The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-19
Disappearance of Hereditary Principle Makes ConseT-
 VativeS Very Anxious
LORDS ARE CL|NG|NG 10
 TREASURED VETO POWER
House of Commons Is Preparing to Deprive the Lords of the Veto Power If Possible Without
 Resort to Elections

London, November 1s.-Today's brief sessions Of the two houses of parliament are likely to prove the turing point In the history of the house of lords as at pres- cnt constituted The older conservatives view the march of events with anxious concern and are loudly lamenting the dis appearance of the hereditary principle as the basis of the upper chamber. but what ever may result a second appeal to the nation issuing from the struggle between the two houses seems certain and that henceforth elective and seiective basis will enter into the constitution of the house of lords.
 Interest in the situation has now been transferred to the constituencies. The belief tonight is that the house of lords will not attempt to pass the second read ing of the veto bill on the conditions irn- posed by Premier Asquith. MT. Asquith will open the liberal campaign with a speech at the National Liberal club to- morrow and in 1t he Is expected to de- veiop the governments policy at length All the other leaders are booked for speeches in quick succession.
 Much criticism and complaint is heard on the conservative side that the govern ment had preoipitated elections at an inconvenient time. Both sides, however, profess the utmost confidence in the out come of an appeal to the country.
 Plan of Legislation
 It is the intention of the government to pass the essential feature of the budget. namely, the income tax, tea duty and sinking fund provisions; remove the pauper disqualification for old age pen sions, and to. dissolve parliament on Mo- vember g, sfould the lords in the nean- time reject the veto bill.
 Presenting this programme in the house of commons today. Premier Asquth said that he. had hoped up to the last mo- ment. the veto conference would reach d settlement. There had never been a more honest and sustained attempt by men of strong and conflicting convictions to find a basis of agreement upon which to build a structure promising stability and en- durance.
 In view of the failure of the confer ences, MT. Asquith said 1t would be use- less to attempt to hammer out an agree- ment in the present parliament to the &C., compartment of the din of party col- lision.
 Asquith's Views
 'sThe result is that we revert to a state of war" declared the premier, who con- tinued:
 Lords will be given an opportunity to say ''yes' Or mo" to the governments $ veto bill in the coming week There is no question of doubt or transformation. It Is question of acceptance or rejec- ton. The time has come for this contro- versy which obstructs the whole path of progressive legislation to be sent for final decisive arbitrament to the national tribunal
 Mir. Asqufth denied the assertion of the conservatives that the government was acting under pressure. saying that he un- derstood that the charge was that press ure was being applied "by the sinister hand of the black angel of this political drama. MT. Redmond
 Mir. Asquith then detailed the legisla- ton which the government proposed to pass before the dissolution of parliament, and said 1t would be necessary to appro- priate s2,5o0.0o0 to carry out the pro- visions of the act removing pauper dis qualification from old-age pensioners; and concluded by promising that if the gov ernment obtained the requisite parla- mentary majority he would next year bring in bill to provide for the pay ment of members of the house of com mons
 BaIfours Attack
 Arthur J. Balfour leader of tho oppo- sition in the house of commons, who made the unionist keynote speech at Nottingham last night, today attacked the government parliament as announced by the premier Speaking in the house of commons he described the govern ment method of procedure as unprece- dented and unconstitutional.
 The ministry, he said. had made up their minds that all chance for the lords making moderate and reasonable pro- posals for the settlement of the ques- ton at issue between the two houses must be avoided at all hazard. and for rushing through to dissolution of par tament before 1t would be possible for moderates on both sides to form judg- ment. 44