The San Francisco call., 1906-05-18
DOUMA ADDS
new DEMANDS
Would Increase the Power
OF the Parliament of
Russia.
Progress Made in Prepafa-
ton Of the Reply to
the Throne.

the Throne.
ST. PETERSBURG, May 17.-Pub-
lie opinion is greatly excited as to
how the Emperor and the Government
will meet the defiant attitude of the
lower house of Parliament. Many Con-
stitutional Democrats are not con-
vinced that the Government will seek
compromise. They see indications
that the bureaucracy is preparing for
a desperate fight. The Rech, their or
gan. still considers 1t possible that an
attempt may be made to disperse Par
lament, and also prints a runor that
Count de Witte is trying to bring
about coup d'etat which would result
In his being appointed a Dictator,
backed by the Council of the Empire.
The Novoe Vremya thinks the Con-
stltutfonal Democrats are going mad
and are playing into the hands of the
Social Democrats. "The Constitu-
tional Democrats" the paper says,
are digging their own grave in paw
ing the way to dictatorship of the
proletariat"
AS a matter of fact, the Constitu-
tional Democrats are unable any long
er to hold the extreme Radicals in
Parl1ament, who are breaking away
and forming about the Social Demo-
cratic workmen group and establish
ing distinct party of the extreme left,
which wants not parliamentarianism
but revolution. Some of the Polish
delegates are flirting with this group
on the basis of complete autonomy for
~ AZ -
In both Parliament and the Govern
ment is growing more complicated and
more chaotic, and the greatest anxiety
prevails as to what the immediate fu-
ture may bring forth.
The scheme most favored by the
bureaucracy is to allow Parliament to
formulate its demands and ventiiate its
grievances for two months and then
dissolve Parliament. Notwithstanding
this reactionary talk, the r-sighted
realize that such a step, in view of the
great agitation in the country, would
be fatal, and that the Governments
only chance Is to compromise with
Parliament. This certainly is the EN-
peror's present intention.
The debate on the reply to the speech
from the throne was resumed when
Parliament met today. Some of the
members are already showing signs Of
lmpatience as result Of the endless
stream of talk Paragraphs demand
ing the removal of martial and other
exceptional laws and the abolition Of
the Council of the Empire were passed
without amendment.
Count Heyden, a prominent member
Of the right, took the first occasion to-
day to declare that the right did not
oppose In principle the substance Of
the reply to the speech from the
throne, although It regarded some of
the paragraphs as unfortunate and un-
necessarily offensive to the Emperor.
Prince Peter Dolgoroukoff, vice pres
fdent Of the lower house, spoke warm
ly In favor of a united Cameral Legis-
lature. At the same time he thought
1t entirely proper that the Council of
the Empire, as an advisory body to
the Emperor and without legislative
functions, could be continued.
Kiselef Of Penza also declared him.
self in favor of united CameraI Leg
islature. He said a bi-Cameral Legis-
lature might be well enough In the
United States and Great Britain, but
Russia proposed to give the Western
world generally a lesson In true de-
mocracy.
Professor Maxim Kovalevsky Of
Kharkoff thought 1t of vital impor-
should be shorn of power to partici-
pate with the lower house Of Parlia-
ment in consideration of the budget.
The vote on Prince Dolgoroukoff' 8
proposition to incorporate a demand
for uni-Cameral Legislature in the
reply to the throne developed the first
big split of the session, the amendment
being rejected by only 253 to 153 votes.
Rapid progress was then made on
the other planks so far as the recon-
mendations regarding the agrarian
question.
The following additions, suggested
by Professor Maxim Kovalevsky of
Kharkoff. were made:
No new: taxes shall be levied with
out the consent of Parliament
Budget or taxation projects accepted
by Parliament shall not be altered by
a non-representative body
Parliament shall have control of all
loans.
In the paragraph providing for the
abolition of class privileges the house
decided to demand equality of rights
without distinction of sex, nationality
or religion.
The right to petition was inserted.
and by practically unanimous vote
the Emperor was asked not only to
abolish the death penalty, but to sus-
pend Immediately and throughout the
empire the execution Of all persons
sentenced to death.