Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-07
FUTURE STATUS OF PEERS
Probable Course Of Premier Asquith
Topic Of Discussion Throughout
Great Britain.
MODERATEs URGE CAUTION
They Insist that Budget should he
Disposed of First-GOvernment
VIII Outline It's Plan
This Week.

LONDON, Feb. 6.-of even greater inter
est than the possible changes in the csbi-
net is the course the government is likely
to pursue upon the reassembllng OF Parlia-
ment. Premier Asquith has kept his own
counsels and the views OF the liberals vary
according to their shade OF radlcalism.
Extreme liberals strongly favor an i'm
mediate attack upon the veto power Of
the House Of Lords, leaving the budget
and all other legislation until the party has
settled its account with the peers. The
Irish members, too, are believed to sup
port this view.
The more moderate liberals, seeing the
possibility of the Reorganization Of the
finances OF the country by this course Of
action are urging the government first to
introduce the budget, which the lords.
accepting the result Of the election as an
endorsement OF the governments financial
policy, are already pledged to pass.
Future Status of Lords.
On the question of the future status of
the House Of Lords, opinions differ almost
as widely. The laborites and extremist
radicals are for the absolute abolition OF
the upper chamber which hardly comes
within the purview Of practical politics.
Another section of the ministeriallsts de-
mands the abolition Of the lords right OF
veto on financial legislation and the cur
tailment of their veto in other legislation
The views Of the moderates are expressed
by Sir Edward Grey, the foreign secretary.
who said:
No reform Of the House of Lords can be
a real reform unless It provides for the
abolition of the hereditary principle and
the substitution Of popular election"
The Spectator follows up this with the
suggestion that the upper house be modelled
after the American senate. the horsa =.
consist of 200 members chosen under a
system of proportionate representation
from equal electorate areas.
In the meantime the unionists. with the
exception of a few peers, who. under no
circumstances would find a place in the
reformed chamber, are practically unani-
nous for a change in the constitution of
the House of Lords.
Many schemes are being put forward.
the most popular probably being that en-
bodied in the report Of the Rosebery
committee, which provides for the cleo
ton of the hereditary peers Of 100 of
their W number, together with 1870
peers qualified by service to the nation.
ten bishops. five judges and forty life
peers.
Some imperialists among the unionists
favor the suggestion made by Horton
Griffiths, who has had great experience
in the colonies, and some here. He pro-
posed, when the moment is opportune, to
establish a senate of the empire to include
representatives of the colonies.
Position of Nationalist.
Premier Asquith can count on a majority
for the curtallment of the House of Lords
.LAAN a.. t. H-~ 49, -
the Independent nationalists too,
will be with the government. On the
budget the attitude of the nationalists
is still uncertain.
Mr.. Redmond has not committed him
self beyond giving out his cable cores
pondence with NJ. ]. Ryan, national presi-
dent of the United Irish League of
America. but many members of the party
strongly oppose the clauses imposing
whisky duties, and If they do not vote
against them would, in their own political
interests have to abstain from voting.
William O'Brien, who heads the indie
pendent Irish members, has made his in
tended attitude quite clear, in a letter in
which he says;
There is no doubt that the Irish party
-contemplates the blacklist treason perpe-
trated against Ireland since the action of !
inc ullOIs Ing udIlOildliSbS pIOpOSS as
sist the government in passing the budget,
which will impose on Ireland $40, OOO, 900 in
taxation per annum."
Action This Week.
The coming week will see a clearing of
the atmosphere. Premier Asquith and
Chancellor Lloyd George, who nave been
resting on the continent and the other
members of the cabinet who went to the
country after the campaign are now on
their way back = London.
The first formal meeting of the ministry
will take place February 10, and the
changes in the cabinet, the wording of the
kings speech for the opening of Parlia-
ment and the course OF business for the
m will then be decided.
The king will be absent from London at
that time, the plan being that he shall
spend a week at the Brighton course in
order to prevent the suggestion that he is
taking any side In the controversy. At
the same time his majesty will be near at
hand when the premier desires to acquaint
him with the decisions of the government.