The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-11
Peers "Drink the Hem
lock" Prepared by
Government,
VICTORY WON BY
NARROW MARGIN
Vote Stands I3I to ia, the Die.
Hards" mastering Unexpected
Strength-This Greatest HUI
initiation of Peers Is Wit
messed by Notable Throng
in Galleries.

London. August lo-Premier A.-
ouith's government. which claims to
represent the democracy OF Great
Britain, tonight enforced It's will upon
the peerage by the narrow vote OF 1871
to III BY this vote the House OF
Lords decided to accept what the Lib
erals contend is the will OF the peo-
PIE. and adopted viscoun, Mo.4ey's
motion not to insist upon the Lords
amendment to the parliamentary bill.
which practically limits the power of
the House OF Lords TO a two years
suspensory veto and vastly increases
the prerogatives of the House of Com
mons.
Great Struggle Ended.
The great constitutional struggle,
which began when the House of Lords
nearly two years ago rejected the bud
get OF David LoydGeorge. Chancellor
OF the Exchequer. is ended for a time
a least. and with the greatest change
to Great Britains working constitu-
ton since the passage of the reform
bill
The process of voting consumed
nearly an hour and the result trem-
bied in the balance until the last mo-
ment. The die hards mustered great
or strength than was anticipated ana
the government owes its victory to the
VOWS OF between twenty and thirty
Conservatives who threw in their lot
with the Liberals TO save their own
caste from loss OF prestige. and the
King from the necessity OF exercis-
Ing the royal prerogative for the loca-
ton of a large number OF new peers
which every one believes he was eX
tremely anxious to be saved.
1t was noticeable that the highest
ranks OF the nobility furnished the
fewest supporters of the government.
Drinking the hemlock" had be-
come a historic phrase in past months.
and the gathering in the ancient
chamber tonight to witness this mem
orable humiliation was worthy OF the
ccasion. Peers. ambassadors and
commoners packed the galleries.
4 resolution to pay members of the
House of Commons $4,000 per annum
David Lloyd George. was carried by a
vote of 256 to 1853.
The chancellor said that Great Bri.
tain was the only country in the world
that did not pay members for their
work in Parliament which nowadays
was SO strenuous that the members
had little time to attend to anything
else.
Oppose Payment Plan.
The Unionists opposed the payment
plan on the ground that 1t would be
a violation OF the principle of gratui-
tous public service as well as i'm
proper Tor members to vote them
selves salaries.
Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Lee
speaking In the House OF Commons
to-day, said this would be a black
day In Englands history II the House
of Lords accepted the veto bill and the
House OF Commons cut adrift from the
traditions OF centuries to bestow SAL
aries upon it's members. Apparently.
the sentiment Of the peers was in full
accord with this description OF the
occasion.
AS soon as the result was known
several members OF the House OF Com
mons rushed from the galleries and
into their own chamber and whispered
the news to the members. A great
cheer followed the announcement Of
the governments victory.
The question Of the hour is what
effect to-nights decision will have
upon the future fortunes OF the
Conservative party. Viscount Nor
ley's definite announcement that
enough peers were to be created per-
manently to swamp the upper house
II the government did not prevail ap-
parently swayed a few waverers and
decided the issue.