The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1910-02-23
VETOPOWERuF LORDS
Mr.. r.AsquithPromi ices Bill Deal
ing With II viii Ce introduced.

Until a Division Hao Been Taken as
to Question Of House of Lords It Is
Not the Intention of the Govern
ment to Let the Budget Pass to the
Upper Chamber-Redmon Protests
Against Premier's Program.
London, Feb. 22.-The point in the
kings speech which instantly impress
ed his hearers by its momentous sig
Eiilcance was that he failed to identify
himself with the opinion of my ad
visers" upon the proposed measures
for limiting the powers of the house
of lords. Heretofore, almost without
exception, British sovereigns have
followed the constitutional practice
If enunciating declarations on the
policy of the government in power as
their own.
6alfour Criticises Kings Speech.
After the usual humble address in
reply to the speech from the throne
had been moved and seconded, Right
Hon. Arthur J. Balfour, the Unionist
leader, arose and said that whatever
else might be said of the gracious
speech from the throne" there was
very little in it. The only legislation
foreshadowed, he declared, was some
alteration in the relations Of the
house of lords ard house of commons
and possibly some alterations in the
constitution of the house of lords.
The terms Of the speech, he said, were
highly ambiguous.
Mr.. Balfour went on to say: when
the budget receives the cold and
chilly, but numerically adequate sup.
port of this house it doubtless will be-
come a law. | believe that the ma
jority of the constituencies of Great
Britain are prepared to support the
budget, but ii cannot be pretended
that Ireland favors it. Ireland alb
stains from opposing the budget be-
cause 1t thinks the interests of home
rule override those of finance. If the
budget were isolated from ali other
questions 1t would be rejected.
'lf the premier's home rule speech
just before the election had been TAX
en- seriously in England as it was in
Ireland all other questions would
have been dwarfed. | have had 149
campaign speecnes delivered by mem
bers of the cabinet analysed and in
only one Is there a voluntary refer
ence to home rule
''Not only the lords themselves but
all parties in the commons desire that
the upper house be reformed The La.
Dor party want to abolish it altogether.
The English and the Scotch want the
reforms as an amendment to the con.
stitution under which we live, but the
Nationalists wish it because they
want to get out from under the con.
stitution altogether"
Budget and Veto Bill to Be Passed.
Mr., Asquith speaking for the gov.
ernment said that. resolution deal.
ing with the question of the veto
power of the house of lords would be
introduced and would be carried
through before the Easter holidays.
Later these resolutions would be EN-.
bodied in a bill, To expedite legisla.
tion the government proposed that
the house should adjourn at Easter
for only three days. Business would
then go on till the budget and the
resolutions affecting the lords were
dispose Of.
In resly to questions Mr. Asquith
explained that it was not the inten.
tion of the government to let the bud,
get pass from the control of the com.
mons Until division had been tax.
en- as to the house of lords 1t was not
the intention 10 let the budget pass
to the upper chamber,
The premier than stated that the
house would be asked to pass the
budget before the Easter adjournment
with mn material changes therein eX
cept the necessary one as to dates,
etc
John Redmond protested strongly
against the order of the governments
program. The Nationalists, he said
stood now as always apart as an in
dependent body allied with no party
They supported the government IL
the last election because of the pre-
mier's pledge of home rule,
''If the premier will give reason
able assurance that he will be able
to carry the veto bill to successful
passage this year the National1sts
will vote for the budget but we are
not willing to nay that price for moth
ing"