Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-29
REPUBLIC OF SLAVS,
MISSION PREDICTS
Holds No Other Form of Gov
ernment Is Consistent
With Revolution.
HARD PROBLEM TO SOLVE

by members Of the Russian mission in
the clearest exposition yet received here
| of the enormous problems of reconstruc-
! tion facing that country. Any other form
of government, 1t was stated was prac-
| tically impossible and would be in direct
contradiction to the spirit and principles
of the whole Russian upheaval
The constituent assembly. which is ex-
pected to open September 30, will have
| In its hands the building of the whole new
political structure of Russia. The pro-
visional government which has ordered its
call has not only given 1t absolute power
as to Russia's future government. but
has also intrusted 1t with all its own
| executive powers. Thus when the new
assembly meets. the provisional govern
ment will pass out Of existence and the
| convention period will probably be dele
gated either to the government revived
or to a special committee.
Decisions to Be Final.
The assembly will decide finally on
the form Of government, both federal
and local, the fundamental laws, the
and the methods of taxation and cleo
ton. 1t is expected also to discuss
fully the land question SO as to de-
stroy the abuse OF large holdings by
apportioning the land more equitably
among those who till it, to arrange a
new system of taxation with proper
tionally heavy taxes on the rich and a
lifting of the enormous taxes from the
poor, and act on general social rela-
tions between labor. capital. agricul-
ture and the like.
The assembly will consist Of not more
than 500 members. chosen on universal
direct, secret, equal suffrage, including
women. as outlined recently by Prince
Lvoff, head Of the provisional govern
ment. Russia. of course. will be di-
vided into election districts. each en-
titled to so many representatives ac-
cording to population. It Is very prob
able that some system of proportional
voting will be adopted in order to Sc
nority parties. according to their num-
ber.
Army Voting a Problem.
The army will probably vote as a
class. as it would be obviously impos-
by political belief or residence. One
of the most difficult questions now is to
arrange for the voting there without
disturbing the military situation.
A new election machinery will have
to be evolved for the whole of Russia
it was stated. as the old system for the
duma election is entirely Inadequate
Elective committees will probably be
set up in overy locality and arrange
ments made for the nomination Of can
didates.
All details of this reconstruction are in
the hands Of q committee OF sixty named
about two months ago by the provis-
ional government and expected to re-
ent is working on the best method of
selection Of the members of the final
assembly and on their actual number
and age.
Meanwhile great discussion is in
progress in Russia, it was stated,
among all the constitutional lawyers
and political thinkers, who are work
ing on as many of the questions as
possible.
During this time. of course, principles
are solidifying and it is expected that
when the assembly itself meets Sep
tember 80. the lines will be well laid
out.
The resolution for dissolution Of the
Russian duma, adopted by the council
of workmen. was further explained by
Special Ambassador Bakhmetieff as in
keeping with constitutional govern
ment
The decision by the council of the
workmen in respect to the duma," said
the ambassador "is but an acknowl-
edgment of the dumas real position.
created by the fact of the existence of
the provisional government exercising
the plenitude of power.
The dumas legislative power ceased
at the inception of the provisional gov
ernment. The fact itself that the duma
had been elected under the old form of
government. based on restricted cleo
tion laws. makes impossible the active
participation of the democratic spirit
and principles of universal suffrage
which were created by the revolution.
The desire of the workmen's council for
the dissolution of the duma can in no
wise affect the representative precepts
which will be enacted by the constitu-
tional assembly on new democratic
lines; neither affect the very principle
of necessity of strong legality in all
public matters"