Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-16
A GRAND MODEL.
The Plan of the Australian
Confederation.
It Is Modelled After the Ameri-
can Union.
Its Constitution Resembles That of
the United States.
The Governor-Genera1 to Be Appointed
by the Queen-The other Offices
Are Elective.
Associated Press Dispatches.

SAN Francisco, May 15.-Australian
advices per the steamer Alameda give
q synopsis of the draft of the constitu-
tion for the proposed federation of
Australian colonies, which was prepared
by the convention that closed its sit
tings April 9th. The constitution will be
submitted to vote of the people, and
when accepted by three colonies as it
stands, for they cannot amend it, it will
be sent to the imperial parliament. If
ratified by that body, Queen Victoria
will proclaim the day when the COM
monwealth of Australia is to be estab-
lished, and will also appoint governor
general. On the lattcr's arrival, the
Australians will proceed to form min
istry and elect parliament.
The constitution provides that the
federation shall be known as the COM
monwealth of Australia, and the colo
mics shall be called states. The legisla-
ture shall consist of senate and house
of representatives, to be called parlia-
ment, and shall be in session at least
once every year. A governor-general
shall be appointed by the queen, at a
salary of not less than s10, 900 year.
The senate is composed of members
from each state, chosen by the houses of
parliament of each state, and are to be
chosen for SIX years, one half of the
members to retire every three years.
The president of the senate is to be in
all cases entitled to a vote, and when
the vote is tie, the question is to pass in
the negative. 8e
The house of representatives is to be
chosen by the people of the several
states, each state to have one represent
ative for every 10000 people, but the
minimum number of representatives for
each state shall be four. The speaker
is to be elected by the house, and when
the vote is tie the speaker is to have the
casting vote. The life of the house OF
representatives is three years.
The members of both houses are to
receive an allowance of 9500 per annum.
rhe usual penal clauses are provided to
meet cases where a member is under
disability to sit. No senator or repre-
sentative is to hold an Office OF profit
under the crown, but the ministers are
not to be compelled to offer themselves
for reelection.
The powers of parliament in regard to
law-making include the regulation of
trade, commerce and coinage, and in
general all matters delegated to congress
by the constitution of the United States.
Appropriation or taxation bills must be
sept down by a message from the gov
ernor general, who is to assent to all
measures, and have the power of reserv-
ing any bills for the queens approval.
The governor is to be advised by an
executive council OF ministers, not eX-
ceeding seven in number, who are to be
members of the federal executive coun-
Gil, and the queens minister of state for
the commonwealth The ministers may
sit in either house of parliament, and
E15,000 per annum is set apart for the
payment OF their salaries until other
provision is made.
The supreme court is to consist OF a
chief justice, and not less than four
other judges, all to be appointed by
parliament, and hold Office during good
behavior.
AS soon as uniform tariff has been
imposed, inter-colonial tree trade is to
prevail among the colonies. The reve-
nue. collected is to be applied to defray-
ing the expenses of the federal govern
ment, and the federal parliament is to
decide in what manner the surplus is to
be divided. The federal parliament
may make provision for consolidating
the whole or any part of the debts of the
states. The states are to retain all the
powers which they now possess, and
which have not been delegated to the
federal parliament