The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-27
BY EX-ATTACHE.

England's national legislature has often
been described as the Mother OF Parlia-
ments and as a model for popular assem-
blies in ALI those countries where repre-
sentative government-that is 10 say. gov
eminent for the people, By the people
has been obtained from the Crown
either by favor or by force The news
therefore. that the House of Commons
is bent upon obtaining. il not a divorce
at any rate a judicial separation from the
House of Lords, and that two OF the
three component parts of Parliament
have found themselves unable TO work
any longer in unison. after many hun
dreds of years Of existence i'm common,
is naturally calculated 10 excite interest
in every quarter OF the globe.
The Commons have always been dis
posed to arTogate to themselves the
greater share Of the powers OF partner
ship. Now they wish TO mOnOpOliZe them
altogether; 10 transform the upper cham
Der into mere office for registering the
DEGREES Of the lower house. without any
right of discussion or rejection. In fact,
If the government had its way. the Lords
will he reduced 10 such a state Of i'm
potency as 20 practically transform Par
hduienl INTO single cUatubei-
Spectacle of Greece.
Experience. however has shown that
governments, by means OF single cham
Der. are impracticable, and We have be
fore US as an Illustration thereof, the
spectacle OF Greece. where men OF every
political party interested In the welfare
OF the nation have expressed themselves
in favor of the constitution of a senate.
or some sort OF an upper house 10 the
Boulc. as the only means OF eXtricating
the country from legislative impasse IN
which II has been fioundering for so many
years. involving the country in ruin al
home and discTedit abroad. Here in
America it Is impossible to conceive the
government OF the Union. or OF any State.
being administered save through an upper
and a lower chamber. the former exist
ing IN order TO constitute some restraint
upon hasty. reckless. and possibly social
istic legislation by the lower chamber.
Yet it is something very much akin 10 the
abolition OF the upper chamber that is
now being sought by the Liberals In
Great Britain. on the ground that the
parliamentary machine which has done
duty for so many centuries is no longer
NffT ntthttr
OF course on the face of IT, the dis
position abroad. especially In republican
countries, is 10 sympathize with the LIB
erals and to regard the House Of Lords
as a relic Of medieval absolu.ism. and OF
class privilege altogether out OF keeping
with the democracy Of life In the TWEEN
tieth century.
But n little calm reflection soon gives
birth TO the conviction that a House or
Lords which is ready TO reform itself by
the abandonment of hereditary rights TO
seat on it's benches, Is quite as desir-
able a safeguard to the British Parlia-
meat as the United States Senate is TO
Congress at Washington: and that II the
parliamentary machine in England Is no
longer in a working condition it is due
not alone TO the Lords. but also To the
Commons. That the latter with its APP
parent inability 20 distinguish between
questions of imperial importance and
matters that are merely parochial. and
with its archaic formalities and unsatis-
factory composition. is quite as much in
need of reform as the House OF Lords.
and quite as much TO blame for the par
liamentaTy deadlock which has been
reached.
For deadlock IL Is: and il Is because
Great Britain's Parliament has ceased TO
be workable that Just at the present mo-