The Mikis, in an article on Mr. Chamberlain's recent speech,
gives a reason for maintaining two Chambers which is well worth consideration. It points out that the tendency towards the multiplication of groups and parties makes a Second House with a power of veto, more than ever essential to Parliamentary Government. When men vote in favour of certain Bills not affecting them, solely that others may in turn support their own measures, "the necessity of a Second Chamber will be more and more evident." The tendency of Parliamentary groups is to barter their lotes. "The Welsh and Irish vote with the Labour party for the eight-hours day- or the Employers' Liability Bill, for which they care nothing, in order that the Labour party in their turn may support Welsh Disestablishment or an Evicted Tenants Bill, the bearing of which the Labour men do not care to study."' Thus worked, the Parliamentary system becomes a kind of bargaining. "To this, after centuries, has come the 'Mother of Parliaments.'" That is sound sense. The plan of political log-rolling would alone make an unchecked Single House utterly unendurable.
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