Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-12

easy. The body, however, as a who,e repre-
sents the best elements in Russia, the men
OF affairs, and their counsel and judgment
ought TO be of great value.
The object of the imperial council Is to
furnish a check for the duma, which is
likely to come under the control of the
radicals at any time and Will usually rep
resent the popular sentiment which may be
the voice of the people but that is no
longer. In Russia at least, the voice of God.
1t Is prudent, If not imperative, for the fu-
ture peace of Russia, and In the interest
of good government, that there should be
some assembly like this to maintain an
equilibrium.
The radical members Of the duma do not
feel the need of a check of this sort. AS
soon as II was proposed they recognized
that 1t would be an obstacle in their way,
and. therefore, one of the planks in the
platforms of all the radical parties is the
abolition of the council of the empire. They
demand one house of parliament only,
which shall represent the people, and not
the car or the commercial interests.
A Splendid Meeting Place.
The imperial council meets in splendid
hall in the Palace of the Mobiles, in the CEN
trail part of the city. where, since the time
of Catherine ii. the members of the no.
bility have assembled annually and some
times more frequently to discuss matters
affecting the welfare OF the empire. 1t Is a
splendid hall like that occupied by the
duma, although it Is not so large nor so
light nor SO well ventilated. 1t is about the
size of our House OF Representa- tives at
Washington, and is entirely surrounded by
an open corridor under gallery supported
by massive columns. From the lofty ceiling
hangs half dozen splendid crystal chande-
liers, and brackets sto correspond are placed
at intervals around the wall The hall is
finished in white and gold and crimson vel
vet. which gives 1t truly regal air, and it
is quite appropriate that heroic figure of
Russias greatest sovereign, Catherine IL In
bronze should sit upon throne opposite
the presiding officer.
The latter is sheltered by an enormous
canopy of crimson velvet, heavily embroid-
cred with gold and edged with a deep fringe
that feels almost heavy as metal The
dais occupied by the president and the
railing. The members are provided with
comfortable gllded chairs deliberately
carved and upholstered in velvet of the pre-
vailing color, and the coat-of-arms of Rus
STA is embroidered in gold upon the back OF
every one. These chairs are placed behind
broad tables covered with crimson velvet
spreads fringed with gold and before each
member is an elaborate outlay of station
airy, inkstands. blotters. paper knives pens
and pencils. II Is the most sumptuous legis-
lative hall l have ever seen, and every
thing in very different from the duma al
though that chamber, as l wrote a few
weeks ago, In many respects Is superb.
The members of the cabinet. who have
the right to speak but not to vote In the
imperial council, sit on benches at the right
of the chairs and always appear in official
uniforms, attended by secretaries and
clerks in evening suts-swallow-tail coats,
low-cut waistcoats and white ties, and l
noticed that some of them wore white kid
gloves. All the clerks and secretaries of the
council and most of the press reporters
were also in evening dress, although the
sessions begin at IL in the morning and
last until 3 or in the afternoon. When
received my ticket TO the council / was ad-
vised to wear silk hat and frock coat.
Most Imposing Parsonage.
The sergeant-at-arms is one of the most
imposing personages you can image. You
would think he must be the Emperor of
Asia. He wears a long coat of yellow
broadcloth, reaching to his heels, with
broad collar and cuffs, slashed with gold
and scarlet bands and faced with gold braid
His hat is one of those three-cornered
affairs that we sometimes see in the por-
traits of the French emperors. The door
keepers are also in gorgeous apparel, and
all the other attendants, who seem to be
unnecessarily numerous, wear respondent
liveries. 1t is relief to see several women
In plain black gowns and neat white linen