
can ournal should advocate the reten-
ton of corrupt systems of selecting
United States senators in states where
there is corruption. but of delegating
all of the power of the senate to a
committee Of one-Sixth of its members
who could establish clear titles TO their
seats, and prove themselves worthy TO
undertake the task of legislating for a
great nation.
Compromise Possible.
The result probably will be that the
English people will evolve some curl
Gus compromise, full of contradictions
and utterly absurd in it's provisions,
but which will work perfectly to the
satisfaction of both parties and of all
the people of the British empire. The
Americans probably will pass some kind
of law, ideal in form and perfect in
its provisions, aiming to stop senator
ial election corruption; but the law will
look pretty on the statute book and
senator's will proceed to get elected in