Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-23

The more one STUDIES the new
OF Russia the more genuine and actual 1t
appears to be. The two houses. the coun-
Gil and the dounna, may not yet be all that
Is desired. They may not yet have the
public confidence. or that voice In the gov
eminent which we believe the people are
entitled to. but the present organization I'M
der the constitution or fundamental law
granted by the emperor sixty days ago. is
a very long step In advance for Russia. and
by the terms of the ukase under which 1t
was convoked the emperor is powerless to
abolish or even Ignore 1t. Thus the peo-
pie have representation and the autocracy
has deprived itself of the monopoly of
power and authority which has been en-
1oyed by the car of all the Russias since
the middle ages.
The douma which corresponds to our
House of Representatives, the house OF
commons in England and the chamber OF
deputies in France is attracting the most
attention because IL Is an assembly OF the
people The council OF the empire, or up
per house, is seldom mentioned. 1t is en-
tirely overshadowed by the superior I'M
portance and sensational proceedings of its
coordinate body, and one of the principal
planks In the platform of the political
party which controls the lower chamber
IS the abolition of the council as unneces-
sary and undemocratic. | am inclined to
ably on that point. The demand for the
adjustment of the council Is not so furious
as II was at first, and the thinking MEM
beers are coming to the conclusion that 1t
may have It's advantages. Its defenders
say that 1t is necessary to maintain an
equilibrium. to keep the lower house, the
popular body. in check. and cause a fric-
tion which will be healthy to all concern
ed and preserve the vitality of both
ganizationS.
The Council of Empire.
The composition of the Russian council
of empire is believed by its defenders to
avoid the objections which are usually Of
fered to similar bodies in other European
countries. In England membership in the
house of lords is hereditary and no other
can enter It except additional members of
the nobility as they may be created by the
King. The same Is true of the herren-
haus in Prussia In Holland the upper
chamber consists of fifty members elected
by the largest taxpayers, the chambers of
commerce and certain high functionaries
In France the senate is elected indirectly
by the municipalities and departments, and
In Austria the upper house is composed of
rich landed proprietors, representatives of
commercial and industrial Institutions and
municipalities. In each ca the conserya-
tism OF the upper house furnishes a neces-
sary balance to the progressive and radical
spirits of the direct representatives of the
people.
The Russian council of empire consists
or ninety EIGHT members. whose terms are
nine years. One-half of them are appoint
ed by the emperor and are his only repre-
sentatiyes in the imperial parliament. Most
OF his selections are retired ministers OF
state, generals of the army and admirals
pr the navy, who for various reasons must
pc shelved from active participation in af-
fairs. Hence this distinguished body Is al
ready called The Old Mems Home" The
other members are elected as follows:
o hN- Iftr CIxr
synod. six by the faculties of the universe
ties, six by the commercial and industrial
organizations of the empire and the bal
hnce by the zemstvos OF the various prov
tnces. which correspond to our state legis-
iatures
The council OF the empire has exclusive
jurisdiction over all charges of malfeasance
made against cabinet minister's governor
general of provinces and other high Of
fCials very much like the Jurisdiction of
the United States Senate in impeachment
cases. 1t also has exclusive control of the
auditing OF the finance department Of the
empire, the savings banks. the state pawn
Shops and matters referring to prirnogeni-
fure and titles conferred by the crown.
The Douma
The douma, or lower house OF parliament.
IS composed OF 400 members at present,
but will probably be increased soon to
something over 500 members, who are elect
parliament can be dissolved at any time
by the emperor and new elections ordered
The members enjoy immunity from arrest;
they cannot be held responsible for lam
guage uttered In debate, and cannot be de-
prived OF their liberty except by order of
the house. They are required to take the
following oath:
Il. the undersigned swear before AL
mighty God TO perform, to the best of my
ability. the duties with which l have been
"A mo her Af hA d.1tt- %
empire. pledging myself to remain loyal to
his majesty the emperor and autocrat OF
all the Russias, and striving only for the
welfare and happiness OF Russia"
The douma has much wider jurisdiction
and much greater power than Is generally
supposed. Bills and petitions cannot be In
PRODUCED by individuals, but require the In
dorsement OF thirty members and must be
nccompanie by an explanatory brief as to
their purpose and the necessity for action
upon them for the information OF the COM
mittee. Some such rule would be good
thing for our Congress, and would save a
large amount OF money that is now wasted
In unnecessary printing and large amount
OF time spent by committees upon meas
nres that never can pass.
A majority OF the douma can close a de-
bato at any time.
Its duty is to enact the laws OF the empire
to adopt an annual budget. and upon its
failure TO do so the latest previous appro-
priations will be continued indefinitely and
OF the fun amount each month The douma
has control OF state property and the
application of the revenues received there
from. the construction and management OF
state railways and other public utilities all
matters relating TO stock companies and
corporations. commercial and indus
trial regulations. laws for the gov
eminent OF provinces and territories
where zemstvos exist and statutes foS
civil and criminal jurisdiction. The douma
can have nothing whatever to do with the
army and navy. The emperor has authority.
TO make temporary laws during the inter-
yais between sessions which are effective
two months after the reassembling of the
douma. whether they are ratified or not
The action OF the douma must be ratified
by the council OF the empire and approved
by the emperor to he effective The senate
has nothing whatever to do with the legis-
lative matters II has no jurisdiction over
the douTua. 1t Is n general mlsunderstand-
ing that II has the power of review but its
relation Is precisely that OF the Supreme
Court 20 the Congress OF the United States
Tho senate 10 judicial body. and as such
must lnterpTet the meaning of the laws
passed by the parliament when appealed to
in litigation in both civil and criminal cases
Election Of the Donna
The methods by which the members of
the douma are elected are very complicated.
and will be STABILIZED as soon as the parla-
go