The New Russian Constitution.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12796, 30 September 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

The New Russian Constitution.

The Czar's .manifesto announcing that lie has granted a Constitution to Russia, is as follows. "The Empire of Russia is formed and strengethened by the indestructible solidarity of the Caar with the People and the People with the Czar. The concord and union of tho Czar and the People is a great moral force which has created Russia in the course of centuries by protecting her from all misfortunes and all attacks, and has constituted up to the present time a pledge of unity, independence, integrity, material well-being, and intellectual development in the present and in the future. "In our Manifesto of February 21st, 1903, we called to close understanding all faithful sons of the Fatherland in order to perfect ths organisation of the Stftts by establishing solidly the order of the domestic life of the State and them. We d«voted ourselves to the task of co-ordinating elective public institution with the governmental authorities, and removing the disagreements existing between them which reacted so disastrously on the normal course of the national life. "Autocratic Tgars, oflr ancestors, constantly had that object In view, and the time is come to follow put their good intentions and to summon elected representatives from the whols of Russia to take a constant and active part in the elaboration of laws, attaching for this purpose to. the higher state institutions a special consultative b»dy entursted with the preliminary elaboration and discussion of and with the examination of the State Budget. It is for thiß reason that, whjle preserving the fundamental law regarding autocratic power we have deemed- it well to form a Gosoudaistviennaia Duma (State' Council), and to approve regulations for elections to this Duma, extending the validity of these laws to the whole territory of the Empire, with such exceptions only as may be considered necessary-in the case of* some regions in which special conditions obtain. " " As regards the participation in the la T boars of- the Opsoudarstvienjiaia Dump of delegates from the.Grand Duchy, in partjct ular, We will take special.Measures. -At the same time We have ordered the Minister of the Interior to submit immediately- for our approbation regulations for elections to the Duma, so that deputies from fifty Governments and the military province of- the Don may be able to assemble not later than the middle of January, 1906. "We reserve to ourselves entirely the care of perfecting the organisation of the Gosoudarstviennaia Duma, and when * the course of events has shown the necessity of changes corresponding completely to; the needs of the times and the welfare of the .Empire, We shall not fail to give) at the proper moment, the necessary indication."

"We are convinced that those who have been elected by the confidence of the whole people, and who ate now called upon to take part in the legislative work of the Government, will sfiow themselves, in the eyes of all Russia worthy of the Imperial trust in virtue of which they have been invited to co-operate in this great wqfk; and that, in perfect hatmopy \yith ths other institutions and authorities of tho State, established by us, they will contribute profitably and zealously to our common mother, Russia, and for the strengthening of the uliity, security, and greatness of the Empire, as well as for the tranquility and prosperity of the people. In invoking the blessing Of .till Lord on the labours of the by us, and with confidence in the grace .of God and in the infallibility of tie great historical , destines reserved by Divine Providence for our "beloved Fatherland, we firmly tope that, with the help of God Almighty, ana witlj the combined efforts of all her sons, Russia. willJemorge triumphant from the trying ordeals through which she is now passing,: and" will renew her strength in the greatness, and'glory of her history, extending over a jihonsand yeprs, • " Given at Peterhof, on the 19th, day of August, in the year of grace 1905, "and the eleventh year of our reign. NICHOLAS." The competence of the Duma shall extend to (a)' all questions relating to new laws and the modification, amplification, and temporary suspension, or repeal of existing laws, and also to the making and altering of appointments to the staffs of the Ministries and to the expenditure thereby involved ; (b) to the departmental, Ministerial, and national Budgets, and also to other expenditure not provided for therein; (c) to the financial feport of- the Comptroller of the Empire j (d) to t-Jie expropriation of any portion of the revenue or property of the State; (9) to the construction of railways by the State; (f) to the organisation of stock companies, involving exceptions from existing legislation; (g) to matters submitted to the Duma by Imperial decree. The Paqja shall ba.ro jurisdiction in the

matter of taxes in provinces where there are no zemstovs, as well as in the raising of the rate of taxation above that provided by the zemstovs and city council. The Duma shall have initiative :n tha matter of the repeal or modification of old and the adoption of new laws, bnt 'he fundamental laws of the Imperial administration shall not be touched.

The Duma may call the n.U-.rion if Ministers and chiefs of departments to infractions of existing laws. Questions destined to be discnsyid the Duma shall be a ibmiifed to it bv tiie Ministers, Chiefs of Departments, nr.d the Secretary of the Empire. The public shall tot 1 e admitted to the sessions. Representatives <-f the I-ress i,iv be admitted by the President of the Di-mx to the open, but not i.j tae cloud >ess:ons. Reports of all sittings of the general session of the Duma, \>;h tie exccjlit-n cf closed sittings, shall be prepared by uron stenographers, and may lie made public after approval by the" Pi evident of the Duma.