The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-12
COUNCIL OF EMPIRE.
UPPER HOUSE OF THE RUSSIAN
 PARLIAMENT.
P0mp and Ceremony in Striking Con- trast to the Simplicity of Opening of Lover Chamber the
 Day Before.

l St. Petersburg, May 11.--(6:20 p.m)-- | The third act in the great drama or | Russian parliamentarism, the formal
 opening of the recognized Council of
 the Empire. or upper House or Parila- | ment, took place at o'clock this af- | ternoon in the Hall of the Nobles in | the Winter Palace.
 The pomp and ceremony characterize | tic of the old Russian official life, the | absence of which at the opening meet ing of the popular House of Parlia- ment in the Tauride Palace yesterday was significant of the new spirit in Russian affairs, found vent in the con vocation of the Council of the Empire, which. with half the members elected and half appointed. forms the connect Ing link between the new and the old systems.
 The display of uniforms and orders, vivid ribbons and gold braid, which was seen at it's height during the ceremony at the Winter Palace yesterday. was repeated on a smaller scale in the great white Hall of the Mobiles today. The ministers displayed their full regalia, the members of the chancellory wore court dress and swords, the doors were guarded by servants in picturesque liv- erY and the boxes were occupied by diplomats and high officials and richly dressed women. and though a number of the elective members were not in uniform. the colored smock and kaftan of the peasant and the high boots and rough coat of the workman were not in evidence
 The majority of the elective mem bers indeed, who came from the landed nobility and upper ranks of commerce and industry. vied with the appointives in the number and richness of their decorations Only a study little group lf al N1A AA tA aArsa the abolition of the legislative body to which they were elected. came in Dem ocratic simplicity. their civil garb not being relieved by a ribbon or a medal.
 While the lower house of parlia- ment Is distinctively a body of new men, the names of many of the mem bers of the council of the empire can be found in the index of Russian his tory of the past century, including Ig- natieffs, Alexieffs, Pobledonstsens and the Dologourkoffs of the old regime. a mass of retired ministers. soldiers and statesmen of the past and the heads of many of Russia's noblest families.
 Though picturesque as a pageant the ceremony at the opening was unevent- ful and unimportant historically. Af- ter Count Solsky. president of the up- per house, had declared the session open. the transaction of business be- gan. It consisted of the announcement or tns dDpOlulIltHl Ol billNfi9 '''' fAAN signing of ths oath of office. The only surprise was the reading of an an nouncement that Count Witte was working member of the council, the omission of his name from the pre- vious list having been interpreted as a deliberate slight which the emperor evidently took pains to correct.
 The unexpected appearance of the tall form of the former premier at the door was the first intimation of the emperor's action and 1t created buzz of excitement. The explanation of his appearance only came later, when a ukase was read appointing Count Witte and NJ. Manukhin. former minister of justice, to be members of the council of the empire.
 The organization of the upper house, which followed the program of the lower house yesterday, was preceded by A religious service. After the members had signed the oath the house adjourn ed