The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-22
RUSSIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Indications Are That the Project Will
Prove Popular.
EMPERoR's POWER Is ABSOLUTE
Many Points of Special Intcrcst-rhe
Public Not to be Admitted To Any
Sessions Of the DOuma-POfanu Is
Omitted From The Electrical
Scheme.

st. Petersburg, August 19.-The En-
peror's manifesto prOmulgating the
National Assembly and the details of
the project as published in the Official
Messenger this morning were read to
the ruling Senate, which met in special
session at noon today.
These important documents were not
given to the morning papers, but spe-
cial ediions of the afternoon papers
copied them from the Official Messen-
ger. These editions were soon bought
up and eagerly persued.
The Feast of the Tranfguration is
being celebrated today. Ali the shops
are closed and the city wears a hOli
Gay aspect. The manifesto was not
read in the churches today. This will
be done tomorrow.
The EmperOrs gift of popular repre-
sentation was received quietly, with
out special manifestation by the un-
Gemonstative Russian public. 4 stran-
ger in st. Petersburg would only have
noticed that the crowds in the streets
were carefully reading in the. news
papers the long columns of the mani
festO, and the details of the project as
they walked home from church.
The newspapers, which published
the full text of the manifesto and the
project, as we'll as tables fixing the
number of representatives, had little
room for comment Except among the
extreme radicals, who had made up
their minds in advance to be dissatis-
fed and in the reactionist camp and
among others of extreme views, who
believe the Emperor has surrendered
far too much IN creating an assembly,
public opinion is slow to cystalize, as
the outlines of the new institutions are
too broad and too complex to be grasp
ed and understood on a first survey,
but the indications are that the pro-
ject will be popular. The manifesto
had an extremely good effect, as the
revolutiOnists and other agitaforsi had
been declaring that the Emperor had
no intention Of carrying out the prom
ised reforms.
The principal comment heard today
concerned the omission of Poland from
the electoral scheme, but it was eX-
planned that this was owing to the diff
ferences in local organization on which
the scheme Of suffrage rests. The En-
perOr has entrusted the elaboration of
measures to supply the deficiency in
this and other provinces Of the En-
pire, where the system of local organ
ization is irregular, to a special COM
mission under Count SOlsky, of the
committee Of ministers with instruc
tiOns to have report ready in time
to permit the participation of all parts
of the Empire in the first elections.
The text Of the document cOnstitut-
ing a Russian Parliament disclOses
many points of special interest to for
eigners enjoying constitutional govern
ment Safe guards for the maintenance
of the autocratic power Of the Emperor
crop out continually in the course of
the lengthy document. Although the
| members are to be elected for a five
year term, paragraph three provides
that the douma ''can be dissolved by
the Emperor before the expiration Of
tn eterm of five years, and new elec-
| tions ordered by imperial ukas."
Paragraph sets forth that the
length Of the sessions of the douma and
its adjournments during the year shall
be determined by the Emperor.
Paragraph 10 provides that the prosi-
dent Of the douma shall report TO the
Emperor. Other para graphs provide
that in case Of dispute between the
cabinet ministers and the douma in re-
gard to bills the Emperor shall have
| the final word as to the disposition
thereof.
Members of the douma can only be
deprived of their liberty or limited
therein by order Of the judicial power
and they may not be arrested for ieot.
f! Their payment is provided for at the
| rate of ten roubles about $500 per
! day during the session, and members
| will receive for travelling expenses five
/ kopeckS per verst, twice yearly, to and
| from st. Petersburg. The usual pro-
! visions are made for removal or sus-
| pension of disorderly members, and for
! holding executive sessions. Paragraph
| II debars the public from admission to
| either the general or sectional sessions,
| but gives the president of the douma
| the right to admit representatives of
, the press to the open sessions.
! ROWLING At LUMIA