Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-23
VETO POWER OF
HOUSE OF LORDS
TO BE ATTACKED
First Battle of Opposition
to Be Waged Against
the Peerage
BUDGET COMES NEXT
NationaliStS and Laborites
Will Not Try to Over
throw Ministry
ASSOCIATED Press1

ONDON, Feb. 22.-Without any
IL actual change in the parlia-
mentary situation, the outlook
tonight was more hopeful for the gov
ernment.
1t seems certain ministers met the
new parliament Monday without hav-
ing made much effort to seek the views
of the various groups forming the gov
ernment majority. The surprise with
which the Nationalists and Laborites
learned that theys shad misapprehended
Premier Asquith's speech with refer
ence to securing guarantees" for
dealing with the house of lords was
in great measure responsible for the
crisis.
Both the Nationalists and Laborites,
however, are aware they have nothing
to gain by throwing out the govern
ment, as this would lead to dissolu-
tion and to the probable victory of
the Conservatives at the next general
elections. Hence, the extremists to-
day displayed a more conciliatory
spirit.
The cabinet had a long council to
draft the veto resolutions and to de-
bate the general situation. The result
of the deliberations was a speech in
the commons by Winston Spencer
Churchill, president of the board of
trade, in which he announced the de-
termination of the government to stand
or fall by the veto bill.
This determination should, to some
degree, satisfy the irreconcilables, who,
1t will be remembered, in no way
agree among themselves, the Labor
ties being as strongly for the budget
as the Nationalists are against it.
Any direct cooperation between
these two parties with the express in
tentton of defeating the government is
improbable.
Will Not Embarrass Government
In fact, meetings Of the Labor party
have shown that there is a strong
feeling against any action likely to
defeat the ministry, while the Nation
alists would not likely go beyond abb
staining from voting for the budget.
Indeed, the Nationalists today de-
cided not to take any action for the
present that would embarrass the
government.
Negotiations are now proceeding be-
tween the different parties with a view
to avoiding crisis until the budget
is adopted and some progress has
been made with the veto resolutions.
Speaking from carefully prepared
notes, which showed he was a mouth
piece of the government, Winston
Spencer Churchill declared in the house
of commons today that the cabinet
would stake it's whole existence on the
passage of the veto bill, and he prom
ised a resolution embodying its prin-
ciples would be brought forward at the
earliest possible moment. He did not
think any reasonable member would
recommend that the house exercise its
power of refusing the necessary sup
plies. To attempt to compel a con-
stitutional change by that means
would, in the judgment of the govern
ment, expose them to swift and
binding catastrophe.
The ministry, Mr.. Churchill said,
would regard the destruction of the
budget as a mortal blow. They at
tached an Importance to it second only
to that Of the veto bill. They would
further regard its defeat .as vindi-
cation of the unconstitutional action
of the house of commons.
The government, he continued, was
bound to bring to a final issue its
policy of dealing with the house of
lords. and for the abolition of the abso-
lutte veto power of the second cham
ber.
If there were to be crisis and dead
lock, however, they could not come too
soon, he said. The policy of the gov
ernment was to place the proposals be-
fore the house, so that the decision of
the members might be taken thereon.
James Keir Hardie, president OF
the Independent Laborites, protested
against any attempted reconstruction
of the house of lords, as the Laborites,
he said, did not believe merely in de-
stroying the veto power of the lords,
relic of feudalism and an insult and
outrage upon democracy.
But, as the labor party could not get
it's own way, they would accept the
second best course and support the
government in getting rid OF the Veto
He hoped the government would make
the passage of the budget contingent
on the veto bills going through, and ne
urged the government to refuse the
supply as a means of forcing the lords
to agree to the abolition OF their own
power of veto.
Sir James H. Dalziel voiced the
views of more radical supporters or the
government, a little group numbering
twenty-five, including Sir Charles
Dixie, Hiliare Belloc and Joseph Mar
tin, a former Canadian politician, VINO
are pressing the government to deal
with the veto bill before the budget
Sir James complained that the Liberals
had been badly treated after the as
surance in the premier's speech and
prior to the election. The government,
he contended, was putting great
strain on it's supporters, and he urged
the cabinet to produce their plan.
opposition, twitted the government on
the discrepancy of their views and
those of their supporters. The govern
ment, he said, was trying 10 WORK
revolution, and at the same time
played the part of constitutional min
listers.
Ray of Hope Appears
The political atmosphere continued
heavy when parliament reassembled
TO-DAY, but a ray of hope appeared
when it was announced the National
lists had decided not to move an
amendment to the address in reply to
the speech from the throne.
The Nationalist resolution follows:
"Resolved, that having supreme re-
gard for the Importance of the con-
stitutional struggle going on between
the two houses of parliament and being
convinced that the primary business
of this parliament was to act on the
mandate given in the general election
and proceed forthwith to limit the
veto power now exercised by the house