Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-17
REFORM IN HOUSE
Others Than Peerage Problem
Confronting British Public.
IS NOT Representative
Defects in Electoral System That
Cry for Remedy.
MAY VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN
Possible for One Man to Cast Bal
lot in Each Of Many
Districts.
IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE
MAY VOTE EARLY AND OFTEl

Districts.
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.
LONDON. June 3. 1911
The house of lords is at this writing
wrestling with the difficult problem of
whether to submit to its virtual elimna
ton from the lawmaking machinery of
Great Britain BY accepting the govern
ment's so-called parliament bill or pass
ing its own reform BILL a radical depar-
ture from the strictly hereditary princi-
pie. That something must be done to
lessen the veto power of the second
chamber is obvious. for even the con-
sentative peers admit that the country
has demanded a measure Of reform In
this respect. Yet even with an over
whelming majority against the govern
ment In that chamber it is not regarded
as likely that the lords will venture to
brave public sentiment to the extent of
rejecting or ignoring the ministry's pro-
posal to vest all power of fiscal legisla-
ton In the commons and to give that
body the prerogative of making into law
any bill that has been passed by it at
three successive sessions with two years
elapSing between the first second read
ing" and the final passage regardless of
the action Of the lords-in short a single
chamber parliament as far as eventual
results and responsibility go.
This expectation is based upon the be-
lief that the government is determined to
force the passage Of the parliament bill.
II necessary. by the creation of sufi-
cient number Of new peers to overcome
the conservative majority. perhaps. in
the event OF determined opposition. as
many as five hundred.
An Interesting Spectacle.
1t will be an interesting spectacle if
this is done-the violent and wholesale
enlargement Of the house OF lords for the
purpose Of stripping it of its effective
ness, and leaving It an immense mass of
useless machinery. travesty upon the
second chamber principle and impera-
lively requiring early reformation. While
no one knows what Mr.. Asduith and his
colleagues of the ministry have in mind
to do in this direction. 1t is assumed that
sooner or later. even though the parlia-
ment bill is permitted by a silent and
sullen house of lords TO become law-si-
lent on the conservative side when the
vote is taken though the chamber is now
resounding with tory cries of protest and
warning-some measure of reform will be
necessary, possibly on the lines of Lord
Transformers bill. just now temporarily
the parliament bill.
No such remarkable situation has ever
occurred in the history Of England. The
grim humor OF ii appeals to many of the
peers. who are meeting the parliament
bill with witty as we'll as able speeches.
1t ia a singular fact that in the entire de-
bate thus far there has been no reference
whatever to the fact that the house OF
in need Of a reformation as the house of
lords. This may be due to the persistence
with which the peers have rejected all
styles of measures attempting to deal
on that line might easily boomerang to
the discontinue of the speaker
Demand for Electoral Reform.
Much has been said in the course of
this general discussion about the lords
about the fact that the hereditary cham
Der nullifes the work of the representa-
tive chamber In truth IL is doubtful
whether, under the existing election laws,
the house Of commons really represents
the people of Great Britain Though
not so we'll advertised the sentiment
for a reduction of the veto power of the
lords, there exists strong demand for
legislation radically changing the entire
electoral system and reconstituting the
house Of commons through what in the
states is called redistrictng. and other
in December. 1908. a royal commission
was appointed TO investigate the question
and to recommend measures of reform.
1t began its sittings more than two years
ago. but thus far no results have been
accomplished. doubtless because the house
OF lords has declined to acquiesce in the
first Of the proposed changes, rejecting
in 1900. by vote Of l57 to 40. a bill that
had been passed by the commons by las
to 10. to constitute London a single par
liamentary borough. and thereby to pre-
vent several thousand voters from exer-
cising the ancient privilege Of voting for
several candidates for parliament at the
same election.
The evil which this bill was aimed to
cure is in a way characteristic of the
electoral system in Great Britain. The
franchise is enjoyed by various classes
of men in differing degrees and inasmuch
as there is no systematic districting in
proportion to the electorate James John
son may. through membership in certain
guilds and by virtue of traditional pre-
negatives. vote for thirty Eight different
candidates for the house of commons in
the various constituencies of the capital.
while William Robinson. equally intelli-
gent. equally reputable, equally well pro-
vided with the worlds goods. but not so
diversely connected, can vote for only
one. Under an old law no man can vote
for more than one candidate at the same
general election in one borough. But
London is not borough. Hence the
need OF a new law, which the mouse or
lords has emphatically declined to pass.
The "Out-Voting" Evil.
There is another evil which the prime
minister has declared In an earnest
speech to be a grave defect in the cleo
toral system, that of "out-voting Tn
der the qualification law a man can vote
wherever he owns property. Thus it is
possible for the aforesaid James Johnson,
after or before voting for his thirty eight
different candidates in London, to cast
votes on different days in as many more
constituencies where he is a rate payer.
1t is quite possible for this to happen,
and considering the fact that the cleo
tons are held at different times extend |
ng over a period OF two and three weeks |
and bearing also in mind the short travel
distances in this country and the facility |
of train and motor car transportation, 1t |
is easy to see how an enterprising parti- |
san can SO maneuver AS to offset the |
votes of fifty or seventy-five members of
the other side, who are restricted to one |
vote in one district. Thus far no serious |
effort has been made to legislate against |
the out-voter. but there is nevertheless a |
growing demand for his restriction. In |
London there were in 1909. 1t has been |
stated, $3.50 Of these plural ballot cast |
ers-enough If sufficiently active to turn
the tide Of party fortunes In close con- |
test.
summarized. the urgent needs Of Great