Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-11-03
RUssIA's CONSTITUTION.

SOO0LA . OON - i " A~N~''
The imperial decree creating the cab
met ministers under imperial manifesto
granting a constitution to Russia was
gazetted in st. Petersburg yesterday
morning, and has already aroused criti-
cism, as the machinery is extremely
complicated, and smacks of the old-fash-
Toned bureaucratic regime. The relation
Of the Cabinet to the council OF the en-
pire or upper chamber and the imperial
douna or popular chamber are not clear,
because the powers of these bodies are
yet to be defined under the manifesto.
Two features are especially upsatisfac-
tory. While the Cabinet has no author
ity to decide matters within the compe-
tency OF the legislative bodies, no meas
ure of general importance" can De in
troduced into the chambers without the
consent of the Cabinet, and another pro-
vision requires that when the Cabinet Is
unanimous the premier must go to The
emperor and receive instructions. This
would seem to make the tilal authority
go back to the emperor.
Moreover, all questions affecting the
impartial court and domains, the army
and navy, aud foreign affairs are
specifically excluded from the compe-
tency of the cabinet without direct i'm
peria authority. BY implication, these
great questions, in which the nation Is
vitality interested, are also outside the
competency of the legislature, aud, there
fore, are bound to prove unsatisfactory
to the people when they assemble.
Nothing is said in the decree about
the premier or ministers being response
BILE to the national assembly, or respond
ing to interpretations, but care is taken
to consolidate the power in the hands OF
the premier, or, as he is termed, presi-
dent of the Cabinet, and especially to
prevent an individual minister from 60
ing to the Emperor with report with
out previously submitting it to the pre-
mier Should the premier not approve
of a report he has the privilege of be-
ing present when the minister presents
it to the Emperor, aud of stating his OBJ
lections. This provision is designed to
put an end to the practice of one minis
lister undermining another, which has
been one of the most vicious features Of
the old regime and the cause Of untold
confusion.
The council of the workingmen's dele
gates at midnight issued notice point
ing out the necessity of armiug workers
for a decisive struggle for the cOnvoca-
ton of constituent assembly, based on
universal suffrage, with view to the
formation of democratic republic.
The council decided to suspend the
political strike at noon, but on The con-
dition that it be resumed if their de-
mands were not granted. The council
decided also that newspapers may appear
whose editors will entirely ignore the
censorship. Compositors have refused to
work except under this condition, and
newspapers not complying with will DE
confscated, their presses destroyed and
their wOrkmen bOycOtted.
The railway mems union, however,
has decided to continue the strike, main
ly through a desire to prevent the trans
port Of troops to Finland.
The union of unions has resolved to
demand complete amnesty for political
prisoners, The immediate withdrawal of
troops from st. Petersburg and their
replacement by militia drawn from the
people.
The situation in Odessa was almost
indescribable, troops and "!oyalists"
numbering and pllaglng everywhere.
Jewish residents were made an es-
pecial mark, many being killed or
wounded.
Shots fred from the balconies of three
houses, presumably by policemen in dis
guIse, led to an attack by soldiers, who
killed every one 10 the houses.
A correspondent ola London paner de-
clares fully 5000 persons were killed or
wounded 10 Odessa, "the Kschenef hOr-
ror being repeated hundredfold."
The situation in Warsaw is unimprOv-
ed. Troops are still firing upon patriotic
paraders. Thirty persons were killed in
Warsaw on Wednesday.
While a party Of Russian Jews at Wy
anna were celebrating the GIFT of a con-
stitution they were attacked by a mob,
who sacked their shops and residences,
committing horrible atrocities.