Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-04
Veto Bill Preamble Reach /
cd in House of Commons.
Labor Party Shows Anxiety for
Fight Against Reform.
laurier to Represent Canada at the
Coming Imperial Conference.

'-SiiNNh' 4hNS iic dl jill,
known also as the veto bill for the cur
tailment of the powers of the House of
Lords, today passed the committee
stage in the House of Commons prac-
tically without amendment amidst
scenes of great enthusiasm.
The refusal of A. j. Balfour, leader
of the opposition, to vote against the
preamble to the veto bill removed any
danger that might have been appre-
hended from the revolt of the Labor
ties against the preamble and this por-
ton of the measure, the consideration
Of which was regarded as the most
critical test for the government, proved
easiest to carry. The Unionist opposi-
ton to the bill almost vanished. In
place Of hundreds of amendments
which threatened to delay proceedings
in the committee stage. only few i'm
portant ones, mainly in the direction
of urging joint sittings or a conference
of the two houses in cases of disagree
ment, will be moved in the report stage
CT the bill, which is expected to occu-
by only two or three days next week.
An amendment that the preamble be
eliminated. moved by George Nicoll
EJeil il19s Tic lodDOl ltddti, WIN utSGtiD-
cd that portion of the bill as inconsist-
ent with all pledges and tenets of the
Labor party was defeated 21S to ~.
After the application of closure and
the rejection of another amendment
without division, Mr. Balfour said that
he regarded the preamble as indefinite
and illusorY." But he wished to see the
government carry it out. He hated
some of it, but liked another part of
it and therefore would not vote
against it.
Amid loud ministerial cheers the pre-
amble was then agreed to without di-
vision. On motion that the bill amend
cd be reported. division was challenged
and the motion was carried 265 to 147.
The House then adjourned, the govern
ment supporters giving vent to the
widest enthusiasm.
London. May 3.-The preamble to the
veto bill designed to restrict the legis-
lative powers. of the House of Lords,
was reached in the House of Commons
today and with it the most critical
stage of the discussion from the gov
eminent viewpoint. because of the d.
versity of opinion between the factions
making up the coalition majority.
Geo. n, Barnes, the Labor leader. inn
mediately showed fight. The Labor
party is composed of single chamber
men who have repeatedly declared
their intention of opposing any plan
to reform the House of Lords.
Barnes moved that the preamble be
eliminated. He described it as incon-
sistent with all the pledges and the
tenets of the Labor party.
Premier Asauith said:
While | do not regard a single
chamber government with undiluted
horror, I am satisfied that the inter-
ests of the country make it desirable
to have second chamber limited in
numbers and clothed with defined and
limited functions of revision, consulta-
ton and delay. The government re-
CARDS the reform of the House of Lords
as an obligation which they would un-
dertake if time permitted in the life
time of the present Parliament"
A. j. Balfour leader of the opposi-
tion, opposed the preamble on the
ground that it would lead to the con-
stitution of a wholly and directly rep
resentative second chamber. If the
from the electors, they would claim
and possess equal authority and he did
not wish co-equal bodies. The second
chamber, he said, should be empow-
cred in case of controversy between
the two houses, to refer the questions
to the electorate.