The San Francisco call., 1910-02-06
LIBERALS SEEK
AREAL REFORM
OF THE LORDS
UniOnists Agree That COnstitu-
tiOn OF British House of
Peers Needs Change
Supporters of Government Dis
agree Over Abolition of
Hereditary Chamber

LONDON. Feb. 5.-Of even greater
interest than the possible changes in
The cabinet is the course the govern
ment is likely TO pursue upon the reas-
semblins Of parliament Premier As
quith has kept his own counsels and
the views Of the liberals vary according
10 their shade Of radicalism.
Extreme liberals strongly favor an
Immediate attack upon the veto power
or the house Of lords. leaving the bud
get and all other legislation until the
party has settled its accounts with the
peers. The Irish members, too, are
believed TO support this view.
More moderate liberals are urging
the government first 70 introduce the
budget. which the lords, accepting the
result Of the election AS an indorse-
ment Of the governments financial pol
iCy. are already pledged TO pass.
PLANS TO REFORM PEERS
On the question of the future status
Or the house Of lords opinions differ al
most as widely. Laborites and extreme
radicals are for the absolute abolition
OF the upper chamber. which hardly
comes within the purview Of practical
politics Another section Of the minis
terra lists demands the abolition of the
lords right of veto on financial legis-
Istion and the curtailmeut Of their veto
Ia other legislation Views of the mod
crates are thus expressed by Sir Ed
ward Grey, foreign secretary:
NO reform OF the house OF lords can
be a real reform unless it provides for
thp abolition or the hereditary principle
and the substitution OF popular cleo
tiOns."
The Spectator follows this up with
suggestion that the upper house be
modelled after the American senate, the
house 10 consist OF 200 members chosen
under a system Of proportional repre-
sentation from equal electoral areas.
MAJORITY AGAINST LORDS
Meanwhile the unionists. with the
exception Of a few peers who under no
circumstances would find place In the
reformed chamber, are PRACTICAL
unanimous for a cha nge IN the constitu-
ton OF fhe house Of lords
Many schemes are being put forward
tHe most popular probe bly, being that
embodied in the report of the Rose
berv committee. which provides for the
election By the hereditary peers OF 200
OF their own nun ber, together with l3O
peers qualified bv service 10 the na-
tor. 10 bishops. FIVE judges and 40
life peers
Premier Asollith can count on ma
5o-itr for the curtaiIment OF the house
Or lords Teto. for in this the nation
siiEts and doubtless the independent
na1ions lists. TOO. viii be with the gov
err menf
TBISB MEMBERS DIVIDED
on 1he budget. however. tho attitude
o. the nstiOnalists is still uncertain
Eedmond has not committed himself
beyond giving out his cable CORES
president o. the United Irish League OF
America. but many members Of the
PARTY t-0ugI-- oppose the clauses iul-
posing whisky duties. ana. II they do
nor vote against them would. in their
own political interest, have TO abstain
from voting
william O-Brien. who heads the in
dependent Irish members. has MADE his
intended attitude clear in letter say
irE-
-rhcrc IS no doubt that the Irish
Tla-t7- contemplstes the blackest frea-
son perDetrated against Ireland since
tte act of union The nstionalists pro
po~o te assist The government in pass
iu= the budget. which VIII impose on
ireland sl0090G9o in taxation per an
num-.
KING KEEPS IN BACKGROUND
Next week will see clearing Of the
atmosphere Premier Asquitn and
Chancellor LlOyd-GeOrge, who have
been resting on the continent and
other members Of the cabinet who went
20 the country after the campaign. are
now on their way TO London. The first
formal meeting Of the ministry viii
take place February 10, snd the
changes in the cabinet. the wording Of
the kings speech for the opening Of
parliament. and the course Of business
for the commons then viii be decided.
The king viii be absent from London
Bt that time. the plan being that he
snail spend a week at Brighton course
50 prevent tho suggestion that he is
taking any side in the controversy.