Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-19
WILL Be READ IN ALL CHURCHES ToDK>
Delegates to Be Elected by Popular Vote
from All Districts.
POWERS ARE CHIEFLY ADVISORY
New Body Charged with Preliminary
Elaboration Of Measures.
WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE BUDGET
Right 60 Change the Organization as
Needs Of the Empire May Re-
quire is Reserved by the
AutOcracy.

ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 1s.-Russla's ma
tona representative assembly, the fruit of
decades of stress and striving for reform
which endows the Russian people with the
right OF being consulted through their
chosen representatives in the suggestion.
preparation and repeal OF legislation. today
takes its place among the fundamental in
sttutons OK the empire.
In solemn manifesto Emperor Nicholas
announces this morning to his subjects the
fruition Of his plans summoning the repre-
sentauves OF the people, as outlined by him
in a reseript 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 |
formulating the nature, powers and proce-
dure of the new governmental organiza-
tion.
The manifesto, ulxase and project are pub |
lished this morning in special editions of
. the Ohical Messenger in st. Petersburg |
and MOSCOW. They will be given out for |
publication at noon to all newspapers
throughout the empire many of which are
preparing TO issue extra editions to signal |
ize rnomentous historical event. over
shadowing In Importance the liberation of
the serfs in 1851. The date of the occasion
has been happily chosen with due regard to-
the poetical symbolism dear to the Rus
sian heart for on this day is celebrated the
religious feast Of the TRANSPORTATION of
Christ. with the bringing to the church of
n the first fruits of the new harvest
Power OF the Assembly.
The national assembly will be a consul
tative organization in connection with the
- he aF,H not laerig IA iUn
body. The powers of the emperor remain
theoretically absolute. AS the emperor is
the supreme law-giver and autocrat, sthe
decisions OF the council have only a recon-
mandatory and not binding force, though
the rejection OF any legislative measures
by a two-thirds majority of both houses is
suhicient to prevent that measure from be-
comiDg,y lRYtsV The representatives OF the
people fwfil have not only the right to be
heard on any legislation proposed by the
government but also can voice their de-
sires on new laws and will have the right
60 exert a certain supervision over budge-
tary expenditures.
The suffrage, though wide, is not uni
versal 1t is based on property qualifca-
ton the peasantry having a vote through
membership in communal organizations.
considerable portion of the residents
OF the cities possessing no lands, together
with women, soldiers, civil functionaries
etc, are without suffrage.
Text of the Decree.
The manifesto follows:
The empire Of Russia is formed and
strengthened by the indestructible sohdar.
ity OF the emperor with the people and OF
the people with the emperor. This concord
Of emperor and people is the great moral
force which has created Russia IN the
ali misfortunes and all attacks and has
Constituted up to the present time pledge
Sr I9SsIS lSeIns an8 inteiiectuai development
In our manifesto OF February ~ lyVS we
called to close undsrstanddi1ig i orasr al the fe
protect the organization Of the state t,s 1y
establishing on a frm basis the d9meseSS dS9n1to,aS
ourselves 10 the task OF co-ordinating elec1
tive public institutions with EoveEn,mental ,In erts
ments existing between them which had
reacted so disastrously on the normal
course OF cur national Ire
Powers of the Assembly.
e The autocratic emperors. oar ancestors
,onstabtGv had that object in view and the
\ time has come to follow out their good IN
tentions and to summon OF sia 10 taSs con-
slant and active part in the elaboration OF
laws, thereby attaching to the higher ,' staDe s,
trusted With the preliminary elaboration lon
and discussion OF measures, and with the
eXamination Of the state budget.
ing the fundamental law regarding the
70 form A gosudarstvennaia douma dover
house OF tbs assembly, and 10 approve the
,e55SiaS he W Vaidity OF these laws to the
whole territory OF the empire, WIN @ suCh
exceptions only as may be considered neces-
sary in the case OF some regions in which
special conditions obtain. -,
As resards me oHTna IA of ae,eSs tes
from the grand duchy OF Finland on 9uesi,
tlons CONCERNING the empire IN genera tH aho no
the grand duchy In particular we VIII take
special measures. -, -.
Al the same time we have ordered red y, me
ately for our appreciation regulations Tor
the elections to the douma so that deputies
from City governments and from the mill
tary province of the Don may be able TO
assemble not later than the middle OF jan
uaTy. 1905.
Mach Power - Reserved.
We reserve TO ourselves entirely the care
Of perfecting the organization OF the
gosudarstvennaia douRa, and when the
course Of events shall have shown the ne
pisSeiy SfsS 10 TO- the ts needs OF the times and the
welfare Of the empire We shall not tall %
give at the proper moment the necessary
We are convinced that those who shall
Whole iwS 0feo peope leland and Who w win thus be called
upon 70 participate in the legislative work
in the eyes Of ali Russia to be worthy o.
the imperial trust In the virtue OF which
Srsst Slrss VOL WORK. ana that in perfect harmony
with other institutions and authorities Of
tribute prontably and zealously TO our la
bors for the well being OF our common
mother Russia. and for the Strengthening
OF the unity, the security and the great
ness OF the empire, as Wen for the tran
Quillity and prosperity OF the people.
Prayer for the Nation.
In invoking the blessing OF the Lord OF
the labors Of the institution established bl
US and with unshakable confidence in th'
grace OF God and in the infalllbllity Of th'
great historical destinies reserved by divine
providence for our beloved fatherland VI
hrmly hope that with the help Of God Al
mighty and with the combined EFFORTS Of al
its sons Russia Will emerge triumphan
from the trying ordeals through which
= Is passinE and will be born again In tn
strength, the greatness and the glory OF IL
history. extending through thousan'
years.
Given AZ Peterhof, this nth day OF Au
gust Ia the year o. grace 1905. and tn
NICHOLAS.