The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-26
From the New York Tribune.

1 HE government of Russia Is an (9 absolute monarchy. The whole
 legislative executive and Judicial power is united in the Emperor whose will alone is law. There are. however, certain rules of government which the soyereigns of the present reigning house have acknowledged as binding. The chief of these Is the law of succession to the throne, which, according to a decree of Emperor Paul of the year 1797. is to be that of regular descent, by the right of primogeniture, with preference of male over female heirs. Another fundamental law of the realm, proclaimed by Peter L, is that every sovereign of Russia, with his consort and children. must be mem- Der of the Orthodox Greek church. The princes and princesses of the imperial house, according to a decree of Alexan- der l., must obtain the consent of the Emperor to any marriage they may con- tract, otherwise the issue of such union cannot inherit the throne.
 The administration of the empire Is entrusted to four great boards, or coun- cils. possessing separate functions The first of these boards is the council of state, established by Alexander l. in 1901, and reorganized by the imperial ukase of May 20. 1901. Il consists of president nominated every year by the Emperor, and an unlimited number of members ap- pointed by him. The council Is divided into four departments-legislat civil and church administration. states econ omy and industry, and sciences and com merce Each department has it's pres ident and a separate sphere of duties, but there are collective meetings of the four sections. The chief function of the coun- eil of empire is that of examining into the projects of the laws which are brought be-ore It by the ministers, who have a seat ex-offleio, and of discussing the bud- get and all the expenditures to be made during the year. But the council has no power of proposing alterations and mod ifcations of the laws of the realm. It is
 properly speaking. a consultative institu- ton in matters of legislation.
 The second of the great colleges or boards of government Is the ruling sem ate, established by Peter L. in TIL The functions of the senate are partly of a uShpSAobiNS anu phi tAy Ol dl SAeCullN0 character To be valid a law must be promulgated by the senate. It is also the high court of justice of the empire The senate Is divided into six departments, which all sk at St. Petersburg two of them being courts of cassation Each de- partment Is authorized to decide In the last resort on certain descriptions of cases. The senators are mostly persons of high rank or who fill high stations, but lawyer of eminence presides over each department, who represents the Emperor
 and without whose signature its decisions would have no force. In the general meetings of several sections the minister of justice takes the chair. Besides it's su- | perintendence over the courts of law, the senate examines into the state of the general administration of the empire, and has power to make remonstrances to the Emperor. A special department consist ing of five members is entrusted with judgments in political of1enses and an- other d0 members) with disciplinary judg- ments against officials of the crown
 The third college, established by Peter I. in the year 1721, is the holy synod and to 1t Is committed the superintendence of the religious affairs of the empire. It is composed of the three metropolitans est.