The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-19
CAR CREATES
RUSS ASSEMBLY
Gives People a Voice in Making
Laws, but Safeguards Prin-
IL Z.
|, ciple Of Autocracy.

81. petersburg, Aug. ,l9.-RuSSla 8
f o epas M ,es sna tine
for reform, which endows the Russian
people with the right of being con.
suited thru their chosen representatives
IN the suggestion, preparation and re-
peal of legislation, today takes its
place among the fundamental institu-
lions of the empire. .- .. -.
In solemn manifesto Emperor Mich
olas announces this morning to his sub
jects the fruition of his plans to sum-
mon the representatives of the people,
as outlined by him in rescript issued
on March last, and fixes the date for
the first convocation as mid-January,
and in ukase addressed to the senate
formally orders that body to register
as the imperial will law project, for
mulating the nature, powers and pro-
ceedings of the new governmental or
ganization. ,.. -....
The manifesto, ukase and project are
published this morning in special edl-
Petersburg and Moscow. They were
given out for publication at noon to
all the newspapers turnout the empire.
-, , Gear Is Still Absolute. .-..-
The national assembly will be con
sultative organization in connection
with the council of the empire, and not
emperor remain theoretically absolute.
AS the emperor is the supreme law
giver and autocrat, the decisions of the
douma have only a recommendatory
and not binding force, tho the rejec-
ton of any Legislative measures by a
two-thirds majority of both houses is
sufficient to prevent that measure from
becoming law.
The representatives of the people will
have not only the right to be heard On
any legislation proposed by the govern
ment, but also can voice their desires on
new laws and will have the right to ex.
ert certain supervision over budget
airy expenditures.
The suffrage, tho wide, is not univer
sal. 1t is based on property quahfica
ton, the peasantry having a vote thru
membership in communal organizations
A considerable portion Of the resi-
dents Of the cities, possessing no lands
together with women, soldiers, civi
functionaries, ETC.. are without suffrage
Term Of Office Five Years.
Altho the members are to be elected
the douna "can be dissolved by the
emperor before the expiration of the
term of five years, and new elections or
dered by imperial ukase.' The length
of the sessions of the douma is provided
for, and its adjournments during tn
year will be determined by the emperor
The president Of the douma must repor
tween the cabinet ministers and tn
douma, in regard to bills, the empero
shall have the final word as to the dis
position thereof.
The payment of the members Of tn
douma is provided for at the rate O
about So day during the session, an
members will receive for travelling ex
penses five kopecks a verst, twice year
1y' to and from St. Petersburg. TIL
public is debarred from admission t.
either the general or sectional sessions
but the president Of the douma has tn
right to admit representatives Of tn
press to the open sessions. g..
Field of Douma's Work.
The competence of the douma is out
lined as follows:
(a) All questions relating to new law
or to the modification, application c
temporary suspension or repeal Of exist
ing laws, and also relating to appoint
ments made on the staff Of ministers an
the expenditures thereby involved.
(b) Departmental, ministerial and ma
tional budgets also other expenditure
not provided therein.
(c) The financial report of the contro
Ter OF the empire.
NuJ Lie eAEIOpl1dLlo VI ally pol III
of the revenues or property Of the state
(e) The construction Of railways by tt
state.
% Questions regarding the organic,
tlton Of stock companies involving excel
lions from existing legsla ton.
(g) Matters submitted by imperial d
cree.
The douma has jurisdiction in tt
matter of taxation in the province
where there are no Zemstvos; also,
the raising of the rate above that fxe
by the zemstvos and city councils.
The douma will have initiative
the matter of appeal or modification
old, and the adoption of new laws, b
the fundamental laws of administr
ton are not to be touched by it. IT.
ministers and chiefs of departmen
and the secretary Of the empire W
submit questions to the douma for d.
cussion.
Course Bills Will Take.
After being passed, the douma BIZ
will 90 to the council Of the empire al
then to the emperor. Should the dour
and the council Of the empire disagree
the question at issue will be submit
to joint commission. Should tt
bring no conclusion, the question aga
will be submitted to the council of t
DANGER SIGNALS.
No engineer would be mad enough