The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-06
PREPARE FOR TU|NULT
IN FIRST PARL. IAMEA7 |
!;
Russians Deaden Floors and
Fasten Down. Things 4
in Chamber. +
Snaoial Cahla TO The Journal.

Special Gable to The Journal. 49,. . .s...
st. Petersburg, May Sin all those
countries of the civilized world in
which the people know no other than
a constitutional form of government, IT
is difficult to comprehend the intense
interest with which the people OF this
country are looking forward to the as
sembling of the first Russian parlla-
ment next week. $500 :: = .~2!,,
A. most elaborate program for. the
opening of the parliament has been pre-
pared. The ceremony will be attended
by the pomp and circumstance beht-
ting the Importance of the event. Inn
perial heralds will pass thru the streets
summoning the representatives OF the
people, and an imposing military escort
will accompany the czar to the Tauride
palace, where parliament will assemble.
t. Home of Autocrats.
O. obviously enough, the old Tauride
palace has always been most closely
connected with absolute autocraey. II
was constructed by Catherine. II, and
bestowed upon Prince Potemkin, her
most enduring favorite. In this palace
Prince Potemkin gave the historic ban
'fquet at which the prodigality and splen-
dor ,rivaled the feasts Of Nero and the
Roman emperors. Potemkln received
the guests In uniform blazing with
diamonds and headdress so heavy
with gems and gold that its weight
had to be supported by an alde-de
Scamp.
The palace was supposed to be mod
eled after the Pantheon at Athens, but
it. is far from q pure classic type
being in reality an odd mixture OF
:aGreek and Pompeian architecture. From
ethe main building, the facade Of which
Is Greek. with portico columns ane
Stympanun, project the wings which nc
sweep to the rear, ,inclosing q garde1
with fountain and statuary., The MAR
entrance is thru the portlco,. which II
supported by six large granite pillars.
= Public Gallery Small.
The hall where the representative as
ssembly will be held occupies the ma TO-
portion Of the central wing. the entr,
FOR members being opposite the mail
portal and reached by passing thru tw!
Intervening Hobbies and a long corri
dor. It is rectangular in shape, witt
a large semicircular alcove Or bay, IN
closed in glass, projecting from one en-
of the garden in the rear.
re It is little more than half the. sig
OF the hall Of the house. of representa-
tives at Washington, or about twice tn
size of the hall Of the British house Q
commons. It is well lighted from abov
tas we'll as from the glass alcove, an
the seats of the 564 members, some
what cramped, rise tier upon tier in
<semicircular form upon steeply III
,sclined floor.
81 The domed walls of the bay act as a
Immense soundingboard for the tribun
of the president. which stands befor
1t, fanked on one side by the ministt
rial bench. with seats for twelve men
bers and as many assistants, and on til
other by the desks for the official r.
porter and newspaper correspondent
The public gallery, over the last ro'
of seats, is small and would seem to il
dictate that the government has no d
sire to have the "mob' overawe tt
assembly. .,
Everything Fastened Down.
s@z The walls of the hall are paneled ]
white. The furniture is of oak. TT
members are not provided with ind
vidual desks. but sit behind ftforms
built up in continuous semicircles. TT
y precautions that have been taken
have everything firmly ttfastene
GOWN would seem to indicate that t
E. multuous scenes in the new parliamel
are anticipated. w..
- Special measures have been taken ,
deaden the floor to prevent obstru
tionists from stopping the proceeding
by stamping. -~: :;