The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-11
HAVE SECURED APALACE
Russian Lower House of ParIiament's
Bold Move.

st. Petersburg, May 1.-THE con-
version of the Tauride palace. built by
Empress Catherine II for her favorite,
Prince Grigori Potemkin, in 1888, for
parliament purposes, the Russian low
CT house having convened there yes
terday, has recalled the prophetic
speech delivered by the now deceased
privy councillor, Potovtsoff, at a din
nor given during the industrial exposi-
ton in the palace four years ago.
Commenting on the evolution through
which Russia was passing, M. Potovts-
off drew a parallel between the dane
ing Pumps of Potemkin and his fellow
coUrtiers and the boots of the peasants
whose tread was then heard in the
chambers of the palace, and added
with unrealized significance:
I assure you, gentlemen, the peas
ants boot has a firm tread and where
It mas once set foot it is not easily
driven out"
An uncomfortable pause followed
his words. though few of the high
functionaries then realized how soon
the peasant representatives would be
entering into their inheritance. The
idea of locating the Russian lower
house of parliament in the old Tauride
palace was a bold one. so little was
the building suited by situation and
original design for this purpose It is
located in the remote eastern section
OF the city. a half hours drive from
the Winter palace, the ministries and
the building of the council of the en-
pire, the other branch OF the Iegis-
lature, and though alterations have
produced a meeting place of fair size
and good acoustic properties for the
large ass emily, the facilities for COM
mittee rooms. archives, chancellery
public and press are largely in
adequate
Alphabetically the palace which was
doc Nv
VoF1tes of Catherine II, lacks merit It
is tasteless cross of Greek, Roman
and Pompeiian styles, the dominant
| idea OF the Pantheon at Rome which
was taken as the model for the BODY
Of the building being disf1gured at eth
er end by rectangular wings which
stretch forward to the street inclosing
a garden with fountains and statuary
The dome on the main building is too
small and set too far back to break
up the uncompromising1 square. barraclx
ike effect of the building. the best fea-
ture OF which is the Green facade
stretching from wing to wing with the
main entrance under a central pOrtico
supported by six massive Dorfc col
umns of granite. Through this is
reached the parliament hall occupying
the rear half of the body of the build
ing, passing en- route through a narrow
vestibule. a circular hall whose lofty
fiat ceiling, SO feet high is by clever
+ decorative work given a dopned effect
ana the old ballroom, q magnificent hall
about go feet long, adorned with two
double rows of graceful Ionic columns.
From this hall. which will be used as
the members lobby and Promenade
large folding doors open into the as,
sembly hall, formerly the winter gar
den of the palace, in which Potemkin
gave his famous feast It is rectapgu-
lar in shape with a large semicircular
alcove almost as broad as the hall and
enclosed in glass, projecting into the
garden in the rear. The hall is little
more than half the size of the han of
4 the house of representa- tives at wash
I ington.