The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-08-17
SCORE OF CONSERVATIVES CAST
LOT WITH LIBERALS AND
GOVERNMENT WINS.
BISHOPS V OTE With MAJORITY
Measure Passed After Bitter Fight by
Close Vote Of 1871 to ~
Throngs See Opposition
Humitiated.

quith's government, which claims to
represent the democracy of Great
Britain, enforced it's will upon the
peerage when the house of lords
adopted the veto bill by the narrow
vote of 131 to ia. BY this vote the
house of lords decided to accept what
the Liberals contend is the will of
the people, and adopted Viscount Nor.
leys motion not to insist on the
lords amendment to the parliament
tary bill, which practically limits the
power Of the house of lords to two
years suspensory veto and vastly in.
creases the prerogatives of the house
of commons.
The great constitutional struggle.
which began when the house of lords
nearly two years ago re-enacted the
budget of David Lloyd-George, chan.
cellor of the exchequer, is ended for
a time at least, and with the greatest
change to Great Britains working con-
stitution since the passage of the re-
form bill.
The process of voting consumed
nearly an hour and the result trem.
bled in the balance until the last mo.
ment. The "die hards' mustered
greater strength than was anticipated,
and the government owes it's victory
to the votes of between 20 and 80
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 exercising
the royal prerogative for the crea.
ton of many new peers, from which
everyone believes he was extremely
anxious to be saved.
Bishops With Government.
The archbishops of Canterbury and
York and nine bishops also lined up
with the government. The bishops of
Bangor and Worcester went with the
Halsburyites, the "last ditchers." The
highest ranks of the nobility furnished
the fewest supporters of the govern
ment. The dukes of Norfolk, Leeds,
Marlborough, Newcastle, Northumber
land, Somerset and Westminster vot.
ed with the opposition, while the 9th.
er dukes abstained from voting
Drinking the hemlock" had be.
come an historic phrase in past
months, and the gathering in the an.
cient chamber last night to witness
this memorable humiliation was
worthy of the occasion. Peeresses,
ambassadors and commoners packed
the galleries. The benches, aisles and
floor were crowded.
Lords frequently forgot the oppres-
sive dignity which customarily marks
the progress of the upper chamber
and fought for hearing. The earl
Of Halsbury once went so far as to
make motion that one of his sup
porters be heard in preference to one
peer who favored the government.
When the voting began Lord Lans.
downe withdrew to a position behind
the throne, but his followers watched
the issue eagerly. The bishops on
both sides walked through the tellers
first. A thrill of excitement marked
the appearance Of each notable, but
none was greater than when Lord
Rosebery appeared as a supporter of
the government.
Applause In Commons.
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 whis.
pered the news to the members. A
great cheer followed the announce.
ment of the government victory.
The question of the hour is what
effect last nights decision will have
upon th&.future fortunes of the Con-
servative party. Viscount Morley's
definite announcement that enough
peers would be created permanently
to swamp the upper house if the gov.
eminent did not prevail apparently
swayed a few waverers and decided
the issue.