This acceptance of the Budget made the Government feel reasonably sure
that it would get the 16,000,000 pounds required to pay for eight new
battleships (S629). It also encouraged the War Department to spend a
considerable sum in experimenting with military airships as a means of
defense against invasion. Great Britain, like Germany, believes that
such vessels have become a necessity; for since a foreigner flew
across the Channel and landed at Dover (1909), England has felt that
her navy on the sea must be supplemented by a navy above the sea. Two
of these government airships are now frequently seen cricling at
express speed around the great dome of St. Paul's.
The Government also began preparations for the compilation of a new
Domesday Book (S120), which should revalue all the land in the British
Isles, in order to establish a permanent vasis for increased
taxation.[1] The House of Commons furthermore took up the debate on
adopting measures for limiting the power of Lords to veto bills passed
by the Commons. While they were so engaged King Edward died (May 6,
1910); his son was crowned in 1911, with the title of George V.
[1] The last general valuation of the land was made in 1692; it was
then fixed at 9,000,000 pounds. The land tax, based on this
valuation, has yielded about 2,000,000 pounds annually. The
Government expects that the new valuation will yield much more.
In the summer of 1911 Mr. Asquith, the Liberal Prime Minister, after
prolonged and heated discussion, forced the House of Lords to accept
the Veto Bill, which is now law. He did this by using the same threat
which enable Earl Grey to carry the Reform Bill of 1832 (S582). The
Veto Act makes it impossible for the House of Lords to defeat any
Public Bill which the House of Commons has passed for three successive
sessions, extending over a period of not less than two years. This
momentous Act was passed at a critical time when the great Dockers
Strike had practically closed the port of London, and had cut off the
chief food supply of the city. A little later, the Prime Minister
passed the Salary Bill, which pays the members of the House of Commons
400 pounds annually (S591). Next, the Government passed (1911) the
Workmen's Compulsory Insurance Bill against sickness and
unemployment. The worker and his employer contribute small sums
weekly, the Government gives the rest. The law has an excellent
motive.