On Thursday night, Lord Salisbury, in his speech on the
second reading of Lord Dunraven's Bill for the Reform of the House of Lords, announced that the Government intend to introduce a Bill for the creation of life-peerages. Since resisting Lord Rosebery's motion, the Ministry had been con- sidering the question, and though unable to undertake any great reform, they think "that a measure for facilitating the entrance of Life-Peers into the House of Lords is one which is useful and which they ought to propose." The Government proposals for reform do not, however, stop here. In regard to "the black-sheep question," an Act will be introduced con- ferring on the House of Lords the powers of expelling a member now possessed by the House of Commons ; while the question of the numbers required to form a quorum will alm be considered. The adoption of the system of life-peerages is without doubt an event of importance. The late Mr. Bagehot declared that the refusal of the Lords to adopt it in the case of Lord Wensleydale was the greatest opportunity ever lost for the improvement of the Constitution. Reform, however, must go much farther than the adoption of a few notabilities pretty sure to be nearly worn out men.
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