Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-21
ANTEVETO BILL IN
Aimed at Lords, 1t Is introduce
ed in House of Commons.
OFFERED BY Mr.. ASQUITH
Balconies All Thronged When Pre-
mier Explains the Measure.
RESULT OF CONTEST IN DOUBT
Great Political Controversy Begins
With Both Sides Determined
Not to Yield
OFFERED By Mr.. ASQUITH
RESULT OF CONTEST IN DOUBT

LONDON. February 2l.-The govern
ment bill TO abolish the veto power of the
house of lords which. if the government
10 able 10 pass il as it stands, promises
TO accomplish a historic change in the
parliamentary system OF Great Britain.
was introduced in the house of commons
today by Premier Asquith.
No one processes to foresee the out
come OF the constitutional battle. If the
liberals have any thought of a compro-
mise they are keeping their intentions to
themselves and the greatest controversy
known in thi.; country for several gener-
atoms began with both sides apparently
determined not 10 yield except to SUI
perior force.
\ full house faced Mr.. Asquith when
he rose to make the customary explain
atory statement on the Introduction of
a measure OF such moment. Tickets
for seats in the public galleries had
been exhausted weeks ago. and the
diplomatic and peers balconies We're
thronged with interested ones.
Country Behind Hill.
The premier lost no time in letting
the opposition know that he felt the
country Was DcHIllt HILL ana JucTciOTt
did not hesitate to reintroduce the bill.
without the change OF a word. in the
form in which it had its first reading
last year.
The measure. he said. had gone be-
fore the electorate at the recent cleo
lions and had been Endorsed by the re-
turn of its supporters to the house OF
commons with majority of 126.
Mr.. Asquith declared that when the
lords rejected the budget of 1909 they
committed political suicide. History
would say that il was the most stu
pendous act of political blindness ever
perpetrated.
Hereditary in origin. irresponsible in
the exercise of its powers and Overwkelm-
inGiy partisan in its actual composition
that was the body to which the law in
trusted the right TO delay and check the
considered decisions of elected representa-
tfvos Of the, people
Second Chamber Needed.
The premier said that he did not pro-
pose to dispense with a second chamber.
They already had suffered enough from
the evils OF what was practically sin
gle chamber government, but the coun-
try required an immediate remedy for
the present evil and could not await a
release from the dangerous and intoler-
able situation until the long and labori-
ous process necessary for the creation OF
4 new second cham Der had been COM
pieted.
The premier continued:
is all progressive Legislation. though
clearly desired and demanded by the
PEOPLE 10 come to standstill pending
the evolving of a new second chamber.
Ne say No. and the country has said
No twice.
1T is asserted that the government s
proposal will have the effect of enabling
n despotic single chamber TO ride rough
>hod over the electorate. and the govern
uent is charged with enthroning, under
ne subtle disguise of democratic forms.
4 power which would enthrall and set
1T nCUgnt il.c YER, spirit of democracy.
Such u eW j. one of the most unSub-
ma .iual ion