Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-12
Veto Bill Goes Through Up
per House Without An
Amendment; Powers Of
Peers Curtailed.
MAY MEAN HOME
RULE FOR IRELAND
Commons Will Pass Such !
Bill, but Lords Yet Have
Power to Delay Final Ac-
tion for Two Years.

London, Aug. 1.-THE ohicial r6
port OF the proceedings at yesterdays
session OF the house OF commons. is-
sued today, contains the announce
ment that a message has been re-
ceived from the house of lords stating
that they will not insist upon their
amendment to the parliamentary bill
to which the house OF commons had
disagreed and have agreed to the
consequential amendment to the bill
proposed by the house Of commons.
Thus will be recorded in the docu-
ments OF parliament the greatest VIC
tory achieved by 9 liberal prime min
lister In century, for although union
lists votes passed the bill In the up
per chamber last night. history will
give the credit to Premier Asquith's
audacious policy. ss II
The great struggle ended last night
when the house OF lords by . vote Of
|131 to l14 adopted viscount Morley's
motion not to insist upon the lords
amendment to the veto bill, the pur-
pose OF which was to restrict the
|powers OF the upper chamber over
house and which may result, among
The veto bill practically limits the
authority Of the house Of lords 70 .
two years suspensofy veto and great-
ly increases the prerogattves OF the
house Of commons.
Won by Threats OF New Plero.
The measure could not possibly have
passed the house OF lords except ~
LIT was known that its rejection would
be followed Immediately by the crear
Ition Of suficient number Of new
peers to enforce the will OF tho lower
chamber and which the government
asserts IL the will Of the people.
The victory was Ill the greater %
|it was achieved with 4 composite ma
jority In the house Of. commons over
which the government whips have no
control. While there is q strong
public opinion opposed to radical
change in the constitution, satisfac-
ton is general that the end has been
reached Of situation which has kent
politics In turmoil 80 long and pre-.
vented the adoption Of much useful
! Legislation.
The recent contest has not done the
unionist party any good, and In the
future there will be always the pos
sibility of the sore breaking out should
the leaders show any weakness on .
question OF national importance. How.
ever, strong effort is being made to
bring the two sections together on
strong platform among the chief
planks OF which will be the repeal Of
the parliament bill and the reform Of
the house Of lords as outlined In Lord
.3rdsdowne's bill.
The Earl Of Selborne, the only pos
stble leader OF the unionists outside
OF A. J. Balfour. will rejoin the leaders
under this policy and majority OF hin
followers and the bulk Of the opposi.
tion party will fall In line
The Earl Of Halsbury, the most un-
relentipg Of the die hards" Is not too
old to take up the leadership OF even
section OF the party and he probably
will retire from active play. A few
insurgents like Lord Willoughby Dc
Broke and other lighting peers will
always remain on the flank OF the
party, ready to attack any sign Of
leaning, to the democracy but ~ they
have always done this, the effect will
not be serious.
Home Rule May be Delayed.
The Irish leaders are confident that
the way is now open to home rule,
and from the statement OF Home Sec
rotary Churchill, In the house OF CONE
mons that the government intended
to- pass home rule measure during
the present parliament their conf
dence appears to some extent justified.
1t must be remembered however, that
the lords will still be able to delay the
passage OF such . bin two years, and
they can be depended upon to delay
home rule as long 40 It IL possible for
them to do so.
The earliest bill could not be intro
duced until next spring. and it would
be strongly fought In the house OF
commons. The lords would then throw
It out, and some time must elapse be-
fore It could be again presented, 30
much depends on whether the govern
ment will be able to hold out that
long.
An election with the parliament bill
as an issue probably would result
favorably to the government, but an
election over the question Of homo
rule for Ireland is another matter.
Continued on Page S.)