New-York tribune., 1905-08-08
THE WEDGE OF REFORM.
Russian Official Discusses Plan for
National assembly.

ST Petersburg Aug. THE impression thar
the discussion of the scheme of national
sembly is being conducted in a spirit of Hberalty
at the sessions at Peterhof was confirmed to-
day by a Russian statesman who is taking part
in the deliberations and Is familiar with the
evolution of the assembly idea since the issue
of the imperial resc.ipt on March J.
Asked if it were true that the project was
undergoing wide changes in the present confer
ences, he replied that the popular impression as
TO the extent of the alterations made both by
the Council of Ministers and the present COM
mission was exaggerated. The main lines of
the rescript commissions plans remained un-
changed because they conformed to the ideas set
forth in the rescript and manifesto. The official
said:
base on which the project rests is
legacy from history. National representation
in Russia is nothing new, for the emperorS IN
former times often summoned persons familiar
with local conditions to discuss national affairs
1t is the imperial will that this condition should
be permanent, and be established in the form of
a council composed of two elements-hrst, Of
men in the service of the state, appointed by the
Council of the Empire, and, second. or worthy
local representatives selected by the people Both
elements intended TO be on an equal footing
Another base is the consultative character of the
assembly, 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 aim to drag the country into petty poll
TO take part in the difficult but rsmunerative
labor of national legislation only. The practi-
cal character of the future assembly is one Of
it's most important features and the motto of
the trainers, not reform. but reforms" is
recognized.
The plan Of the resCript commission was not
without defects. The trainers. for instance did
not equalize the rights Of the two elements of
representation. ana did not endOw the Douma
with the same rights as the Council of the En-
pire The object of the present deliberations at
Peterhof is 10 equalze the powers of the two
component parts. and il is more than probable
that this inequality will be rectified Certain
rules Of procedure in the assembly must be re-
vised in order to get efficiency and political
soundness Among others. 1t IS proposed to
max the presidency of the DOuma elective in
stead of appOintive. and to Obviate much of the
red tape hampering the introduction of bills in
the house and the unwieldy methods of inter
pellating Ministers. These have been the sub
ject of criticism at Peterhof. The nature Of
the suffrage, too. is one of the main reasons
why the project is being again revised at Peter
hof
Asked If the questions of peace or war would
be submitted to the proposed assembly. the OH
cial said
While the aim is to give the representatives OF
the people equal powers with those of the COun-
them greater powers. In an autocratfc country
ii is impossible to think of giving subjects the
right To decide such all-important Questions hut
the absolute monarch address himself tc
any subject for counsel thereon. and he CO..
tainly could To a chosen body. This was done In
1911. when the Council of State was called into
consultation regarding the war with Turkey.