Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-24
IN ST. PETERSBURG IN MAY
win Also Personally Open the As
sembly.
VERY FINE PROGRAM PREPARED
Final Draft Of Fundamental Law Pub
lished-Some Important Modif-
cations-Notable Provisions.

ST. PETERSBURG, April 24.-After much
hesitation. Emperor Nicholas has finally
decided to come to st. Petersburg. greet the
representatives OF the people and personally
open the frst Russian parliament May TO-
His decision comes az a surprise. as It was
supposed that after his long absence from
the capital he would not dare to leave the
shelter OF the palace OF Tsarskoe-Selo. But
Premier Wftte and other advisers urged
that It would be great blunder to miss
such an opportunity.
A most elaborate program for the opening
of parliament has been prepared The cere-
naony will be attended by the pomp and
circumstances betting the event. Imperial
heraids win pass through the streets sum-
moning the Representatives OF the people.
and an impo.ins military escort win as-
where parliament win assemble.
II 10 rumored that the emperor. in greet
ing parliament, VIII announce general am
nesty for political prisoners.
The Fundamental Law.
The final draft Of the fundamental law"
was published today. It consists OF seventy
articles and constitutes Russia's so-called
constitution. The main point gained by
the people in their fight against the crown
Is the incorporation In the fundamental
law Of the provisions Of the imperial mani
festo Of October %. creating a parliament,
and thus making 1t impossible for the en-
peror hereafter without usurpation to with
draw what he has granted. Otherwise the
notifications of the fundamental law are
entirely in the direction of supporting the
emperorS present powers against the as
saults on parliament
He not only retains absolute control of the
army and navy and foreign relations with
power to declare peace or war. but he keeps
in his hands the vital prerogatiye of declar-
ing cities. districts and provinces under
martial law or I'm state OF reinforced Sc
curity." 1nasmuch any exceptional state
OF security involves the suspension of civil
rights. and as normal conditions have not
existed In Russia for years. st. Petersburg
having been In a state Of reinforced secu-
rfty'' since 1882 the personal guarantees
granted can be wiped out by a stroke of
the emperor's pen.
Important Provisions.
veey important provision makes no
law operative until published by the ruling
senate. The senate, purely bureaucratic
institution. therefore becomes the judge Of
the ''constitutionality" Of the acts of par
lament Immunity from arrest and domi-
ciliary visit. etc. are spoiled by many ex-
ceptions The right of freedom of residence
the existing regulations" This. of course,
leaves the Jews confined to the pale and
the peasants chained to the globe unless
parliament later changes the ensuing reg1-
lations.
There are restrictions against parliament
interfering with the expenditures for the
court or other allowances of the imperial
family unless they exceed amounts includ-
ed in the budget of 1905, and interpretations
of ministers are strictly confined to VIOLA
lions Of the law.
A suspicious feature in connection with
the emperor's power to dissolve parliament
and order new elections is that no provision
is made for fixing time within which the
new parliament must be convened
With the existing popular distrust of the
government every equivocaI word is eyed
suspiciously.
The Rech, organ of the constitutional
democrats. begs the government not to
conf1ne the articles of the fundamental
law" which offend public opinion