The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-05-10
First Session Of Parliament Body
in CoultPy's History.
eRAND DISPLAY OF IMPERIAL spLENOOR
OF PEOPLE WIT.
MESSED CEREMONIES CON-
QUOTED By GEAR.

session of the first parliamentary body
in the history of Russia was opened
at the Tauirde palace by the car to-
day. 1t was the occasion Of a grand
display Of imperial splendor and at
the same time a demonstration of the
to abrogate completely its power of
debating to the people, Many thou
sands of people from all parts of the
country had come to St. Petersburg
to witness the scenes accompanying
the opening of the first national as
sembly, or douma. Troops and police
were scattered all through the city and
had a watchful eye on everything Of a
suspicious nature that might be going
on in any part of the city, particularly
around the imperial palace and the
Tauride palace. The streets between
the two palaces were carefully guarded
by large force Of troops and police,
to prevent any attempt upon the life
of the car on his way to and from
the parliament building. Outside of the
Gordon of troops thousands OF people
crowded the streets, eager to catch a
glimpse of the car and his brilliant
suite.
At an early hour this morning her
aids, gorgeously attired, rode through
the streets on richly aparisoned horses
and proclaimed the opening of the ma
tional assembly, and at the same time
commanded peace and order. 1t was
high noon when the car, surrounded
by the members of the cabinet, the
officials of the court and a brilliant
suite of officers and Of the army, start
ed from the imperial palace to the
Tauride palace, where the members of
the national assembly, who had been
recently elected were already as
sembled, awaiting the arrival Of the
emperor. Count White was absent, and
his place near the emperor was taken
by the new premier, Goremykin, whose
appearance was the signal for hostile
demonstrations from the crowd which,
however, were quickly suppressed by
the police.
When the gorgeous procession reach
ed the portal of the Tauride palace, the
military escort formed in double lines,
between which the car and the men,
bers of his suite entered. At the portal
the emperor was received by delega-
ton of the Douma and escorted to the
grand hall where the national assembly
was awaiting the arrival of the car.
The actual opening ceremony was
brief The car delivered a short ad-
dress in which he announced amnesty
for political prisoners and the abo-
liticn of martial law. After brief ref
erence to the sentiments which had
prompted him to give to his people a
national assembly and after having
pointed out the duties of the first
parliamentary body of the empire, he
declared the session formally opened.
There was great cheering, which last
ed until the emperor had Withdrawn
and returned to the imperial palace.
The opening session of the douma
was quite short. President Petrunko-
ted a number of communications from
the imperial government, including
plan for the reorganization of the
finances of the country. Soon after
that the first meeting was adjourned.
The Tauride palace where, at least
for the present, the sessions of the
douma will be held, was built in 1888.
and was presented by the Empress
Catherine II to Prince Potemkin, the
''hero of the Taurus" after the con-
quest of the Crimea. When the prince
died in 1894 it became crown property,
and has since been used as an expo
sition building. 1t was completely re-
modelled for the purpose of making it
suitable for a parliament building. The
whole central portion of the palace
will be occupied for the purposes of
the national assembly. The hall in
which the members meet is about as
large as the house of representatives
in Washington, is entirely decorated in
white and adorned with frescoes from
Potemkin's time. Behind the presi-
ent's Sc atand facing the representa-
tives is large bow window looking
out on a garden. The seats and desks
of the representatives have been ar
ranged around the hall, tier on tier, as
in a theater. The tribune from which
the members will address the house
is in the center, and on each side of