Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-25
Asquiih Again Promises a
Measure Of Home Rule.
Bal1our RidlGHieS Governments
Intentions In Matter.
Amendment Affecting Crown Pee.
negatives Quickly Killed.

London. April 24.-The House of
Commons sat very late tonight in its
discussion of the second clause of the
Parliament bill. which relates to the
curtailment of the powers of the
House Of Lords and rejected numer-
OTIS amendments seeking to exclude alt
sorts of measures from the operation
CT the bill
Tie anti-home rule amendment. pro-
posing to exclude ''any bill TO estab-
Dish separate Parliament and execu-
tive for Ireland" which was moved BY
John b. Lonsdale. Unionist member for
@td-Armagh, was defeated by vote
Of 2s4 to 100. The division on this
amendment showed no cross-roting,
but few Liberals, including Nell
Primrose. the Youngest son of the Earl
OF Bosebery, abstained from voting.
Both Premier AsQuith and Home
Secretary Churchill. during the course
OF tire debate reiterated the govern
rlonts intention to proceed with the
Siil for the reform of the House of
LoFda. during the lifetime Of the pres
emf parliament. Mr.. Churchill explain
e3Oaaf tine fact that the Parliament
bill. although 1t secured the FREEDOMS
SManee Of the House of Commons,
would still leave to the House of Lords
the power OF vexatious interference
with Liberal measures was in itself
security that the government would
seek che reform of the upper chamber.
London, April 24.-The anti-hom
rule aFaendn mt to. the Lords veto bill,
proposing To exclude from the opera
ton of the measure amy bill to estab-
lish q separate Parliament and execu-
tive for Ireland" was moved by John
b. Lonsdale. Unionist, in the House of
Commons today. Lonsdale said that
he desired to see the question of home
rule removed altogether from the re-
gion of the controversy over the re-
form OF the House of Lords.
James r. Mcdonald, Socialist and
Labor member for Leicester, contend
cd that the Laborites were whole
hesrtedly in favor of the devolution
demanded for Ireland
Premier Asquith gave the House to
understand clearly that the cabinet
was unswervingly of the opinion that
the electors had returned them to pow
er with the full knowledge that they
could give Ireland a measure of home
rule.
He left no doubt of his intention to
abide by his pledge to introduce some
sort of home rule bill.
A. j. Balfour. leader of the Opposi-
lion. spoke in favor of the amendment
his remarks being a repetition of his
oft-told argument. The government,
he said. had hidden home rule in the
background during the elections and
now having surreptitiously attained
power. they were going to force home
rule down the Threats of the people
who he believed, If the issue were
placed directly before them, would re-
ject 1t as they did in 1856 and 1893.
A Radical Liberal, Captain Walter
Waring from Banffshire. said that fed
eral devolution would be the only sat-
isfactory settlement of the constitu-
tional upheaval
Mr.. Lonsdale's amendment was de-
feated, 2S4 to 1870.
John George Butcher, Unionist MEM
Der for York City, moved an amend-
ment exempting from the operation of
Clause . any bill affecting the con-
tinued existence of the crowns prero-
gatives. In opposing this Sir Robert
Il. Finlay, the attorney general. said
the security of the crown rested on
the loyalty of the people and it MOULD
be an evil day for the crown when it
depended for existence upon the Lords
veto. The Butcher amendment was
defeated, 273 to 162.