The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-23

Duma the power OF the purse be put IN
It's hand a weapon which has always
proved irresistible. !
When the first English Parliament
was convoked by EDWARD l., toward the
close Of the thirteenth century, the bur-
gesses, or representatives Of the Com
mons, had scarcely any powers at all.
As late as the sixteenth century we find
the Commons under the TUDoRs meekly
registering the rulers will. In the sew
enteenth century CHARLES I. declined
oven to respect the supposed immunity.
OF legislators, for he invaded the house
and arrested five members. Not till late
in the seventeenth century did Min
listers become habitually responsible to
the House of Commons. AS late as the
eighteenth century the veto power was
exercised by Queen ANNE. Neverthe-
less, because the financial needs OF the
English monarchy could be met by the
House OF Commons alone that body
gradually extorted n privilege after
another, until it became almost omnipo-
tent. To take another illustration: The
States General when convoked at YER
sailles in 1889 possessed no legislative
powers whatever; but France was
threatened with financial shipwreck,
and in order to avert that catastrophe
one demand after another had to be con-
coded to the peoples representatives.
The power Of the purse will inevitably
prove greater in Russia to-day than it
was at any crisis Of English history, and
can only be compared with the tremen-
dous influence which circumstances gave
it in the last days of the French Gncien
regime. The Cars Government lis on
the verge Of bankruptcy. To avert COLI
lapse it must borrow at onoe $3.50, 000, 900,
and it will need $50, 600, 900 more at an
early date. No British and no American
bankers will lend the Gar any money In
the present distracted condition Of his
empire, and ever French bankers have
refused to make any further advances
unless some kind of national assembly
shall ratlfy all former loans made by
foreigners and also the new loan the
issue Of which Is now proposed. The
State Duma, therefore, narrowly as 1t Ia
restricted in some directions, will re-
tain the greatest power Of all, that.
namely, Of declaring whether the Gov
eminent Of NICHOLAS II. may borrow
any more money abroad. The mode Of
acquiring money at home by taxation
or by sale Of property Of the State also
falls within its jurisdiction. One OF the
ukases OF March 8 expressly places
within the Jurisdiction Of the coming
Parliament the budgets Of the Minister'S
and Of the empire and all proposals for
the alienation Of any portion Of the
receipts or property OF the State. The
report Of the Comptroller Of the Empire
upon the explanation Of the budget must
be made to the popular branch Of Par
Lament. The Parliament also has au-
thority over all matters relating to the
construction Of State railroads, as we'll
as over matters relating to stock oom-
panies not covered by existing laws. 1t
further has the power to decree peouniary
advances to the zemstvos and munich
pallties.
Unless such large powers over Rus
sia's financial had been COM
coded to the State Duma Its approval
| would not have been considered by
French bankers a sufficient security for
a new loan. To whatever motive, how.
ever, the concession OF those powers
should be imputed, there it is, and If
Russian Liberals have common sense
they will make the most Of it.