The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-16

due to a reference to the absence from the address of plank on the subject of woman suffrage which brought half tho members of the house to their feet cheer ing.
 The other radical members demanded a
 paragraph asking for the punishment of officials guilty of excesses in past acts or repression, and a fuller and plainer state ment of the demand for a constitutional
 order.
 Several conservative members essayed to speak but the house was in no mood to listen then, Prince Vokkonsky, lead ing Octoberist. refusing to continue his speech, and left the rostrum with bitter fling at the denial of the right of free speech.
 Two features of the session developed outside of fthe regular debate. The first was the adoption of rule rela tive to the previous question under which fifty mem bers may prevent the stoppage of de- bate. opening the door to successful fill- clustering by a determined minority of one tenth of the membership of the house. The other feature was the appearance Of a conservative peasant group among the supporters of the government, forty-four peasant members signing a motion Tor postponement of the debate.
 The motion was overwhelmingly de- feated.
 A Long Wrangle.
 There was a long wrangle at the opening of the session over the question of parlia-
 mentary procedure. etc.. no rules to gov ern the house having been adopted The following is the address in reply to the speech from the throne:
 Tt has pleased your majesty In your speech addressed to the peoples repre- sentatives to express your determination unshakably to preserve the institutions whereby the people have been called to exercise legislative power in conjunction with their monarch. The parliament re- Gards the monarchs formal promise to the people as sure pledge of that con sclidation and for the further develop ment of order and legislation in accord ance with a. strictly constitutional basis. "The house will for its part make every effort to perfect the principle of popular representation and to submit for your majestys assent a bill relating to such representation passing it in according with
 the unanimously expressed will of the people on universal suffrage.
 Your majesty's appeal for common work for the good of the fatherland finds a lively echo in the hearts of the
 members of parliament. in the consttu- tion of which representatives of all classes and nationalities are united in an ardent
 desire to regenerate Russia and create a
 state of order on the basis of all living in peace with one another and on the firm pillars of civic freedom
 Ambitions Power.
 "The parliament holds it to be it's duty
 to point out that the condition under
 which the country lives. render really
 fruitful work for the renovation of the
 hest powers of the nation impossible The country has perceived that the sorest spot on our national life Is the ambitious power of the officials who separate the emperor from his people. and has de-
 clared clearly and unanimously that the renovation of public life is only possible on the principles of freedom with the
 spontaneous participation of the people In legislative power. and in the control of legislation through the executive authori- ties.
 Until your majesty was pleased in your manifesto of October 30 to announce your firm resolution to build upon these principles as the basis for the further development of Russia, and the whole Russian people welcomed your message with an mpassioned cry. But the first days of liberty were darkened by heavy afflicton laid on the land by those who still obstruct the advance of the people to their emperor. and trample the prin- ciples of the manifesto of October 30 under foot by those who cover the land with suferngs. with executions without judicial sentence. with violent outbreaks. with shooting and imprisonmest. ."The actions of this government on the mart of the administration of the last few months have sunk deep into the souls of the people that no pacification is possible so long as the people are not clearly satisfied that in the future acts of violence for which your majesty 8 | ~t----~-~~- --~-~-~-~~-~-~---~~~-~- Continued on Eighth Paae.)