The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-08-10
BRITISH COMMONS
uPHOLDs AsQuNH
Motion to Censure Government
Is Defeated.
VOTE STANDS 365 TO 246
RaIfour, the Opposition Leader, and
Prime Minister Mako Long
Speeches Before Many Not
ahies In Gallery.

LONDON, Aug. 8.-The house Of com.
mons was crowded to the doors when
Arthur J. Balfour arose to move his
vote Of censure on the government.
Many notables crowded together IN
the strangers gallery to hear the
words OF the opposition leader in his
condemnation Of the government for
securing the kings pledge to create
q sufficient number Of new peers to
pass the veto bill through the house
OF lords. Among those In the gallery
was Ambassador Whitelaw Reid.
The visitors saw the house kill the
proposal by vote Of 365 to 246, and
It's defeat is regarded as having failed
to improve the Unionist cause.
The gravamen Of the opposition's
charge against the government was
that Premier Asquith had taken ad-
securing the guarantees before the last
general election. Mr.. Asquith easily
disposed of this charge by showing
that the ministers had pursued an en-
tirely proper constitutional course.
Baifour Attacks Ministers.
Mr. Balfour emphasized that he was
conscious of the gravity of the situa-
ton and the seriousness of the step
which he asked the house to take.
THE ministers" said Mr.. Balfour,
have grossly abused their rights OF
advising the crown, and by abusing
those rights put themselves above the
constitution. They have acted wholly
without precedent. not in order to
meet any great question of state. but
In order to further party arrange
ment between different sections who
support them and in order to prevent
the people of the country from pro-
nouncing their opinion Oh home rule"
The unionist leader asserted that
the ministry had placed the sovereign
who had just come to the throne in a
cruel position. The king was fount
of honor, but the government by their
advice had poisoned and corrupted the
stream at its source. He dubbed the
proposed new peers 'supers in this
gordid i-ama."
Calls Plan Unconstitutional.
Mr. Balfour declared there was not
the slightest justification for the crea-
ton of peers to enable the govern
ment to carry it through both houses
without a reference to the people. 1t
was contrary to all opinions Of consti-
tutional Legislative chambers to put
both chambers In the hands of the
executive to manipulate as they liked,
and 1t was a wholly unconstitutional
method of dealing with deadlocks for
the prime minister to advise the king
to pack the upper house with hired
voters.
Premier Asquith appeared in his
best fo-n when he stood up to reply.
Jeeringly he thanked Mr.. Balfour for
this opportune though unexpected
motion"
in few sentences the prime minis
ter dispelled the fog by which the cir
cumstances under which he had OBJ
tanned the guarantees from the king
had been persistently obscured by the
opposition.
Asquith Defends Course.
1T was my strong hope and belief"
he said that the lords would accept
the bill, and only when that hope was
frustrated as it was last month, was
his majesty asked and consented, II
II was necessary, to exercise his pre-
rogatve. We took the only course
consistent with honor and true re-
gard for the dignity of the crown.
The course was correct, considerate
and constitutional. and in my own
name and in those of my colleagues |
am perfectly content to accept the
decision of the house and or my fel.
low countrymen in regard thereto"