The Jewish outlook., 1905-09-01
''Douma" for Russian People

that full and complete self-government has
been granted to the Russian people, yet
they seem to think that the Car took
long step in that direction on August 10Th
when he issued his solemn manifesto an
nouncing his plans to establish a "GosudaZst
vennaia Douma" or lower house of the AS
semby with powers rights, privileges and
immunties embodied in law project which
he has ordered the Senate to formulate, to
express his imperial will.
This act of Car Nicholas was taken in
performance of promises made in the re-
script which he issued last March, and the
date was selected, as it is understood, in Or
der to solemniZe in signal manner the first
anniversary of his only son and heir By the
terms of this imperial manifesto the juris-
diction of the Douma will extend to the mat
ter of taxation in provinces where there are
no Zemstvos, as well as to the raising OF
taxes above the rate fixed by Zemstvos and
City Councils. The Douma will also have
the initiative in the matter of the repeal or
modification of old laws and in the adoption
of new laws. 1t will have no part in the i'm
pera administration of public affairs, but
it may call the attention of ministers and
chiefs to the infraction of existing laws.
Bills initiated by the Douma can be with
drawn only by consent of the general ses-
sion. Bills passed go to the Council of the
Empire, whose conclusions and those of the
Douma are submitted to the emperor. Bills
rejected by the DOuma and the Council are
returned to the minister who submitted
them. In case of disagreement between
the two houses, the disputed matter may be
settled by joint commission. Should the de-
lay be unreasonable the Emperor shall call
attention thereof to the Council. who if no
conclusion can be reached in another way
may act alone.
The Douma is dissolvable by the EN-
peror before the expiration of five years, and
new elections can be ordered by imperial de-
cree. The length and adjournment of Ses-
sons depend on the imperial will The Car
reserves entirely to himself the care of per-
fecting the organization of the DOuma and
also the right to alter it at any subsequent
time. But at present it is to be composed
of Alp members. Their qualifications and
the manner of their election are explained in
a report in the New York Tribune as fol
lows:
Relating to the electoral system the
scheme provides that elections may be held,
first in the provinces and territories;
ond, in the principal towns which named.
In Poland, Siberia, the Caucasus, Turkestan
and some provinces special regulations will
govern the elections. The total membership
will be 412. Of which twenty-eight will be
returned by the towns. The elections in the
provinces and territories will be effected by
a provincial electoral college, chosen. first,
by the land owners; second, by urban elect
ors, and third by delegates of the peasantry.
Women, men under twenty-five years old,
students, sailors, soldiers, bankrupts and
persons convicted of crimes or desertion
shall not have the right to vote. Governors
and the police cannot vote when they are
exercising their functions. Land owners,
Establishments of a minimum value of $500
an c1nrov owning lands IN