THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LORDS.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR:1
beg to suggest that attention should be called to an essential difference between the Government proposals with regard to the House of Lords and those of that House itself. The Government proposal would leave the Peers collectively with less power than now, and would also leave each individual Peer as much debarred as now from sitting in the House of Commons. But a "reform" of the House of Lords such as is now being discussed in that House must necessarily result in the allowing any Peer to become a Member of the House of Commons if he does not exercise legislative functions in the House of Lords. For it would be inequitable not to extend to them the same privilege of being eligible to become Members of the House of Commons which is now enjoyed by Peers who do not sit and vote in the House of Lords. But perhaps the present Government and some of its supporters have some faith in hereditary talent, and fear to encounter it on the hustings or find what effect it might have upon their position in the House of Commons.—
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