New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-01
SHELVING BUDGET
F4CTION4L VICTORY.
Liberals Still at Mercy of the
Nationalist Party.
TRv Cable TO TIE Tribune. ]

crowded house. with royalties and am
5assadors in the galleries 1t was be-
gun with an air of WEAKNESS and closed
with brave show of confidence under
the stimulative effect of hearty cheering
from the Liberal benches. These cheers
rang out as soon as it appeared that the
reform of the upper house was left in the
background, where it might come up in
another year, and that the veto question
was put in the centre of the foreground,
where it could be taken up in advance
of the old budget. 1t was veto before
budget
That was what the Radical malcon-
tents, the Labor members and John
Redmond had been demanding and this
concession offered the promise OF either
the passage of the budget itself or its
Incorporation with the. second budget.
Mr.. Asquith's motion covered govern
ment control during the time until Easter
| for borrowing bills, supplementary es
tates and uncontroversial business
garding supply. He announced the in
PRODUCTION of veto resolutions for March
90, and described them in comprehen-
sive way as containing prohibition
against the interference Of the Lords
with finance and securing the consum-
nation of the deliberate will of the Com
mons within the life OF a single Parlia-
ment. These resolutions would be sent
to the Lords. What would happen if the
Lords did not accept the principle was
not explicitly stated, although there was
an elastic generalization that it would
be the primary and paramount duty of
the government to place on the statute
books law embodying it.
That was the yulnerab BILE point, and
Mr. Redmond relentlessly put an iron
hand on it when Mr. Balfour had fin
ished his short but powerful speech, in
which the government was condemned
with fine irony for declining to carry out
the statesmanlike proposals for reform
ing the upper house and settling all
questions on broad lines and on high
plane. The Nationalist leader, with cold,
remorseless logic, insisted on having
guarantees for the final enactment of a
veto bill based on resolutions. Other
wise the Nationalist. he said, could not
vote for the budget.
This challenge to the Prime Minister
was delivered in Mr. Redmond's deepest
tones and most defiant manner. AS he
spoke the Radical hopes for the concen-
tration of the forces of the coalition on
the budget We're dispeled. The Prime
Minister could not with dignity self
respect promise these guarantees, and
without the Nationalist votes a budget
which was referred to the nation could
not be sent back to the Lords.
The government. while kept together
by an artificial compromise between the
vetoists and reformers inside the Cabi-
net. remained at the mercy OF Mr.. Red
nlond 1t could not carry the budget.
and could only survive until Easter by
the benevolent neutrality or ch~rity of
the Conservatives. 1t was situation to
take the heart out of every man on the
government bench
Lord Hugh Cecil. palefaced and SOL
eInn as monk followed Mr.. Redmond
in speech of impassioned eloquence,
denouncing both him and the Prime Min
lister for playing fast and loose with the
constitution. Sir Henry Dalziel, whose
obstructive motion had been declared
out Of order. virtually joined Mr.. Red
mond in the demand for guarantees, and
Mr. Healy. with Mephistophelian tones
and gestures rubbed salt into the min
listers wounds by declaring that the
/ Conservatives were bent saving the
government from untimely defeat.
This assertion was confirmed when
Austen Chamberlain described the ur-
gent nature of the financial business for
which the Prime Minister has asked tue
| full time of the House. David Lloyd
George promptly and incisively replied
! to him and won a hearty cheer from the
Radicals by declaring that the govern
ment would not remain in office after
! failing in an emergency to obtain tnal
enactment of legislation relating TO the
movers of the Lords. George n Barnes
defined the attitude of the Labor MEM
| bers. and the debate dragged on until
| the dinner hour. when the Prime Minis
| ter's motion was carried without d.
vision and the government. under the
stress of financial necessities, obtained
an extension of time through March
The ministers avoided defeat through
uostponement of the question of changes
in the constitution of the upper house,
and also through the Indulgence of the
Conservatives, who preferred to keep
them in office for general political eff
! feet; Yet they were discredited in the
country by the wabbling tactics and
| Ca bnet feuds and by their absolute de-
uendence on Mr.. Redmond for the votes
required for the passage Of the budget.
| AS his terms are manifestly impos-
/ sible, the budget is virtually dead. AS
one of the Liberal members admitted
the Conservatives are already calling on
| the government to drop the liquor and
! land sections. and that Will imply an
abject surrender both to the Lords and
Mr. Balfour The government has gained
time, but has lost prestige. 1; would have
! acted with greater dignity if it had
brought in the budget, fallen with it
and appealed to the country for rein
! forcementS
LEAVES THE CUSTOMS SERVICE.