sure into
law alone. Preoccupied, however, with projects of general legislation,
the Government postponed and eventually abandoned the introduction of
its bill.

[Footnote 150: Notably in respect to legislation
abolishing the plural vote and regulating the
liquor traffic. The Lords rejected a Plural Voting
Bill and an Aliens Bill in 1906, a Land Values Bill
in 1907, and a Licensing Bill in 1908. In the
interest of accuracy it should be observed that
during the first session of 1906 a total of 121
bills became law, that only four (including the
Education Bill) passed by the Commons were rejected
by the Lords, and that fifteen passed by the Lords
were rejected in the Commons. The proportions at
most sessions during the period under review were
substantially similar. But, of course, measures
rejected by the Lords were likely to be those in
which the interest of the Liberal government was
chiefly centered.]

In the upper chamber a measure introduced by Lord Newton, providing
for (1) a reduction of the hereditary element by requiring that a peer
by descent alone should have a right to sit only if he were elected
(for a single parliament) as a representative peer or possessed other
stipulated qualifications and (2) the appointment by the crown of a
maximum of one hundred life peers, was discussed at some length. The
bill was withdrawn, but it was decided to create a Select Committee on
the House of Lords, under the chairmanship of Lord Rosebery, and in
December, 1908, this committee reported a scheme of reform in
accordance with which (1) a peerage alone should not entitle the
holder to a seat in the chamber; (2) the hereditary peers, including
those of Scotland and Ireland, should elect two hundred representatives
to sit in the upper house for each parliament; (3) hereditary peers
who had occupied certain posts of eminence in the government and the
army and navy should be entitled to sit without election; (4) the (p. 106)
bishops should elect eight representatives, while the archbishops
should sit as of right; and (5) the crown should be empowered to
summon four life peers annually, so long as the total did not exceed
fort