The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-31
English Parties Prepare
for Work of Next
Parliament.
REFORM OF LORDS
SEEMS S ASSURED
Hereditary Principle Will Be
Abolished and Peers Be
Forced to Show Their Fit
ness for High Position.
Joint Cabinet Is Pro-
posed.

London, January 30.-With Premier
Asquith on the Continent and Chancel-
lor Lloyd George closely following hinp
the politicians are all resting on their
arms. discussing what lines of battle
Will be taken up In the next Parliame
The moral generally drawn from the
elections Is that the country does not
want radical changes in the House of
Lords or in the government policies.
The spirit of conciIiat1on. therefore. is
abroad, and schemes for a compromise
are being debated.
The Conservative papers propose tho
most interesting plan. that Joint
{ cabinet be chosen from the most mod
crate men of both parties to carry on
tho government for about two years,
and that a truce be declared on party
questions In the meantime. a royal
commission to investigate the country's
fiscal policy and to make recommends :
tions regarding tariff reform is pro-
posed.
Roscbery Not Popular.
Lord Rosebery's name is put for
ward for the premiership In the com
promise Cabinet. but Rosebery has for
a long time refused office. and his
popularity now is at low mark be-
cause of his course on the budget is
sue.
The reform of the House of Lords
seems to be the one thing assured.
Both parties support it. Both the
Conservatives and the Lords them
selves are willing to adopt moderate
changes Immediately. lest reforms
which would knock the fouodations
from the upper house, be carried.
The result is likely 10 be the aboli-
tion of the hereditary principle, and no
longer shall the second and succeed
ing generations be given a vote except
those who shall prove their fitness
to lestslatet by aervice in the House
of Commons in civil office, or in the
army or navy.
The Liberals want to deprive the
House of Lords of the power to veto
any bill whatsoever. Their favorite
plan would be to compel the Lords
to adopt any bill sent to them for the
third time by the House of Commons,
which, while making the House of
Commons consider a rejected bill care
fully, would give that body the power
TO pass any legislatio on which it
had determined in one session.
VIII Pass Budget.
1t is taken for granted that the
! House OF Lords will pass the budget.
the Lords. on the face of the election
returns. but the Cabinet may be
obliged to erase the whiskey taxes
in order to get the votes of the Irish
members.
Beyond the reform of the House OF
Lords and the passing of the budget
Parliament is not likely to get far
with anything The Irish members
probably will obtain the introduction
/ of home rule measure, but the Con-
scrvatives will oppose that solidly
! and number of Liberals also are
pledged against home rule.
I Several Cabinet changes are prob
4 able when tho new government Is
! formed. Richard Burton Haldane, See.
! rotary of state for War, may become
! head of the navy. John Burns. presi-
dent of the local government board
! probably will succeed Herbert j.
Gladstone as home secretary. Winston
/ Spencer Churchill will take the place
| yacated hy John Burns