The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-05-07
NO PERMISSION
HAD BEEN GIVEN
Second Zemstvo Is Holding Meetings
IN Private.
PLAN NEEDED REFORMS
UNIVERSAL MANHOOD S U r
FRAGE COMES FIRST.
PLAN NEEDED REFORMS

Moscow. May 6.-The December zem-
stvO congress at St. Petersburg attract
ed great attention on account of the
drawing up of a bill of rights startling
RUssia's bureaUCracy-Tidden state and
blazing an adventurous way which has
been followed by many bodies since;
but the second zemstvO congress. which
has just assembled here, is ambitious to
play the part of a constitutional con-
vention and to formulate the long de-
sired constitution of the empire Its
decision will have weight with repre-
sentative gatherings, as the congress is
composed Of 1872 delegates from all the
zemstvOs throughout Russia but per
haps it may be expected that the gov
eminent and the BOuligan commission
viii ind the proposals of the more
moderate. even if less general body.
more TO their liking The congress is
meeting privatiy, no permission having
been given. and representatives of the
press generally are excluded; but the
Associated Press is able to give the
following complete outline Of the pro-
ject under discussion.
Universal Manhood Suffrage.
The proposal contemplates a body
consisting first of a house of popular
representatives elected directly on the
basis of universal manhood suffra &c.
and, second, "a house Of zemstvos, or
senate, elected by indirect choice like
the American senate, the members be-
ing chosen by organs of local self-gov-
ernment-thSG Is. provincial zemstvOs
and municipal assemblies. the two
houses to be coordinate. The franchise
for the house of representatives. apper-
talns to all males p years old except
soldiers. police ard criminals. on the
basis Of either residence of tax-paying
in the district. but no multiple voting,
candidates to be chosen on the syestem
of double elections. if there is no ma
jOrity at the first election the candidate
obtaining a plurality the second time is
elected There is to be a triennial cleo
ton for mem bers of the lower house.
and senators are to be chosen for. the
same term as the bodies electing them.
Vacancies in both houses viii be filled
by new elections. Members are not
bound 10 follow the instructions Of con-
stituents-
Power of the Cities.
Under the plan for the election of
members of the popular house the en-
pire will be divided into districts of a
population of 80. 600 to 200 coo, one mem
Der for each district. IN the election Of
senators the plan gives a decided pref
eTenCe to urban dWelleTs. a s in the sen
ate cities are allowed a prOpOTtiOnateiy
larger representation than the pTOvin-
ces. the assignments being as follows:
Governments of a population UP to 800
000 and below 600 0G0. two members;
1000 900. three members 3 900. 600: four
memb ers- over 5000, 900, five members;
cities of 200, coo population. OLa member;
100000. two members: loco, 600. three
members. over I 1000 600. four members
The project makes careful provision
FOR the formation Of districts. follow
ing the present district lines and pre-
serving cities intact Tt further con-
templates the extension of OTganiza-
tons of local government in al
par5E of the empire and reorganization
OF the principle Of popular representa-
ton. including grouping into nobility
peaSautTy, etc.