The San Francisco call., 1906-05-07
WORLD EVENTS
OF THIS WEEK
Russian National
Assembly to
Meet.
Senate Likely to
Pass the Rate
Bill.

WASHINGTON, May 6.-The Nation
al Assembly Of Russia, to which so
many hopes for that country are
pinned, will be convened at the Tau
ride Palace in st. Petersburg on Thurs
day, May 10.
The National Assembly, or Douna
was granted by the Emperor on August
IS. 1905, and, according to the official
announcement 'is established for the
preliminary study and definition Of leg.
islative propositions" which, according
to the fundamental laws, go UP through
the council OF the empire to the su-
preme autocratic authority.
The manifesto issued on March g.
1906, was an innocent looking provision,
placing beyond the jurisdiction of Par
lament and consigning for considera-
ton to commissions OF the Council of
the Empire the reports of the Minister
Of Finance, charges OF malfeasance
against officials Of the Government, the
establishment Of stock companies with
special privileges and questions relat-
ing to entailed estates of nobility, etc.
The Government retains the power to
promulgate temporary" laws during
the recesses OF Parliament, and as the
Parliament is subject to dissolution by
imperial ukase, the Government is in
position in time Of streso to rid itself
of any obnoxious legislation and pro-
claim such laws as 1t deems necessary.
Three hundred and seventy-one mem
bers have been elected to the Assem-
bly,, Of which the Constitutional Demo-
Gratis have clear working majority.
The first and all important matter 10
come up will be the agrarian problem,
and recent dispatches from st. Peters
ment will work IN accord with the As
sembly in this matter by proposing ths
formation of q Parliamentary commits
sion to elaborate plans for an agrarian
project. This Will practically mean the
acceptance of the decision Of the Con-
stitutional Democrats.
THIS WEEK IN THE SENATE
Practically all the members of the
United States Senate agree in predict
ing that the present week will see the
end Of the discussion OH the railroad
rate bill. The fact that this provision
is accepted by the conservative Sena-
torial leaders on the one hand and by
the President on the other renders it
practically certain that the amendment
will IN the end be accepted as a party
measure and that IT will receive most
if not all of the votes of Republican
Senators. The Democrats probably will
content themselves with expressing
surprise that the bill should be trans
formed into a party MEASURE. and then,
after chatting their opponents, will let
the votes be taken, each man voting
according to his own personal views.
The consideration OF the bill will pro-
ceed in accordance with the unanimous
agreement, the measure being consid-
cred section by section and each Sec
ton disposed Of in order. The pro-
ceedings last Friday, the only day on
which the Senate has been In session
under the agreement. indicated that
there is little prospect of any general
change in the measure.
AT this time It seems probable that
changes may be made giving the COM
mission power to compel trunk lines to
make connections with other lines and
prohibiting the transportation compa-
nies from engaging in the production
of commodities. Amendments for the
accomplishment Of both these purposes
will be urged, and SO far comparatively
little opposition to them has been de-
veloped.
Opinions differ as to the length Of
t1of Ln %,
clusion of the work on the bill and es-
Inmates vary all the way from Wednes-
day until Saturday. The principal de-
bate VIII be on the question of court
review, which will probably be reached
by Tuesday. After that Is disposed OF
there will be little heart left for any
thing else, and whatever may be Of
fered will most likely be acted upon
after Comparatively little discussion.
The discussion Of the nomination Of
Mr.. Barnes, assistant secretary to the
President, as postmaster of Washing
ton, will proceed when opportunity Of
fers.
PROGRAMME OF HOUSE.
The National House of Representa-
tives will complete the naval appro-
priation bill this week. If the foreign
affairs committee can get the diplo-
matte and consular appropriation bill
ready In time action also may be taken
on that measure.
The reading Of the nava bill is ex-
peoted TO occupy the House on Tues
day, Wednesday and possibly Thurs
day. Should there be an unoccupied
time. however, there are two special
orders already on the calendar, and the
immigration bill is to constitute the
third, IL tho present plan succaeds TO
give it that status by the passage OF
resolution today. Pure food legisla-
ton has the right of way after appro-
priation bills. and noxt tho bill GREAT
ing uniform system OF naturalization.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion will begin on May 10 one of the
most fh0rAi1N1a tpHIIfriaa that hoa ax,av