Salt Lake Telegram | 1904-12-08 | Page 6 | The Zemstvos of Russia

litical questions are rigorously excluded ex-cluded from the deliberations of these assemblies. They decide upon roads, bridges, schools and public buildings, and other matters of public Interest. Over fifty years ago it was predicted thut from these assemblies would arise some system of electoral colleges for the choice of representatives to some future great nf.tional council or parliament. parlia-ment. That prediction appears to be coming true. THE ZEilSTVCS OF EUSSIA. . , Since the zemstvos. the representatives representa-tives of the Russian provincial district assemblies, have been the first great body of Russians to demand of the Czar the establishment of a parliament parlia-ment for the Government of Russia, therehas been much curiosity to know who these people "are. The zemstvos (the term applying equally to the assembly as-sembly itself ard Its representatives) are the modern development of the old Slavonic institution of the mir, or self-governing self-governing community, dating from the earliest days. Each village, or "mir." Fclected its own elder and settled Its affairs by 'assemblies of the Inhabitants. Inhabi-tants. Women. If heads of families, were allowed to vote as well as men. Several Sev-eral vlllaffps would unite to form a commune, the communes in turn a fed- j crative union, and the federative unions Into a still larger body or dls i tritt assembly, originally the basis of a large city with its suburbs. These j distrius wereflnally grouped together ( Into provinces. 1 Under the new regime since Alexan- i der II.. each district has had its own zomstvo or assembly, whose members are chosen In fixed proportion by the peasant mirs, corporations of the towns, and the landed proprietors. Po-