The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-20
NEWS OF FREEJapAN.
Opening of First Session of the
National Congress.
TIE PARLl LAMENT BUILDINGS.
Not Enough Cotfins in Tai ring TO Bury
All the Victims of q Recent
Powder Explosion.

advices 10 December 8.
The opening of the diet, the first eonsti-
tuslonal legislative body ever assembled in
Japan, took place on Saturday. November
~. All traffic was suspended In the capt.
tai and the day given up 10 celebrating.
The emperor and cortege were greeted ON
their arrival at the legislative hall with
salute Of iol guns. The opening exercises
were hriei the emperor reading 81 short
address, in which he expressed the hope
that all institutions relating to the inter-
nal administration of the empire might he
continued and extended in order to obtain
good results from the workings of the con-
stitution, and thereby manifest the future
glory of the empire and the loyal and en-
terprising character OF the japanese peo-
pie. The emperor held it essential that
the military and naval defenses OF the
country he perfected and made the object
OF immediate attention.
Mr.. Nakashima Nobyki and Mr.. Tsuda
Mamichi, who received the highest votes
for the Offices in question. were appointed
by the emperor To the presidency and vice
presidency OF the house of representatives
The president belongs to the Constitn-
tional Radical party, and the vice presi-
dent to the Daige-hai party The Liberals
made no apecial effort 10 elect a candidate
but watched the action OF the other par
ties. The conservatives voted with the
radicals
The only disturbance which took place
AT the time of the opening of the diet was
an attack made by the soShi, or students,
on the Russian legation. Madame Sche-
witch, wife of the Russian minister. and
the ladies of the legation were struck by
.
TO force their way into the legation, but
were repealed by the attendants, who re-
taliated with a shower of tiles. The soshi
were repulsed and some twenty injured. A
number of the employees of the legation
were also hurt. All the windows of the
building We're smashed. The cause of the
attack Is said to be that the emperor bowed
to the ladies of the legation in passing.
The Yokohama HAL thus describes the
houses of parliament. The building
faces southeast, the conventional aspect
dictated by climatic considerations in
Tokyo. In the center of the facade which
is III metres long, and in front of the main
entrance, n gently sloping terrace sweeps
upwards IN "A tine curve, passing nnally
under q spacious balcony supported by
columns. At both ends of the building
jutties project sharply, inparting an air of
vigorous nnish. Entering by the main
door, we find before us a broad vestibule,
leading to a spacious octagonal hall which
occupies the center OF the edifce. Thence
stretch away to the right the corridors of
the Upper House and to the left those of
the Lower. They are very commodi-
Gus corridors, being six and one-half
metres broad, and of quite formidable
length, and the difficulty of lighting them
has been dexterously overcome. Follow
ing the corridor to the left we reach the
session chamber of the House of Represen-
tatiyes. Its section Is paralleiogram.
twenty-five meters in length and sixteen
in breadth. 1t Is a well ventilated and
imposing chamber, sixteen meters In
height, obtaining its light laterally from an
almost uninterrupted row of windows
placed Immediately below the ceiling
The light, penetrating on all four sides, is
deadened on the East, South and West by
means of frosted panes, and its entrance
st such height obviates all dazzling eff
fects. In the evening this chamber, in
common with the whole building. is illu-
mined by electricity. The decoration is in
excellent taste. The pale terra-cotta
coloring on the walls, the doors of dull
Russian green, the green leather
coverings of the rows of seats and
the light gray balustrades of
the gallery, picked out in gold, harmonic
admirably. In the center of one side rises
a lofty podiun with the table Of the presi-
dent and vice presidents. In front of this
and little lower stands the rostum from
which small nIghts of steps lead down,
right and left, to semi-circular portion of
the chamber, where are placed the seats
for stenographers, and the table of the
House Round about this half-circle rise,
amphitheater-like 326 padded seats for the
326 representatives. Numerous passages
intersect the c9ncentric semicircle of seats,
and provide every member with conven-
lent acceSs 10 his place. Before each seat
stands little table. balcony sur
rounds the chamber on three sides
at the height of the first story. 1t
is divided into boxes IN which 400 specta-
tors can easily ind room. With respect
10 size arrangement and number of seats
the chamber of the upper house is exactly
like that just described Here. however,
an ingenious provision has in addition
been made for solemn state occasions. Be
hind the presiden't table, and three steps
higher than the highest level of the chain
her itself, large alcove has been built
into the wall, containing the imperial
throne. The alcove Is adorned by richly
decorated baidachin, and is so contriyed
AS TO be capable of being shut of by means
of a portiere draped under the baidachin
lon special occasions, when his imperial
majesty appears in his parliament. the
curtain will be drawn back and the re-
moval of the presidential table, the ros-
trum. etc. " hich stand III front of the i'm
periai aleove, will leave an open space
bounded by richly carved Nbalustrade
By this device an imposing stage for sig
nincant acts of state and suitable space
for the emperor and his suite are provided
On such occasions the outerfnoSt semi
circles of the rows OF seats viii be re-
moved. so as to furnish the whole of
the members of both houses with an ade-
ouate amount of standing room. We need
aot.r hat fah 4xnS pf the
OF the imperial princes and of the diploma
tic corps are particularly richly decorated.
Indeed there is only one object calling for
criticism namely, the carpet covering the
floor OF the imperial alcove, which is
shockingly vulgar and incongruous. The
acoustics are really admirable. There IS
absolute freedom from the Earring reso-
nance 30 common in wooden buildings, and
words spoken i'm an ordinary tone can be
heard distinctly in every part OF the cham
her Both chambers of session are sur
rounded on all sides by corridors leading
10 the various bureaux, committee rooms,
etc. In the outer wing OF the building are
situated the libraries and Tefreshment
rooms. The total number of such side
apartments IN the building proper Is i09.
II can only have been pos
sible 10 obtain so many rooms by
most carefully utilizing every spare corner
up 10 the very roof. OF these rooms, also,
q considerable number are spacious. and
all appearance OF baroness Is removed by
rich leather paper and ceiling paintings.
Warmth is obtained hy means OF stoves or
nrepIaces. and electric lights are provided
ssverylE here Very handsome. considering
the nature Of the building, are the reccp
fion room. of the emperor ranging over
the entrance hii and the apartments
Which 5ank IL The former opens on 10
balcony from which fine view il obtained,
in the foreground OF the tasfefflily laid
-, ,~.b4 --4sh tYe ssxs. LARGE ornamental