Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22

glass This is used as a lobby exclusively !
for members. Floods of light come through
these windows and through a series of wide
square windows under the corniee on Two
sides of the ROOM During the evening ses-
sipns the chamber is lighted by Eve i'm
mense gilded chandeliers. fitted both Tor
gas and candles, and rows OF side brackets
around the wall.
On either side of the chamber are i'm
rnense withdrawing rooms. with long tables,
desks and comfortable chairs for use OF the
members and such friends as they choose
to admit 10 this privacy. They were audi
ence chambers in GATHERINGS time. These
beautiful rooms and the legislative chamber
open into an enormous hall eliipt cal in
form, SEQ feet long and 50 feet wide, which
is used as a lobby The ceiling Is the same
height as that of the legislative chamber,
and from it hang twenty or thirty massive
gilded Oh 3ndeliers. The se:nl-c,rcuiar enoS
are entirely inc,osed with glass which adj
mts light aad plenty of ventilation No
legislative body in the world has such
splendid accommof aIons. no Parliamentary
chamber has such an ante room
Between this great hall and the main en-
trance are two large yestibu,es and ante
charn1ers which are fitted ny for cloak
rooms n charge of liveried attendants who
take YOUR hat coat and umbrella and give
you checks for them, for no one is allowed
to enter the official part of The building
with his hat on. There are two wings
branching off from these vestibules, which
are divided into IL number of rooms. Those
on one side are used for caucuseS, COM
mittees and other official purposes, and on
the other side for restaurant, tea room,
smoking and reading rooms. and similar
purposes to which the public IS admitted.
The newspaper fraternity have a large,
well-lighted and furnished room Tor them-
selves where they can do their reading and
writing.
Fittings of the Hall.
The interior of the chamber has been fit
ted up with 564 fitting seats Ike those in
theaters, arranged in tiers rising about
twelve or fourteen inches one above the
other Each has a. narrow desk like those
In a modern school room, and the name of
each member is on his chair. The presi-
dent S desk or throne Is in the center with
his back toward the great bay window I
have told you of. On either side, just lit
tie below the level of his desk, are two large
boxes with twenty-four comfortable chairs
intended for the ministers of state. and just
beyond them on either side are similar
boxes. little lower down, for the news
papers. Below the president sits the secre-
tary of the douma, with his assistants on
either side of him and desks for the official
stenogra piers, all of whom are women.
Ambassadors may be admitted to the minis
terial box or accommodated in the gallery,
where special balcony in the center is
reserved for the car and his family. 1t
has been vacant at every sitting of the
douma thus far, and IS not likely to be oc-
cupied in the immediate future. The public
gallery will accommodate only $50 people,
which is probably intentional. or at least in
accordance with Russian ideas. 1t is a
measure of safety, too because too large
an audience might interfere with the pro-
ceedings and do serious mischief. No one
can enter the palace without d pass signed
by the sergeant-at-arms. and if member
wishes to introduce a friend he is compelled
to obtain one.
The entire woodwork of the chamber Is
unstained white oak, beautifully finished,
and the upholstery is lightish blue or steel
color similar to that of the overcoats of the
Russian military officers Over the head Of
the president hangs full-iength portrait or
the ear painted only few months ago,
in the uniform of the colonel of the famous
Preorbra jenski Guards. Thus far 1t has
been treated with respect. Indeed, no word
of reproach or condemnation concerning
their sovereign has been uttered by the
members of the douma They empty hogs
heads of wrath and vituperation upon his
ministers. but his name and his title seem
to be regarded as sacred, even by the So
ciallsts and other revolutionary orators
Speeches From a Pulpit.
In front Of the presidents desk is the
tribune. a pulpit of carved oak, from which
all speeches must be delivered. A member
who wants to address the house sends his
name a slip of paper to the president
with the subject concerning which he
called to the tribune by the sergeant-at-
arms or one of his assistants in the order of
their pplication. At the close of his speech
the orator leaves the pulpit and returns to
his regular seat. This method prevents con-
fusion and such scrambles for the floor as
are frequent in our Congress Any member
from the floor can interrogate a speaker at
any time unless the latter requests that he
shall not be interrupted. The president has
no gaYel, but keeps order with little bell,
such as school teacher would use. He
permits a reasonable amount of applause,
but If il IS prolonged or too boisterous he
rings his bell and everybody sits down and
behaves himself. Occasionally an emotional
brother viii burst out in enthusiasm or in
dignaton In defiance of decorIn. whereupon
the president sternly reproves him and tells
him that he must keep quiet Although this
Is the first parliament the Russians have
ever had, it has maintained almost perfect
order from the beginning, and offers a
good example for other legislative bodies.
Perhaps the members will not behave so well
when they become a little more accustomed
to their position and surroundings; perhaps
the awe and dignity which Cypress them
may evaporate.
Many Seats Vacant.
Only about two-thirds of the seats are
filed. When the hall was prepared for the
new parliament nobody knew how many
members should be provided for and ample
precautions were taken for future additions
to the roll. There are no members from ST.
IBERIA, Simarkand,, Turkestan and other Ash
attic provinces, nor from the Transbalkan
provinces nor from beyond the Caucasus A
population of more than 20o0o,000 remains
unrepresented. including two of the most
, important provinces. OF which Baku and
Titiis are the capitals. Both are under mar
tial law. Nor Is the Armenian section or
Russia represented, nor the provinces along
the Persian boundary. Ultimately all these
territories will doubtless be invited to send
representatives. and between fifty and sixty
new members viii be added to the 400 n ~ In
their seats
As told you yesterday. 1t is a motley as
sembiy. The first thought that enters the
mind as the eye passes over the tiers of
seats is the unnecessary amount of hair and
whiskers. The genuine peasants, the real
farmers, are shaggy mujiks, with brawny
frames. immense boards and long hair. The
Greek priests have even more hair, however,
and give 1t better attention. They evidently
put their long names In curl papers at night
like woman, because the hair is wavy like
the name of wel-kept horse and they are
very vain OF it. Some of the genuine peas
ants have strong. determined faces. They
are evidently men of natural ability who
know what they are about and are here for
serious business.