New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-03
REFORMS IN SIBERIA.

REFORMS IN SIBERId.
MFR. George KEENAN,. whose articles in The
! Century, have attracted attention throughout
Europe as well as in The United States, is
disposed to question the statements recently
made in these columns respecting the abolition
of exile to Siberia. In letter, portions OF
which we are permitted to copy he remarks:
I think THE TRIBUNE Is premature In announcing
the abolition Of exile to Siberia The Russian Prison
and Exile Department has had In preparation since
! last year plan which proposes to make certain
changes in the exile system, but at the date OF my
last advces from Russia this plan had not only not
been adopted but had not even been discussed III inc
Council Of State. / doubt very much myself whether
II will be adopted. Such propositions to reform and
remodel the exile system have been made again ard
again for almost quarter OF century. Three sue
cessve commissions, one under the presidency OF
Count Sollugub, the second under Secret Councillor
irish and the third under Senator Grote, made re-
ports and drew up plans having this end in view,
but they accomplished nothing for tho reason that the
Government thought 1t could not afford to build new
| prisons In European Russia which the proposed re-
forms would necessitate Even, however, IL the
| present plan Of the Prison and Exile Department
should be adopted by the Council of State and re-
ported avoraby to the Car, It would come far snort
Of abolishing the exile system. 1t does not propose
TO touch exile by administrative process although
the total number of persons banishcd. 1t does not
propose to touch penal scrvltude exile nor the exile
az political offenders. Ii deals merely with COM
| parativey limited class Of common felons who have
hitherto been scnt to Siberia as compulsory coionists
and whom 1t is now proposed to shut up IN prisons
I'm European Russia The plan, IL adopted VIII re-
duce the total number of eNles sent to Siberia every
year from IS 600 or 10000 to 10000 or $1,000, but
1t viii not relieve from exile the classes which
In tuctlc 10 be
politicals and the persons banished by village COM
munes The worst feature Of the exile system from
the point Of view Of justice and equity Is Punishment
| by administrative process'-that Is, without trial
THIS feature the system will retain even II the present
| plan of tho Prison and Exile Department be adopted
These remarks of mine based upon an abstract OF
the plan Of reform published in /" Tho Siberian Ca
| zette' Of April 10.
| As THE TRIBUNE explicitly stated that the
DEGREES for the abolition of Siberian exile had
not been issued, and that the Minister of
Finance had raised objections to the report Of
the Administrative Council of the Penitentiary
Department, its announcement cannot be re-
garded as premature, albeit its reflections may
have been more sanguine than the circum-
stances justified. "The London Spectator"
from which its information was derived in
good part evidently has had access to larger
and more comprehensive plan Of reform than
the one to which Mr. KEENAN, refers. That
journal describes the report of the Council
as having been proposed and virtually de-
cided upon with the previous knowledge and
tact acquiescence of the Gar" and dismisses
the Finance Minister'S objections as not of
character to prevent, If they may slightly
delay, the adoption Of the new policy" Inc
Council reported unanimously in favor of the
total abolition Of transportation to Siberia as
a judicial punishment, the abrogation
of the right OF the rural and urban
communes to decree perpetual Danish
ment, and the substitution of contine-
ment in fortresses or prisons without exception,
in place Of exile, as a means Of Furnishing
political offenders These seem to be proposals
of sufficient magnitude to warrant the con-
clusion that the whole system of transportation
is to be abandoned, especially if the Gar, as
"The Spectator asserts has virtually approved
of the reforms. The Finance Minister'S OBJ
iestons were based upon the outlay involved
in the construction Of new prisons, and were
met with arguments grounded upon the great
future economy that would be secured over
the present extravagant and wasteful system
of deportation from the provinces Of the En-
pire. Objections and answers both point to
a larger scheme OF reform than the one to
which Mr. KEENAN, refers. The report APP
parently recommends that abolition of trans
portation to Siberia shall be unqualified and
complete.
Friends Of progress throughout the world
will unite in the hope that the Car will not be
influenced by reactionary advisers and dis
suaded from accomplishing this stupendous
reform The construction Of the Siberian
railway which is to be seriously undertaken,
will be browning argument in favor OF the
abolition of the bdeous system of exile
While it will cheaper the transportation of
convicts and suspects, 1t will facilitate their
escape and return. Moreover, this railway of
8. 600 miles is designed primarily for the COM
mercial development of the inhabitable dis
trcts OF Northern Asia, and if it be carried to
completion, a radical change in the character
of the population will be inevitable Siberia
will cease to be the prison-house of the
European Empire. 1t will become an outlying
.oc,r,arciol If Acio