The Washington times., 1908-08-14
Manuel L. Quezon Thinks
Russian Body Much
the Inferior.
SAYS COUNTRYMEN
WORK FOR HARMONY
AS Member of Philippine Congress
He Has Made Study Of Con-
ditions in St. Petersburg.

Manuel l. Quezon. a prominent mem
Der OF the Philippine assembly. is now
in Washington. He was formerly gov
ernor OF Tayabas. an important prov
ince Of Luzon, but resigned that office
TO become a candidate on the Nacional-
ista. ticket for ths assembly, 70 which
he was elected by a large majority.
He IS chairman of the estimate COM
niittee. which combines practically all
of the functions Of the ways and means
and the appropriation committees or
Congress. and was a strong factor In
establishing the record for conservatism
that marked the recent session OF the
hrst Philippine assembly.
Throughout the session he was ore
OF the right-hand men Of the speaker,
Sergio Osmena. who is highly regarded
not only by his fellow cOuntrymenI but
by all OF the members Of the Philippine
commission. both for his personality and
Tor his ability.
Went To Russia.
Mr.. Ouezon was a delegate from the
Philippines TO the congress Of naviga-
ton recently convened in St. Peters
burg, and is now on his way back 10
Manila, by way OF Egypt and India,
where he purposes to make a special
study OF their agricultural banks and
aids to agriculture. 10 which subject
the Philippine government will devote
itself in the next session Of the Legis-
lature.
His visit 70 St. Petersburg afforded
him an opportunity for a study OF the
duma and its methods, and for an In
teresting comparison of the duma with
the Philippine assembly. When asked
his conclusions as to their relative pow
ers and functions. Mr.. CueZon SAID.
Dumas Great Power.
In theory, the law constituting the
durna and the Philippine assembly in
vested more power in the former than
in the latter. but in actual practice.
the Philippine assembly, notwithstand-
ing the short period of its existence,
has exercised a greater degree OF power
than has the duma.
This is TO say. the powers given TO
the duma by the law known as the
fundamental laws OF the Russian en-
pire, are broader than those conceded
by the act of Congress commonly known
as the organic law Of the Philippines.
But up TO the present and nOtWith-
standing that the duma has mad three
sessions, all OF them together have not
had as much effect in the ddminlstra-
ton of Russian affairs as the hrst ses-
sion. which has just ternin9 ted OF me ne
Philippine assembly. has had In the al
fairs OF those islands.
Is Not Popular
1T should be borne In mind that the
duna as now constituted lacks entirely
that element Of popular representation
which characterizes the Philippine as
sembly. The duma is composed Of mem
bers selected by a scheme Of Indirect
suffrage with four different steps. and
really amounting TO four kinds OF cleo
tions. while the Philippine assembly
IS composed Of members selected by tho
direct vote of the people.
Moreover, in the Philippines, no at
tempt was made by the central govern
rnent 70 control the election or eXer
else pressure TO secure the election o.
particular candidates. The Philippine
assembly is in fact, composed of meT
who really represent the Filipino peo-
pie"
What comparison would you MAKE
in the way those powers nave beer
exercised2' Mr. QuezOn was asked.
The First Duma.
"Of the first duma," he replied, conn
posed largely OF a radical majority who
are dissatisfied with the terms OF the
law that created the body, it may be
said that it not only opposed restraints
provided by law and refused TO CO
operate with the government in obtain
ing by degrees all Of the powers that II
aspired to, but IL even went so far IN
its first message to the crown as Il
throw down the gantlet and challenge
the administration TO combat.
The Russian government thus found
itself obliged 10 dissolve the first duma
and again, upon the assembling Of the
second duma TO dissolve this also FOL
similar radical action Furthermore, Il
was obliged then 10 amend the eleCtOra
law; and the procedure authorized u
control thereafter was not submitted FOL
prior approval 10 the duma, nOtwith
standing the fundamental laws Of TIT
Russian empire required that the dums
itself should pass on such amendment.
Holds Conservatives.
with regard to the present duna &
is well known that It is made up Of
men drawn largely from the conserva
tive classes though also in part from
the reactiOnary element o. the country
This was the result. Of course, of tht
operation Of the new electoral law
Nevertheless, when the Russian bulge
was under consideration, the duma re
fused TO agree TO the appropriation de
sired by the minister OF the navy FOL
the creation of the new squadron sim
ply because of a difference OF Opinion
between the duma and the minister a
10 the manner in which the naval of
nee should be conducted. The dumj
recognized the need OF building new