The San Francisco call., 1905-08-19
MANIFEsTo's MEANING.
Great Power Given to the Subjects of
the Gar.

the Czar.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 1S.-Many of
the main features governing the elections
to and the proceedings and powers of the
National Assembly have already been
cabled in these dispatches
Paragraphs two and eight explain the
composition and organization of the
Douma. which is to be formed of mem
bers elected by the population of the
Russian empire in accordance with the
election regulations" The term of the
Douma is to be five years, but it can be
dissolved by the Emperor. There is to be
a general session, but the Douma will
also meet by sections, the length of the
sessions being determined by the EN-
peror. The President and other officials
are to be elected by the members.
Several sections are devoted to the ex-
emptions- to be enjoyed by the members
ard the reasons for and the occasions on
which they can be deprived of their mem
bership. Ministers and chiefs of depart
ments cannot be members of the Douma,
but they can attend its sessions and make
explanations or delegate that right to
others The Douma can demand explana-
tions from the Ministers.
The Douma has jurisdiction in the mat
ter of taxation in the provinces where
there are no zemstvo; also in the raising
of the rate above that fixed by the Zem-
stvos and CITY councils.
She Douma will have initiative in the
matter of appeal, or modification of old
and the adoption of new laws, but the
fundamental laws of administration are
not to be touched by ii. The Ministers
and chiefs of departments and the Secre-
tary of the Empire will submit questions
TO the Douma for discussion
Many sections are devoted to II the
method of procedure. The public will not
be admitted to the sessions. Representa-
tives of the newspapers will be admitted
by the President to open sessions, but
not to the closed sessions, the latter be-
ing ordered by the general session. or
by the President or at the request of
a Minister when he has a question to
submit involving a national secret. Re-
portE of the meeting may be published
by the President.
After passing, the Douma bills will go
to the Council Of the Empire and then to
the Emperor. Should the Douma and the
ton at issue would be submitted to a
joint commission. Should this bring no
conclusion, the question again will be sub
mitted to the Council of the Empire.
Relating to the electoral system the pro-
ject states that elections are holdable,
firstly, in the province and territories;
secondly, in the principal towns which are
AiohiCO- LII OAdllN, tolOC1id IAC SduCdSuSt
Turkestan and some provinces special
regulations Will govern the elections. The
total membership will be 412. of which
twenty-eight will be returned by the
towns. The elections in the provinces
and territories will be effected by pro-
vincial electoral college, chosen, firstly
by the land owners; secondly, by urban
electors and thirdly, by delegates of the
peasantry. Women, men under rs years
ola, students, sailors, soldiers, bankrupts
and persons convicted of crimes of de-
sertion shall not have the right to vote.
Governors and the police cannot vote
when they are exercising their functions
Land owners, mine owners, and owners
of industrial Establishments of a mini
mum value of $500 and clergy owning
lands are qualified to vote in the electoral
assemblies.