Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-07
CAR STILL HOLDS REINS
Imperial Manifesto Defines the Powers of
the National Assembly.
THRONE CONTROLS THE UPPER HOUSE
Emperor to PromuIEate Temporary
Laws when Assembly IL Not in
session and Can Dissolve
IL at viii.

session ana tan btss0iNe
IL at viii.
ST PETERSBURG, March 6.--The full
text of an imperial manifesto and laws
relative to the national assembly and the
reorganized council of the empire, the
main features of which already have been
telegraphed to the Associated Press, throws
a food of light on the purpose of the gov
ernment to keep a firm check on the new
Russian Parliament and to exclude certain
subjects from consideration by the peoples
representatives The composition of the
council Of the empire. or upper house of
the national assembly, with one-hslf ap-
pointed by the emperor and twenty-six
elected from nobility and clergy, not
counting scattering supporters from other
classes, seems to insure a conservative, IL
not a pliable majority in the council to
block the national assembly should the
majority of the latter be in opposition
to the crown.
The government carefully retains the
power to promulgate Temporary laws
during recesses of the Parliament, and as
the Parliament is subject to dissolution by
imperial ukase the government is thus in
a position in time of stress to rid itself
of an obnoxious legislature and proclaim
such laws as 1t deems necessary TO meet
the emergency.
Old Law L. Retained.
feature OF the law which seems ef-
fectually to bar reds from membership
in the national assembly is a provision
exacting from persons elected an oath OF
fidelity to emperor, autocrnt and holy
Russia" The most significant article how
ever, is one retaining certain provisions of
an existing law which is mentioned only
by number. This innocent looking provision
is far reaching, placing beyond the juris-
diction of the Parliament and consigning
to existing commissions OF the council of
the empire, composed solely of members
appointed by the crown, for consideration,
the following:
l. Reports of the minister of finance
upon the state of the treasury.
H. Charges of malfeasance against men,
bers of the council of the empire, ministers,
governors general and commanders-in-chie
of land and forces.
III. The establishment of stock com
panies with special privileges
titles of nobility, etc.
Provisions of Manifesto.
The manifesto announces that the two
bodies composing the parliament, the coun-
ell Of the empire and the national assem-
bly,, will be convoked and prorogued an
nually by imperial ukase. The council
of the empire will consist of an equal num-
Der of elected members and members nom
mated by the emperor. Both bodies Will
have equal legislative powers in initiating
legislation and in matters. and only meas
ures passed by both houses may be sub
mitted for imperial sanction. Both bodies
may annul the election OF any Of their
members.
The manifesto concludes with the
declaration that the emperor firmly hopes
that the participation OF the representa-
tives OF the people in the government will
| contribute to the economical welfare Of
the empire The ukase declares that the
election of members of the council of the
empire are eligible for period of nine
| years, one-third Of whom will he re-
elected trienn!auy.
Each zemstvo is privileged to elect a
| member. six members will be returned by
the holy synod OF the Orthodox church.
six by the Academy Of Sciences and unit
versties twelve by the bourses of COM
merce and industry, eighteen by the no.
| bility and six by the landed proprietors OF
Poland.
| All the members of the council must be
| 20 years old and baccalaureates. The pres
ident and vice president will be appointed
| by the emperor. Elective members will
receive $3.50 daily during the session.
The sitting of both the national assembly
and the council of the empire will be pub
lie and the closure of a debate may be
voted by any member. Members will be
eligible to election to the national as
sembly. Laws voted by the two bodies
will be submitted for imperial sanction by
the president of the council of the empire.
| The manifesto also provides that during
suspension of sittings OF the national as
sembly should extraordinary circumstances
| arise calling for legislative action the coun.
! ell Of ministers may refer to the emperor
| for his decision such measures as do not in
/ volve change in the fundamental laws of
| the empire regulations governing the pro-
| ceduro of the council of the empire or the
| national assembly or the conduct OF cleo
| tions TO membership I'm those bodies The
| power OF such measure ceases IL during
| two months after the national assembly
| has resumed is sittings 10 bill embodying
| the provisions therein contained be brought
| forward or ii such bill be rejected by the
| national assembly or the council OF the EN-
Dire.
Members of both bodies are immune
| from arrest during the session, except by
! permission OF lne DOuleS 10 which they be-
long. unless guilty of fragrant offenses.
The ukases further point out that bills
rejected by the emperor cannot he brought
| forward again in the course of the same
session. Bills rejected by one OF the legis-
lative bodies shall require imperial consent
| before being reintroduced.
Bomb Factory IL Found.
| A wholesale bomb factory was captured by
the police today at the lodgings OF a drug
| gist. One hundred and twenty loaded bombs
we're seized. The apartments had been
the rendezvous of students and revolu-
tionists, twenty-one of whom were cap
| tured Another terrorist who was ar
rested in the street had a bomb in kIs
| pocket.
Father Gapon, in an open letter today,
denounces Father Gregori Petron, as a
traitor and a tool of the social democrats
who ne says are fighting against the true
interests Of the workingmen. Father
Gapon also proposes plan for complete
| investigation of his OrRa nizat tiOn nv fS