AMENDMENT PASSED

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1936, Page 9

AMENDMENT PASSED

IRISH SECOND CHAMBER

ANTI-ABOLITION MOVE

DUBLIN, January 17.

The Senate, by 30 votes to 20, passed Mr. J. G. Douglas's amendment to the Government's Abolition Bill.

It is understood that the President, Mr. Eamon de Valera, will not accept it and will exercise his powers under the constitution enabling the Senate's abolition by formal motion in the Dail Eireann.

Mr. Douglas moved an amendment on January 15 to the Government's Abolition Bill, stating that the Senate, while not acquiescing in single chamber government, was,prepared to agree to abolition of the Senate as at present constituted if the Dail Eireann agreed to an amendment securing some form of second chamber. He suggested that a committee of both Houses consider the question. Mr. Douglas argued that the country had never given a mandate to the bare majority in the Dail Eireanri to amend the articles of the Constitution without reference to the people. If the Senate went the Dail Eireann could abolish any article, even the provisions summoning the Dail Eireann yearly and calling for an election every five years. Even the independence of the judiciary was threatened, as formerly a Judge could be removed by f a resolution of both Houses.