The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-08
WILL PUT POLITICS ON HIGHER PLANE Spirit of liberality Shown
 Toward Assembly WORKED OUT AT PETERH0F Proposed Douma and Council of the Empire A.e to Be Equalzed--Bou-
 ligan Project Has Some
 Defects.
WORKED OUT AT PETERH0F

St. Petersburg August 7.-The previous impression that the discussion of the pro- ject for a national assembly is being con- ducted In a spirit of liberalty and broad mindedness at the sessions at Peteroff, was confirmed today in an interview with Russian statesman who is taking part in the deliberations, and who Is familiar with the evolution of the assembly ideas since the issuance of the imperial rescrip.
 Asked if it were true that the project was undergoing wide changes in the pres- ent conference, he replied that the pop ular impressions as to the extent of the alterations made both by the council of ministers and the present commission was exaggerated. The main lines of the Bouli- gan project remained unbroken because they conformed to the conditions laid down in the rescript and manifesto of March 3. "The first on which the new propect rests" said the officials, replying to a question as to the lines along which the project was developed. lis a legacy for history. National representation is n.-shing new for emperors in times past. as these persons know when to discuss national affairs. It is the imperial will that this condition should be given per- manency and established In the form of the council, composed of two clements the first of men in the service of the state appointed by the government-name- Ny, the present council of the Empire, and the second of worthy local representatives selected by the people. Both clements are intended to be on an equal footing The second base is the consultative capacity of the participants In the solving of na- tional problems, the Emperors wish be- ing to provide a deliberatiye and not legislative body.
 Put Politics on High Plane.
 "As third principle 1t may be said that it Is not the aim to drag the country into petty politics such as seen in wes- tern nations but to call 1t to participate Tn the difficult. but remuneratiye labor of national legislation only. The practical character of the future assembly is one of it's important features, and the motto of the framers Is not reform but reform is recognized
 '"rhe Bouligan project was not without defects. The framers for instance did not equalize the right of the two clements of representation and did not endow the douma with the same rights as the council of the empire. The object of the pres ent deliberations at Peterhof Is to equalize the powers of the two component parts and 1t Is more than probable that this in- equality will be rectfed, certain rules of procedure In the assembly being revised in order to secure efficiency and political soundness. Among others it is proposed to make the propriety of the douma elect ed, instead of to approve, in order to obviate much of the red tape hampering the introduction of bills in the house, and the unwieldly methods of nterpellat- Ing ministers. These have been the sub 1ect of criticisms at Peterhof. The nature of the suffrage is one of the main reasons why the project is again being revised at Peterhof'
 Asked why the questions of peace or war would be submitted to the proposed assembly, the official said:
 Will Give Them No Greater Power.
 While the aim is to give the represen- tatives of the people equal powers with those of the council of the empire, there is no idea of giving them greater power. In an autocratic country 1t Is impossible to give .ne subjects the right of deciding all-important questions. but the absolute monarch can address himself to any sub ject for counsel thereon, and he cer- tainly could to chosen body. This was done in 1891 when the council of state was called in regard to the war with Turkey"