Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-02-06
FORMAL OPENING
Of PARLIAMENT
King Read, His Speech From
Throne in the House of 4.
Lords
SCENE IS ONE OF SPLENDOR
Vast Crowds Thronged Streets
to Witness Old-Time
Pageant.

London Feb. 6.-King George and
Queen Mary for the first time in their
reign proceeded in state this after
noon from Buckingham Palace to
Westminster, where his majesty read
the speech formally opening Parlia'
ment from the throne in the House OF
Lords. During the ceremony the
queen was seated at the side of the
king. The procession with it's old
time pomp and pageantry, was wit
messed by tremendous crowds, and the
cheering was unusually hearty.
King George Opens Parliament.
London, Feb. 6.-The royal stand
ard and the Union Jack of old Eng
land tugged and tore in the brisk wind
from the spires Of the houses of par
lament this morning silent token
of the fact that the day designated
for the reassembling of parliament had
arrived. The usual crowds began 10
assemble outside the gates of West
minister palace yard at an early hour
and by noon several thousand people
were massed about the outer en-
frances to the legislative chamber
The crowds which lined the route
from Buckingham palace to Westmin
ster, to view the royal procession, al
so were unusually large. Guards
men, assisted by hundreds of police
kept the spectators back, but they had
little to do.
In view of the stirring national is
sues with which the speech from the
Throne was bound to deal the pic
turesque ceremony in the House OF
Lords was never attended with more
glamOr and splendOr. The ceremony
was in strict accordance with prece
dent. The procession to the chamber
was of the same character as on simi
lar occasions in the past, and within
was seen in the same state pageantry
historic dresses, and revival OF an
cient forms. After robing, Kins
George and Queen Mary entered the
House of Lords and occupied theil
thrones, beneath a canopy, with thu
great officers Of state clustered abou
them.
Directly the royal couple took theil
places the King said, Pray be seat
ed" and then followed an interva
while Black Rod summoned members
of the House Of Commons. Lord
Loreburn, Lord High Chancellor
then approached the throne, and on
bended knee handed his Majesty a
copy of the speech. The King put his
cooked hat on his head, and while
seated read the speech in loud, clear
tone, amid intense silence. At the
conclusion of the speech the King
arose, and, giving his hand to the
Queen, descended the throne, and the
ceremony came to an end. Unusual
haste was shown by those present to
leave the precincts Of the chamber,
as if anxious to discuss the effects of
the official pronouncement.
The present session of Parliament
is expected to be one of the most mo-
mentous in the modern history of the
United Kingdom. This expectation
appears certain of realization if the
present programme of the govern
ment coalition is carried out, and
that this will be done, or at any rate
will be attempted, there is full reason
to believe.
The government regards the result
of the late election as a popular man
date for it to proceed vigorously with
the policy it adopted in the last Par
lament. 1t has moreover not only a
majority sufficient to enable it to do
so, but also a majority requiring it to
do 80.
How far the government will De
able to get with it's programme is a
matter of much speculation. 1t is
hoped that all contentious measures,
if not all the business of the session,
will be disposed of before the corona
ton, which is to take place the latter
part of June. But to do that will re-
quire an extraordinary expedition Of
business. There will necessarily be
debate on the addreSs, lasting two
or three days. Immediately thereaft-
er the government intends to intro
duce it's bill for the abolition of the
veto power of the Lords. In addition
to this there are several other import
ant matters that will require much
time. Is
The manner in which the anti-veto
bill will be dealt with is already a
subjuct of keen discussion. Before
the election it was declared by the
highest government authorities that
the bill must be passed letter perfect
without the slightest amendment
That declaration served as good
campaign material, but whether 1t
will be strictly adhered to is doubtful
1t is regarded as more than likely
that a spirit of concession and com
promise will prevail.
But even> if compromise on the
anti-veto bill is promptly effected the
session is bound to be epoch-making
in the history of Westminster. 1t
will almost certainly mark the pass
ing away of purely hereditary privi
lege in British lawmaking, the recon
stitution of the upper chamber either
In actual composition or in essential
functions, and the readjustment Of re
lations between the two houses.