Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-08
LIBERAL PLAN is OUTLINED
Russian Omcinls Consider New
Policy In spirit of
Progress.

: ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. THE pre-
: Gus impression that the discussion Of the
'oject for a national assembly is being
)nducted in spirit Of uberality and
road-mindedness at the sessions at Peter
iof was confirmed today in an interview
With Russian statesman who is taking
part in the deliberations and who is ia
miliar with the evolution Of the assembly
idea since the issuance of the imperial
rescript. March 3. Asked II it were true
that the project was undergoing wide
changes in the present conferences he re-
piled that the popular impression 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 Bouligin project remained
unbroken because they conformed to the
indications lad down in the rescript and
manifesto Of March 3.
The first base on which the new project
rests" said the official, replying to a
question as to the lines along which the
principles of the project were developed, lis
legacy from history. National repre-
sentaticn in Russia is nothing new, for
the emperors in times past often sum-
moned persons familiar with local condi-
tions to discuss national affairs. It is
be given permanency, and established in
the form of a council composed of two
elements-the first of men in the service of
the state, appointed by the government,
namely, the present council of the empire,
and the second Of worthy local repre-
sentatives selected by the people. Both
elements are intended to be on an equal
footing. The second basis is the consulta-
tive character of the participation of rep
resentatives Of the people in the solving
Of national problems, the emperor's wish
being to provide a deliberative and not a
legislative body
AS a third principle. it may be said
that it is not the extreme to drag the
country into petty politics. such as seen
in western nations but to call it to par
ticipate in the difficult but remunerative
labor and national legislation only The
peculiar character of the future assembly
is one of its most important features, and
the motto of the trainers, not a reform,
but reforms is recognized.
The Bouligin project was not without
defects. The trainers. for instance, did
not equallze the rights Of the two ele-
ments of representation and did not en-.
dow the douma with the same rights as
the council of the empire. The project OF
the present deliberations at Peterhof is
to equalize the powers of the two compe,
| tent parts. and II is more than proba ble
that this inequality will be rectihed Ger,
tain rules of procedure in the assembly
must be revised I'm order to secure
| efficiency and political soundness.
Among others. it is proposed to make
the presidency of the douma elective in.
| stead of appointive, and to obviate the rec
| tape hampering the introduction of bills
in the house and the unwieldy methods
| of interpellating ministers. These have
been the subject OF criticism at Peterhof
The nature of the suffrage, too, is one oi
the main reasons why the project is agar
being revised at Petoshof"
Asked whether the questions of peace
or war would be submitted to the pro
posed assembly, the official said:
while the aim Is to give the representa-
uves Of the people equal powers will
those of the council of the empire, ther,
is no idea to give them great powers"