The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-19
t'ee Slaughter's aa-s Eaters and Furnishers.

aIHsH larma can demand explana- ,3aaz feea tiir ministers.
 Sc, lon als with the competence of the dou.a4 which is as follows
 "A. All questions relating to new laws or to the modification, amplification or temporary suspension or repeal of exist ing laws. and also relating to appoint ments made on the staff of ministers and the expenditures thereby involved
 "B. Departmental, ministerial and na- tional budgets, also other expenditures not provided therein.
 "C. The financial report of the comp troller of the empire.
 ID. The appropriation of any portion of the revenues or property of the state.
 "E. The construction of railways by the state.
 IF. Questions regarding the organiza- ton of stock companies involving excep- tons from existing legislation.
 "G. Matters submitted by impartial de- cree"
 The douma has jurisdiction in the mat ter of taxation In the provinces where there are zemstvos, already in the raising of the rate above that fixed by the zemst- vos and city council.
 The douma will have the initiative In the matter of repeal or modification of old and the adoption of new laws, but the Fundamental laws of admission are not to be touched by it. The ministers and chiefs of departments and the secretary of the empire will submit questions to the douma for discussion.
 Public Will Not Be Admitted.
 Many sections are devoted to the method of procedure. The public will not tives of the newspapers will be admitted tives of tae newspapers will be admitted by the president to open sessions. but tf, pIn ha lat hair dered by the general session or by the l president, or at the request of a minister | when he has question to submit involv- ing national secret. Reports of the meet 1 ing may be published Soy the president. 1 After passing the douma, bills will go to the council of the empire and then to the Emperor. Should the douma and the council of the empire disagree, the ques- ton at issue will be submitted to joint commission. Should this bring no con clusons, the question again will be sub nitted to the council of the empire, Should the Emperor call attention to delays in the consideration of any specific ques- ton, the council of the empire shall ap- i point a date on which the douma must reach a conclusion. failing in which the council of the empire will act alone.
 Legislative bills may be introduced when indorsed by thirty members. Should l a minis ter differ with the douma respect ing bill, and the douma in general ses- sion pass the bill by a two-thirds ma jority, the question will be referred to the Emperor. Relating to the electoral sys- tenn, the project states that elections are I holdable firstly in the provinces and ter ritories; secondly in the principal towns which are named. In Poland, Siberia, the Caucasus, Turkestan and some provinces special regulations will govern the elec- tons The total membership will be 4l2, of which 2s will be returned by the towns The elections in the provinces and terrf- tories will be affected by a provincial cleo toral college chosen firstly by the land- owners, secondly by urban electors, and thirdly by delegates of the peasantry, Women. men under 25 years of age stu dents, sailors soldiers, bankrupts and persons convicted of crimes or desertion shall not have the right to vote. Cover nors and the police cannot vote when they are exercising their functions. Iand- owners mine owners and owners of Indus trial establishments of a minimum value of s7b00. and clergy owning lands, are qualified to vote in the electoral assem- b1faa