The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-26

be an accomplished fact. Great Brit
ain in the future will be governed
practically by the house of commons
with Its hereditary upper house po-
sessing only a veto with a time limit
OF two years. The peers find their
one gleam of hope in the prediction
that the next conservative govern
mont will overturn Asquith's revolu-
| tion and restore the old conditions,
but the Radicals are confident that
In such matters the hands Of the
clock will never turn back.
Yesterday the future career of the
veto bill was apparent to all politi-
clans. and its eventual acceptance by
the house of lords not doubted. Pre-
mier Asquith dispelled all clouds to-
day by communicating informally to
Mr.. Balfour, the leader Of the op-
position in the house Of commons,
the substance Of an announcement
which he will make in that house on
Monday.
His letter, which Mr.. Balfour
communicated to the meeting Of the
lords this afternoon was as follows:
Dear Mr.. Balfour: 1 think it is
courteous and right. before any pub
| lie decisions ere announced, to let
you know how we regard the pres
ent situation. When the parliament
bill in the form which 1t has now as
sumed returns to the house OF COM
mons we shall be compelled to ask
that house to disagree with the
lords amendments. In the circum-
stances should the necessity arise
he government will advse the king
TO exercise his prerogative to Sc.
cure the passage into law Of the bill
in substantially the same form in
which IL left the house Of commons
and his majesty has been pleased to
signify that he will consider 1t his
duty to accept and act on that adj
vice.
Yours sincerely,
III. II. Asquith."
This was a day Of caucuses. Three
meetings were held to discuss the
situation. The cabinet sat for two
hours and later the Conservative
leaders of both houses met at Mr..
Balfour's residence, the Marquis Of
Lansdowne. Lord Curzon the Mar
quis OF Londonderry. the Earl OF Sell
borne. Austen Chamberlin, the Rt.
Hon. Henry Chaplain, the Earl of
Halsbury and the Marquis Of Sails
bury J~ing the principal figures Of
| the conference.
The last and most impressive
gathering was at Lansdowne house,
where more than 200 peers, among
them almost all the greatest names
Of their order, listened to the read
ing of the prime minister's letter and
practically decided that they must
accept the inevitable. Later a state
ment was given out that the peers re-
| served decision as to their course un-
I'll Premier Asquith's announcement
OF the policy Of the government on
Monday.
Apparently this was mere tenn
porizing. The lords are not anxious
to emphasize their surrender, but
speaking privately. few failed to say
that they no longer consider them
selves. In Lord Lansdowne's words,
free agents and will yield to the gov
ernment's threat to invoke the pre-
rogative OF the crown.
The Earl Of Halsbury, leader Of
the extremists, left with lighting fire
i'm his eye.
What Is going to happen?" was
asked by one.
Government by cabinet controll-
ed by rank Socialists" was the tart
reply.
Premier Asquiths letter gives
ground for the belief that the gov
ernment will accept some minor
notifications of its bill. Those con-
sidered most probable are:
Placing outside the bilPs scope
any proposals dealing with succession
To the crown and the concession Of
committee to assist the speaker In
determining what are money bills.
Instead Of a Joint committee Of the
two houses. which the lords desire.
IN" government is expected to insist
that this committee be composed Of
members OF the commons alone.
MRS. T.. III. AULL DEAD.