The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-08
EMP PEROR IS
 NTERES1ED Approves Principles q
 Memorial. BASED ON ENGLISH DEAs
 s- Gives Religious Freedom n
 All Russians. c.ar Approves Iasa ts Limit Has pswvs to Similar Fewer to tAs4 q
 Kiss CT Prssa-
BASED ON ENGLISH IDEAS

St. Petersburg, Dec. 5.-The Council of the Empire and the Council Of Nin- isters, by the Emperor's direction. asol considering the memorial pressnted by the Council of zemstvoists. which was recently held here. It can be stated authoritatively that the Emperor has shown intense integ~ est in the questions raised. and whils 1t Is impossible that the idea of . direct legislative body can be entertained, he has. nevertheless, signified to tne Min< ister of the Interior. Prince sviatopolk- Mirsky, his approval of a number of principles laid down In the memorial He is now awaiting the recommenda. tions of the two Councils. s Prince syiatopolk-l -lfirsky is bsinG fairly bombarded with petitions In sup port of the actions of the zemstvotsfs. and memorials from other associattonA throughout Russia in favor of a mora liberal administration. Prince syiato~ olk-Mirsky's health. always poor. has again given way under the strain to which he has been subjected and he has been forced to suspend the public re-. captions which have been feature of his administration. At these recep- tions none was turned away who had legitimate business with the Minister. His anteroom has been continually crowded with all classes. from the high- est born to the lowest Mujik.
 In the meantime the revolutionary organs have promulgated their idea Of constitution, which has been circu- lated by tens of thousands throughout Russia. 1t Is composed of forty-two articles and is modelled partly upon the American and partly upon the British systems. Supreme authority Is vested in the Emperor and a Congress of two houses. called the Imperial Douma.
 2 The upper house, or Land House, Is to consist of representatives elected by provincial Zemstvos and dournas of the larger cities. one representaftve tor every 50o,00e of population: and the lower. or Town House. to consist of representatives elected by q secret ball. lot from districts having 2o0,o00 popu- Iation. by manhood suffrage. except persons in the military. naval or police service, or disqualifed by crime.
 The proposed constitution provides for responsible Ministers to sit under the Presidency of the Imperial Cham cellor all subject to impeachment. The Empire is to be divided for self govern ing movements into districts or com munes called Zemstvos. The admtnis- tration of law Is incumbent upon judges WnO may not DS TeAuuvcu S&Gcpt VI courts sentence. A Supreme Court ss provided to safeguard and interpret the constitution. Finland Is held to he autonomous. except as to foreign rela- tions. The imperial authority Is vest ed in the reigning house. but on the ac- cession of each Emperor. he must take an oath to defend the constitution. The Emperor has all the power granted q monarch. but the prerogatives of the imperial douma are carefully hedged. The Emperor may prorogue the impe- rial douma. but elections must occur within four months and the body must reconvoke within six months. Impe- rial grants will be fixed at the begin- ming of each reign of the douma.
 The douma includes bill of rights, among other things making all Rus slams equal before the law. irrespec- tive of race or religion; a guarantees of personal liberty: exemption from ar- rest without process of law; invioiabiI- ity of domicile and letters; freedom of occupation; of ownership of land and of travel except abroad. to avoid miii- tary service.