The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-27
CRY DOWNASQU|TH BIC POOL IN STEEL
UprOar in Commons Over
Veto Bill.
TRAITOR" YELL OPPONENTS
Premier For Three.Quarters of an
Hour Vainly Tries to Get
Hearing to Move
Reconsideration

London. July 25.-There was con
siderable excitement when the house
OF commons met, as the first business
after routine matters was the parlia
mont OF veto bill, as amended by the
house OF lords.
When Prime Minister Asquith en-
tered the hall he received an ovation
from his supporters. but was greeted
wiih iroHical cheers from the OppOsl
ton benches. One Unlonist member
shouted Traitor" when the premier
arose 10 make motion to the effect
that the house proceed to consider the
amendments to the parliament bill
and the speaker promptly called him
To order
No parliamentary event Of modern
times has so quickened the public
pulse as the present political crisis
arising from the veto bill, and anxiety
h. know the exact terms OF Premier
Asquith's ultimatum to the peers
crowded the house and It's galleries In
way not seen before for many years.
The members Of the lower chamber
usually so decorous. gave vent to their
feelings by rising and cheering frantl
oally and waving handkerchiefs as
their respective leaders entered. There
were some groans from the Unlonist
benches. intermingled with an occa.
sional shout of Traitor! when AS
quiih made his appearance
The opening scenes Of the historic
session we're among the stormiest ever
Witnessed in the house. As he rose to
speak. the premier was encouraged by
a roar OF applause from the Rrdical.
Irish and Labor benches, but an an
,wcrins volley Of jeers came from the
opposition. while a small group OF
stand patters" busily chanted traitor,
traitor. traitor" until Speaker Low
Their warned them to control them
selves.
Prominent among the dlsorderly
ones was Lord Hugh Cecil, the Con
scrvatlve Free Trader from Oxford
university. who necessarily chanted
divide. divide, divide" This created
fierce Indignation on the Radical side.
from which the members appealed TO
the speaker 10 metaphorlcally turn him
ont
Frederick f. Smith, Unionist for the
Walton division of Liverpool, injected
ho claim that the Unionists were en-
TILED TO protest in this fashion II they
tL9Y,ht that the cabinet had degraded
Tie political life Of the country.
This led to a renewal OF the out
breal. Meanwhile Premier Asquith
stood at the table waiting lull in the
storm. His first word, however, was a
ienal for another cyclone, and for
twenty minutes the premier stood IN
a le 10 get in a word.
cries Of "Hurrah for Redmond, the
real leader" suddenly broke out from
Pho Conservative benches I'VE Will
listen 10 Redmond" they added. This
AUNT is meant to show that the Irish
mcmbers. holding a balance OF power,
had forced Asquith into his present at
'iiude
During the next lull the premier re-
sumed:
But for the death OF the king and
the temporary truce (crles Of A bright
sort OF truce) II would have been
passed at that session through ali It's
stages. The constitutional conference
proved that with the best will a set
tlement by agreement was impossible.
This bill was presented to the lords.
II was laid aside in favor of an alter.
native scheme put forward by Lord
! ansdowne on behalf OF the respOnsi
bic leaders OF the opposition"
As the premier spoke the uproar
was continued. and only snatches Of
what he said could be heard. He re-
ferIed to criticisms OF the lords
amendments. Only slight verbal
changes were required. and very few
such changes to after the whole sense
Of the bin 10 which, after due time and
consideration. they were going 10 ask
the house Of commons to consent
After trying vainly for three-quarters
OF an hour to get hearing. Premier
Asqui,h cut short his projected speech
and amid hubbub declared that if the
lords would not consent to restore the
veto bill. even with reasonable amend.
meuis. to substantially its original
fosm. the government would be COM
pol.cd to invoke the exercise Of the
topal prerogatiye for the creation OF
new peers
4 serious situation faces the Union
ist party The attitude imputed to-
Lord ansdowne-n namely. willing
nesg io submit to superior force
meets with the strongest criticism
among certain Of his followers, who
are of he opinion that the government
should be forced to carry out its
threat Of making peers.
The difference is believed to have
reached very considerable dimensions.
Lord Halsbury. Lord Selborne. Lord
Salisbury and Lord Willoughby De
Blcle are ciamoring for the adoption
Of a policy of no surrender. and they
claim to have the support OF a hun
bred other peers