Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-16
FEDERAL AUSTRALIA.
A Scheme Which is Modelled Some
what After the United States.
VICTORIA TO HAVE A VETO POWER.
She Will Also Appoint Governor General
With Big Salary.
MEASURES FOR COLLECTING REVENUE

SAN Francisco, May 15.-The steam.
ship Alameda, which arr we'd to-day, brought
advices regarding the Australian Federation
Convention, which concluded its sittings
| April 9, having prepared draft of the Con-
stitution for the proposed federation, which
will be submitted to the people of the Col
onies for their approval. AS soon as three
Colonies have accepted the Constitution as
it stands, for they cannot amend it, bill
will be sent to England for the assent of the
Imperial Parliament, and if ratified the
| Queen will, by proclamation, appoint day
when the Commonwealth of Australia is to
be established, and will also appoint Gov
ernor General.
On his arrival the usual constitutional
process of forming Ministry will be gone
| through and Parliament elected. The sa-
| lient points of the Constitution are as fol-
| lows:
The federation shall be known as the Com
monwealth of Australia and the colonies be
| called States. The Legislature is to consist
of Senate and House of Representatives,
to be called Parliament. The Governor
General will be appointed by the Queen and
receive salary of not less than 910, 900.
seats, are to make oath or affirmation of al
legience to the Queen. The Parliaments are
to be held as appointed by the Governor,
but there is to be session of Parliament at
least once every year, so that 12 months
shall not intervene between two sittings of
Parliament
Composition of the Senate.
The Senate is to be composed of eight
rnopohorc of oooh Ctofa nhncop hu tho
Houses of Parliament of each State Sena-
tors will be chosen for six years, one half
to retire every three years. The President
of the Senate is to be chosen by the Senate.
He is to be in all cases entitled to vote,
and when voting is equal, the question is to
pass in the negative. The House of Repre-
sentatives is to be chosen by the people of
the several States in proportion to their
number, each State to have one representa-
tive for every $4,000 people; but the mini
mum number Of representatives for each
State will be four. The Speaker is to be
elected by the House of Representatives,
and when the votes are equal, but not other
wise, the Speaker is to have casting vote.
The life of the House of Representatives is
to be three years.
Parliament must be called together not
later than thirty days after the day ap-
pointed for return of writs for general
election. Members of both Houses are to re-
ceive an allowance of $500 per annum, and
the usual penal clauses are provided to meet
cases where number is under disability to
sit. No Senator or member of the House of
Representatives is to hold any Office of
profit under the crown, but ministers are
not to be compelled to offer themselves for
reelection The powers Of Parliament as
to the making of laws include the regula-
tion of coinage, trade and commerce and
are in general the same as delegated to Con-
gress by the Constitution of the United
States. Appropriation or taxation bills
must be sent down by message from the
governor.
Powers ofthe Governor General.
The Governor General is to assent to all
measures and have the power of reserving
any bill for the Queens approval. The
Queen in council may disallow any bill
within two years after its receipt The ex-
ecutive power of the Commonwealth is to be
vested in the Queen and exercised by the
Governor General as the Queens representa-
tive. The Governor is to be advised by an
Executive Council consisting of Ministry,
whose number is not to exceed seven. The |
Ministers are to be members of the Federal
Executive Council and the Queens Min
listers of State for the Commonwealth. They
may sit in either House of Parliament, and
SIS 900 per annum is set apart for the pay
ment of their salaries until other provision
is made.
The Supreme Court is to consist of chief
Justice and not less than four other justices,
to be appointed by Parliament and hold
Office during good behavior. As soon as
uniform tariff has been imposed, inter-colo-
NAL free trade is to prevail between all col
onies. The revenue collected is to be ap-
piled in defraying the expenses of the Fed
eral Government, after which Parliament is
to devise the manner in which the surplus
is to be divided. Parliament may make
provision for the consolidation of the whole
or any part of the debts of the States.