The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-27
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New House Of Commons stormicr
by Far Than Its Predc-
cessor.
-------------.
PROMISED
With Great Parties Equally
Matched No Ono Can Tell
Safest Course.
BY WILLIAM II. STEAD.

lcppClal SaDIc 10 ! nc Ilfnes-llsndtch.l
London, February 26.-Britisll poll
tics promise to be moro exciting than
they have been for years. Compared
with the last Parliament. the new
House of Commons is as the maelstrom
to the Mississippi.
The two great parties-the Liberals
and the Unionists--are almost equally
matched. but the forty Laborites swell
the Liberal currents giving 1t de-
cided superiority In force and volume.
outside Of these two main currents
tho Irish party is divided into two
antagonistic sections. which chafo and
cddics and whirlpools. no one cx-
actly knows what is the safest course
to steer. No member OF the Liberal
ministry has had any experience in
steering In such stormy waters.
All last week tho air was full OF
conflicting rumors. At one time dis
solution seemed imminent. that scare
passed. but the outlook is very stormy
and both parties arc at sea. The
Unionists are cropping biind1y for n
democratic policy, and nearly all are
committed to a reform Of tho Lords
some OF the leading Conservative or
sans declare that the hereditary Gle
mcnt must be reduced TO Il vanishing
point: others are clamorng for the in
PRODUCTION of equal electoral districts.
the use OF state funds to create peas
ant proprietors. increase old age pom
sions and any other socialistic nostrun,
they sec lying around.
Parties at LoGscrbcads.
The protectionists are at open war
among themselves. The Agrarians de-
mand food taxes: the Indus,rlalists
protest It would be fatal to tax bread
and meat
The Liberals are almost as hope
lcsslv divided on tho question OF what
should be done with the Lords. To
reform II, say the Radicals. Is to
strengthen It and better end than mend ;
IT. The ministers. on the other hand.
are for ending the hereditary cham
Der in order TO put an elective Senate
In its place.
Mr.. seeley. who is the only member
OF tho ministry who has expressed his
personal opinion. has declared in favor
OF smaller second chamber. Tho
frankly democratic ministers keep
their counsel but II is believed thev
arc thinking OF producing a radical
bill based on tho following lines:
First. Abolition OF the hereditary
element.
Second Tho creation OF an elected
Senate with from eco 10 900 members.
Third. The second chamber to have
no right to amend or reject any oman
cial bill.
Fourth. when the two honses dit
fer they will sit and vote together.
Fifth. As an alternative, the veto
Of the second chamber snail be o'cr-
ruled II the House OF Commons passes
the same bill In two successive ses-
sions.
II is possible that 1t VIII also he
proposed that IL the senate rejects
any bill in ono Parliament 1t shall
not be allowed to reject such bill
IL it is sent up again by the new Par
lament after tho question has been
submitted TO the electors. The dam
ger is that if the Cabinet attempts to
improvise great constitutional re-
form bill 1t may produce some half
baked measure which will be too much
for The legislation OF the country.
Enemies to Radscniisn.
The Irish Nationalist Laborltes and
most OF the Scotch and North Country
Radicals look askance on these pro-,
posals. They want to abolish the veto
and stop there. without meddling with
reforms. but they all proceed upon the
assumption that the rrcrogative OF
the King can be as a crowbar. but
they are reckoning without their
hosts, for the King will refuse abso-
lutely to make any new peers until
he is satisfied there is no other way
Of carrying on the government of the
realm.
II the Liberals resign the Unionisss
will take office and appeal to the
country in tie name OF the King and
the Constitution. and they will win.
Hence the absurdity OF all the heroical
nonsense talked about of marching
straight upon the mouths of the can
non.
AS is natural in such stormy waters.
the ministers arc pretty seasck, but
they are not SO sick as the leaders of
the Irish party. William O'Brien. after
launching Ills attack, has gone back
to ireland to support the candidature
Of Maurice Healy. He is well pleased
with the effect of his speech. If
American Irishmen fall back on their
old rule of refusing subscriptions until
the Nationalist party is united the
Independents and Nationalists will by
a fair trial of strength discover in
whose hands the leadership lies.