New-York tribune., 1911-03-03
VETO BILL ADVANCED
British Commons. by Big Major
ity, Passes Its Second Reading.
Mr.. BALF0UR MAKES A SLIP
Says of House of Lords, Let 1t
Be Our Servant; Let It No
Longer Be Our Master

London March -Four. days OF the most
uninspiring debate ever given 20 a measure
involving great constitutional reform
/ came 70 a conclusion tonight. when Pre-
mier Asquith applied closure and the sec
ond reading of the veto bill was passed By
a majority Of .. the vote being 3S 10 243
Prior to this the House took division on
Austen Cham berlains amendment with the
result that a majority of 12l was recorded
against il.
The figures on the veto bill we're greeted
with prolonged cheers. after which the
bin. on the Premiers motion. was com
mitted to a committee of the whole house
for the third stage. which Is likely 20 be
deferred for some time 20 enable the gov
eminent to dispose Of financial business
The Opposition leaders are drafting An
elaborate series OF amendments.
The appearance Of Mr. Balfour in to-
days debate gave a temporary FLIP to the
otherwise dull proceedings. and although
not in the bes; Of form. the former Premier
kept the interest alive. not always how
ever. TO the complete advantage OF bis
party For instance, expatiating on the
value Of the hereditary principle. he ex-
claimed: Let it be our servant; let IT no
longer be our master"
This admission was received with a burst
of laughter.
Pending the third stage of the bin in
terest will now centre In the expected pro-
duction next week Of Lord Lansdowne's
bill for the reform or the House Of Lords.
Mr. ChamDerlain's amendment. which
was defeated. was moved on Monday last
h,of, Of 1n . he
effect that the House would welcome the
introduction Of bill which. while reform
ing the composition Of the House Of Lords
maintained its independence as a second
chamber but declined 70 proceed with a
measure which placed all effective legis-
lative authority IN the hands Of a single
chamber and offered no safeguard against
grave changes made without the consent OF
the people.
Lord Hugh Cecil, member for Oxford
University. in q breezy speech in support
OF Mr Chsmbersin's amendment drew the
ieers OF the Nationalists by declaring that
the Ulsterites would be justified in cut
ting themselves off from the bastard re-
public" which. he said. would oe constituted
if the veto bill was passed.
In his speech on the veto bill Mr.. Bal
iour described It as the result purely Of
coercion brought by the Irish party upon
the government. He said that the conse-
Quonces Of the measure. If adopted, would
be disastrous TO the country and in a heat
ed burst concluded:
The government have imposed their pro-
posals on the country oy fraud"
This declaration threw the House into an
draw Speaker Louther. however. ruled
that the term by fraud could be applied
10 a party without an infringement of the
rules OF the House.
The Premier. Nj. Asauith. who followed.
expressed q feeling OF relief because the
Tories had at last informed the country
that the real motive inspiring the party.
which had taken NJ the reform OF the sec
ond chamber, was 10 make 10 stronger
against tine chosen representatives OF the
people.
As 10 the charge or fraud and the pre-
tence that the Liberals were prosecuting
the veto bill as a result Of party exigen-
cies. these were the fimsiest ever made IN
the House or Commons. 1t was because
the Lords were az present their master
that they meant 10 carry these proposals
into law.
l1r Asquith said that the House Of Com
mons must predominant in legislation The
second chamber must have only the func-
tions of consultation. revision and DELAY.
II should be relatively Q small body. not
resting upon an hereditary basis and Il
mus, bo in its origin. composition and at
titude ungoverned hy partisanshp.
Lord Ralfour Of Burleigh introduced in
the House or Lords to-day his bill for the
employment of the referendum on occa-
sions o. great national importance The
measure passed its first reading without
division.
In introducing his bill Lord Balfour SAL
that the popular vote thus provided in
order TO secure public expression on a
specific issue was the best solution Of tho
many difficulties now confronting the ma
ton. In whatever countries II had been
tried the referendum had been a success.
lie wished 20 restore 70 the people the
reality Of powor for he said the presen,
representative system put an exaggerated
power in the hands Of small majorities.
The Earl Of Crewe on behalf Of the gov
ernment characterized the proposal as a
counter stroke 20 the governments veto
bill He said it was n more radical de-
governments proposal or even measure
to set up a single chamber government. He
declared that he would have nothing 70 do
with a referendum project