Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-27
CONDITIONS IN NEW PARLIAMENT
Peculiar Alignment Of the Several
Contending Sections.
WHEN KING EDWARD SPOKE
Scenes at the Opening Session of New
House.
PARTIES, POLICIES AND METHODS
why the Liberals should Win and
why they Probably VIII Not
Succeed In Their Program
of Reforms.
by FRANK CRAWFORD.

* BY FRANK CRAWFORD.
OXFORD. England, March 5.-(Special
Correspondence to The Bee.)-I have read
with much interest the articles appearing
I'm The Bee on British politics. and have
desired TO express my views thereon to
the people at home, but the situation has
been at all times so full Of uncertainty
that I have feared that my poor words
would be outlawed before they reached the
. eye of the reader. At this writing, how
ever II seems certain that the liberal
ministry will remain in office for month
at least, and that nothing startling Will
happen until after the Easter vacation
1t was evident that last Monday was
to be critical day in the House OF Com
mons, so I slipped down to London to see
the fun, and l saw a good deal in five
hours. Mr.. Asquith I'm a brief speech out
lined the position Of the liberal party.
Replies we're made by Mr.. Balfourt Mr..
Chamberlain, Lord Cecil of the Opposition
by John Redmond the leader Of the irish
nationalists; by Mr.. Barnes the leader
of the labor party, and by many others
Mr. Redmond announced that he could not
support the government unless the prime
minister made further. definite promises
At this crisis Mr., Lloyd George, who, by
the way is a power in debate, was pushed
forward by the government to say the
last word. He made good Directly the
pending motion was put but fortunately
there was no division and the situation
was saved II there had been division
It seems as II the liberals would have lost
and been compelled to resign. AS the
matter stands now the Irish party have
the clear balance of power They do not
have any love for the budget, because II
imposes heayier licensing taxes upon them,
but they are prepared to swallow It mans
fully if' only they can wrest the veto
from their ancient enemies. the House of
\ bords.
How 10 Mend the Lords.
II must ne understood that the only
way the veto can be taken from the House
Of Lords is by an act which must be
passed by the lords themselves. 1t is
likewise apparent that the lords will moi
pass any such act unless the king shall
reconstitute the House OF Lords by turn
ing out what Mr.. Lloyd George would cal
brand new litter of 800 lords If Mr.
Asquith can only get the king to do thi'
or to promise to do IT, then he will have
secured In fact the so-called guarantees
the price OF Mr.. Redmond's support. Th'
plan outlined by the prime minister is tC
devote the entire time up to the Eastel
vacation to matters connected with tbs
expenseo OF running the government, ther
10 introduce resolution directed agains
the veto of the House of Lords. Thl!
resolution is also to be placed before the
lords, and II 1t fails of passage Mr.
Asuuith will go TO the king for his guar
antics and II he is denied them he will
resign.
Nicely esconced in a seat in the from
row OF the low gallery Of the house.
could not only hear everything. but coulC
see very clearly the expressions on tn,
faces Of the actors / thought that Mr.
Redmd Ind sneered at Mr., Asquith. Red
mond yooks like a strong leader and an
inclined TO have confidence in him. but TO
the life OF me can not see why he makes
himself such a thorn in the sides of tn,
\ liberals. He is Irish, OF course, and enjoy
Z a rough house" but all OF his INTEREST,"
are with the liberals and certainly he an,
his followers can not get anything from
the conservatives In generation. VIII!
should he not then be good. 1t looks Il
me as II the king is going to refuse th
guarantees and that the budget will not b.
presented at all. and that another election
is inevitable. notice by the papers how
ever. that Lloyd's will insure agains
another election during the year. upon pay
ment Of about one half OF the amour
involved, but l consider the risk a poo
one.
Budget Lost In sight.
Awhile back the budget seemed certain
Of passage. but now 1t looks doubtful
There has not been a word Of discussion
about the so-eslled peoples budget" since
the great debates in the House OF Lords
The merits OF 1t were not even mentioned
In the campaign No doubt the budget ha.
its faults, but I think that It is OF grea
importance TO England that It shall pas,
into law, The increased amount required
to run the government must be raised b,
increased taxation, and in my judgment
II the conservatives came into power the,
would have to present budget Just abou
like Il. / think that many conservative,
feel as / do about IL. The budget RAISED
the inheritance tax to an amount as higl
as 20 per cent in the case OF large estates
1t imposed higher taxes on licenses, whiel
/ think are ridiculOusly small az present
II further provided for the taxation o
property OF enormous aggregate value
like vacant property in cities, whicl
through all the ages has heretofore shame
fully escaped taxation; It provided for TN
valuation Of all OF the land. an absolute
necessity for equal taxation. and II fur
ther made provision that from now Of
the state shall get % per cent OF the en-
hanced ene OF the real estate TO be col
lected Nea the land is sold. This latte
feature isA OF course, extremely socialistiC
but no more so than old-age pensions
which are given to the amount OF $4,000.
900 per annum. Both parties alike ar
pledged TO the oontinuance OF these pen
sOns The conservative party promises
hem 20 the people years ago, but failed 4