New-York tribune., 1910-05-01
kings PART IN POLITICS
Likely to Follow the Advice of
His Ministers.
A REFERENDUM OPPOSED
Hopes for an Arrangement Be-
tween the British Houses
The Upionist Scheme.
TBy Csble TO The Tribune.l


London. April 30-The long holiday
for the politicians may be the Kings
working time. Both he and the Queen
had paid income taxes at the full rate
Of l. pence or the pound before the
finance bill was signed This was the
practice OF Queen Victoria and they
have followed IL, although the treasury
has no power TO levy on the crown The
example set BY them viii be enforced by
an army Of tax collectors. and the deficit
in the treasury will disappear. and the
budget issue with it, from politics.
The constitutional question will re-
main, and the crown will be drawn into
politics, unless peace can be arranged
between the houses during the next
month. and the sovereign alone has the
prestige and authority for attempting 10
Go it. Both the Unionists and the Mod
crate Liberals would be glad to have
him undertake this difficult task. espe-
ciauy as their leaders are convinced that
another general election will leave the
relations OF the parties virtually un-
changed, with twenty seats won or lost,
and John Redmond holding the balance
OF power. II is an easy inference that
The King is not pleased with the situa-
ton. which might have been averted IL
his warnings last autumn respecting the
suspension Of the budget had been
needed Otherwise there Is ro evidence
Of tire royal intentions
There has been a revival Of talk Of
referendum on the r;I1ionist side g
- 80
situation. Il IS urged, with not a little
plausibility. that the government veto
bin. when rejected by the Lords. can be
sent to the country by a special refer
enduIr, and that the nation Will have the
authority for settling the dispute be
tween the houses without a general elec-
ton. The Radicals have raised the Oh
lection at once that general election
would not be averted If the referendum
should go against the government. since
Parliament would be dissolved in that
event
A special referendum would require the
Passage Of bill. and Premier Asquith
Is not likely 10 propose it when the Ma
tionalists. the Advanced Radicals and
The Labor members cannot be depended
on TO support il. referendum in re-
ality is a Crionist device for avoiding q
premature appeal TO the country and de-
ferring the elections until there is a bet
ter chance Of winning another hundred
seats than there is at present. The
earnest Radicals perceive this. and agree
with Nh Redmond that a general cleo
ton on the veto Issue, with the under
standing that five hundred peers shall
Re created if the coalition triunphs, will
be more decisive than a special referen-
dunn. which the masses are not likely TO
comprehend.
Two things are certain respecting the
Kings intervention. First. he will not
be hurried or f1urried by the politicians
on either side, and. second, he will not
6epart from the constitutional practice
Of acting on the advice of the respon-
sible ministers Of the crown. He did not
consult Lord DansdoNne and Mr. Bal
four last autumn until Mr- Asquith ad-
vised him 10 do so, and he is not likely
to suggest round table conference
without the Prime Minister'S initiative
He attaches great weight 10 the tudg-
nlG1I OF l1pIO E-STleI- Idhu JdHlSS OF
Hereford, Lord Rosebery and Lord
Knollys, but these CONFIDENTIAL friends
cannot take The place OF his constitu-
tional advisers. What is probable is
that his influence viii he properly ex-
erted in the direction Of statesman
like adjustment of the existing diff
culties and that affairs will take their
course If he finds mediation impracti-
cable. Mr. Redmond does not want q
referendum or any compromise. and Mr..
Asquith, if he succeeds in keeping Sir
Edward Grey and r r Haldane with
him, VIII probably stand out for royal
guarantees, with an election in July.
Even Lord Miner has lost his fighting
power and opinion among the Unionist
lords is shifting from the rejection of
the veto bill TO its adoption with q ref
erendum rider.