Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-08
COOLIDGE and JOHNSON FORCES
BOTH CONFIDENT IN ILLINOIS
BRITISH LABOR GOVT.
SUFFERS DEFEAT IN
COMMONS VOTE

London, April (By A. P.)-By the
small majority of only nine votes the
Labor government suffered in the
house or commons tonight one of
those defeats which Premier Mac
Donald contemplated when he as
sumed office. and then declared that
it would not involve the resignation
OF the ministry because Of the pecu-
liar position of his government. which
is in the minority in parliament.
The governments defeat camc on
an amendment offered by Neville
Chamberlain, unionist, to the rents
bill, opposing the second reading.
This bill had already been the cause
of much opposition in the house. and
1t was hardly expected that the
prime minister could carry the meas
ure in it's present form.
In point Of fact the defeat was not
on the question of principle, all the
parties being agreed upon the neces-
sity of giving relief to prevent the
eviction of tenants who were unem-
ployed: but they disagreed on the
method of application of that relief.
In the course of today's exciting and
rather disorderly debate the prime
minister frankly admitted the hasty
and immature nature of the govern
ments proposals, but excused them
on the ground that the bill was really
an emergency measure intended to
effect within few days what ought
properly to occupy weeks, and he
commended that the method of attain
ing what all the parties desired was
Ia NNxHzN
not on the second reading debate.
The tactics of the two parties were
aimed at forcing the government I'd
withdraw altogether the clause in the
rents bill which proposed to give
eviction orders in cases of tenants
who were out Of employment. Minis
tey Wheatley, in charge Of the bill,
had produced an amended version OF
, the clause, which was intended to
throw the loss thereby sustained by
the landlords on public funds, but
the method by which this was to ho
accomplished was characterized by Mr..
Asquith. the Liberal leader as
meaningless, impracticable, worth
less"
Mr.. Macdonald in mis- attempts to
explain the governments position,
was subjected to much interruption,
which drew reproof from the speak
er OF the house. Mr.. Asquith's atti-
tude in offering to give the bill a
second reading if the government
would withdraw the Objectionable
clause, appeared to be directed at
proving that the government could
only accomplish legislation by grace
Of the liberal party.
The ministers stood to their guns
and refused to withdraw the clause,
and Mr.. Wheatley poured oil on the
flames by declaring it was unworthy
that the representatives Of the nation
should sit and bubble in the face OF
such and urgent situation.
Austen Chamberlain declared that
the clause was a sham the only OBJ
ject Of which was to compose the diff
ferences in the Labor party--this be-
ing a reference to the general belief
that the government is being driven
by its Clydeside section.
Division was taken, and the vote
stood 221 to 212. the figures being de-
clared amid great excitement and the
usual cries of: "Resign!"
Mr.. Macdonald resisted Stanley
Baldwin's attempt to adjourn the de-
bate. and proceeded to explain that
by its vote ethe house had rejected
the whole chill. He reiterated that
the proper cours would have been to
amend the clause in committee and
he declined to make a new precedent
of doing things in most improper
manner. He promised further state
ment tomorrow on the government
intentions. and the house proceeded
to routine business.