The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-25
ASQU|TH SHOUTED
DOWN VIII EN- He
TRIES TO SPEAK
CONTINUED From, First Page

passed at that session through all its
stages The constitutional conference
proved that with the best bill a set
tlement by agreement was impossible
This bill was presented to the Lords
1t was laid aside In favor of an alter
native scheme put forward by Lord
Lansdowne on behalf OF the RESPONSE.
bic leaders OF the opposition"
as the premier spoke the uproaI
was continued. and only snatches o.
what he said could be heard. He re-
amendments. Only slight verbal
changes were required and very few
TO alter the entire sense OF the bill TO
which. after due time and considera-
| ton. they were going to ask the House
OF Commons TO consent. He added:
The situation has been created tories
OF BY Redmond") from which there
Is only one constitutional escape. That
Is. unless the Lords consent to restore
this bill with. II you like. reasonab BILE
amendments consistent with its pr.n-
ciple and purpose, we shall be COM
PEELED TO Invoke the prerosat! tive OF the
crown"
Al this declaration the tumult was
renewed in all its earlier strength
There were shouts OF Shame, Red
mond! You are disgraced; you are no
Prime Minister."
Ovation From Supporters.
Asauith concluded in a few SEN
fences quite ineudible to those in the
press gallery. but evidently uttered IN
great heat and with emphasis. AS ne
sat down he received an ovation from
his supporters.
AS the Premier sat down. Mr.. Bal.
four rose. and cries of Hush" came
frn h. ,,,s- -,
stiffness was marked.
Il frankly regret that 1 was unable
to hear the Prime Minister" began the
opposition leader; everybody will
understand that such proceedings as
those in which His Maiestys ministers
nave INDUCED cannot but excite the
deep and passionate feelings of the
great mass OF the community. Never
theless. my own feeling is that, how
ever deep and passionate may be the
resentment produced by that line of
policy. however deep and just may be
Inc indignation which we feel against
those responsible for 1t. in this house.
at any rate 1t is desirable that we
should discuss them"
Here Homo Secretary Churchill In.
terrupted with Who set the ex
ample? "-(for the creation of neh,
peers).
A. ]. Balfour replied that the gov
eminent BY this one stroke misused
the prerogative OF the crown to de-
stroy the second chamber. Others at
tempted to speak. but were howled
down, and. unable to resore order.
Speaker Lowther declared the sitting
suspended until tomorrow.
Issues Statement.
AIR. ASqutth tonight issued to tho
newspapers summary OF the speech
ne was prevented from delivering. He
contended that the principles OF the
machinery of the bill had been before
the people at two elections By no
form of referendum devisable could the
opinion OF the electorate have been
more carefully ascertained.
The government had accepted the
important amendments in the House
of Commons; the purpose of the Lords
amendments was to set the machinery
aside. The government had proposed
specifically to describe what were
finance bills; the Lords proposed to
create committee. which the Premier
described as junta to determine what
were finance bills. and what We're mat
tiers of great gravity-whatever that
might mean-which should be put be-
fore the country by referendum. There
was not great budget OF the last
seventy years which could not plausi-
bly, have been thrown out by such
junta.
When you have a Unionst major
ity in both houses" continued the
Prime Minister. "the whole thing b, !.
comes dead letter. Measures of the
most far-reachins effect may be passed
In defiance Of public opinion. and over
the heads OF the electorate You Iivs
under an unchecked and undiluted sin.
gle chamber government; but with
the LIBERAL government in power you
would have a House Of Commons fet.
tered beyond all its predecessors. in
control OF finance. and in all cases
where an irresponsible and non-repre-
sentative body. independent of both
houses. should so determine. every
deadlock will be settled only by refer
endum
These amendments" added Mr.. AS
quith. taken as whole amount to
rejection of our bills" After quoting
constitutional writer's and the history
OF the passage OF the reform bill by
William W.. he gave his promise to