The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-28
AFFAIRS IN RUSSIA.
Long List OF Gossip Sent Out From st.
Petersburg.

Petersburg.
TC0rrespondence OF Associated Press
St. Petersburg, Jan 1.-THE ministry
of war has completed the draft of a Law
to regulate the military service in Fir
land in conformity with the system
adopted in the empire at large. It is ex-
pected that it will be in force early n
the year. Governor General Bobr1koN
has lately issued Instructions to the
governors of provinces in Finland urg-
ing stricter enforcement of the ordi
nance OF last July regarding public as
semblies The complaint is made that
this ordinance is evaded under pretext
OF amusements and entertainments.
Among the amusements which require
permits may be reckoned gatherings in
which social, scientific, and economic
questions are discussed or where adj
dresses are made. Assemblies which are
permitted must be watched over by tie
dem0nstrat tons. In order to meet the
boycott of unpopular officials by house
owners and hotel keepers, Governor Gen.
eraI BObrikOff has purchased for $780,
COO dwelling house in Helsingfers. For
the purpose Of cuItivating closer rela-
ti0ns with Bulgaria the government
has entered into an agreement with
Prince FerdlnanQS government reduce
ing telegraph tolls from 10 to %
confines a word and introducing an ii
ternationaI money order system similar
to that in vogue in Russia.
Many sisters Of the Red Cross will re-
turn from the far east this month A
number of hospitals have been closed.
The minister of railways. Prince Kill
kof, has ordered that women shall be
eligible for stationmasters in minor
towns
Tt is proposed to introduce medical in
struction into the currieula of the semi
narieS for the education of the priest
hood. Russia is said to have an average
Of one physician to 10000 population. In
Siberia one has to ride as much as 500
yersts Tor a doctor. The priests are not
expected. however, to do anything more
than render first assistance, as a rule.
That Siberia is awake is attested by
the request or the municipality of Ir-
kutsk Tor permission to issue bonds to
the amount Of 100000 roubles for
drainage and sewerage purposes.
The spirits monopoly win be enforced
before the close OF the year In 81 pro-
vinces and three territories.
The St. Petersburg society for the dis
tribution of useful books at moderate
prices is contemplating issuing daily
newspapers for the masses.
The st. Petersburg city government
intends when 1t assumes control of the
telephone service to give an automatic
signal ar o'clock every morning for
the purpose of enabling subscribers to
regulate their time pieces. This function
is fulfilled at present by the firing of a
cannon at noon at the citadel.
A fortnight ago Colonel Hunsicker
the London agent of Carnegfe's Steel
company felt absolutely confident Of the
contract for $500 tons of armor plate,
been indefinitely postponed.
Tt is related that at the first audience
the emperor granted the minister OF the
marine after he had recovered from his
illness, his majesty remarked that he
observed good many contracts for
material for the navy were being given
70 foreign companies while Russian
works were idle. The minister is said
to have answered that there were many
things which foreigners could produce
better and more cheapiy than the Rus
40 -fr4+r
When the emperor learned that a con-
tract was about to be awarded to the
Carnegie works he. Is stated to have
ordered that it be given to the Kolpina
pany is understood to have made a con.
tract several years ago binding it to pay
Krupp million rOubles. or more than
half a million dollars a year for the use
Of his process but that it has not pro-
duced any armor plate up to date.
The competition between the Standard
Oil company and the Russian naphtha
interests in the markets Of the world.
always a. live topic here. is the subject
OF a serious article in the Journal of
Commerce and Industry the official
organ Of the ministry of finance. The
author writes somewhat automatically:
1T should not be forgotten that the
compromise which might be included
between our induEfrfaliSts and their
puissant competitors of the new world
for the partition Of the European mar
ket would not have a durable character
until our 4uQuSET1a11SIS should nave
placed themselves in q situation to
bring their products up to the same
degree of perfection that has been at
tanned In America
IF the powerful Standard syndicate
has been content hitherto to operate
only IN q part Of Europe, nothing as
sures us it viii not resume the agrees
sive In a future more or less near at
hand. American oils possess certain adj
vantages over ours and as long as this
is true such measures as lowering the
price will avail nothing On the other
hands by improving the product one will
advance toward certain success, thanks
to the faculty OF transportation in tank
vessels.
competent employees are necessary. It is
essential to secure worknen who will not
makeshift ana more or less accidental
Our OIL industries will attract a stable
after finishing his days work. can return
to a home relatively comfortable, when
family assured by insurance funds and
his children can attend school.
peasantry. 1t seems to US our peasant is
generally guided by logic Of the purest
other men as his enemies it is simply be-
cause he does not find, in his own life.
particularly That Is why he does not
make an EFFORT to become proficient in his
in a factory. he always finds in his home
the same privations. Life does NOT smile
upon him and he becomes Indifferent to
his lot
The cotton harvest in the Caucasus is 4
reported to be bad.
Large coal deposits are reported to have
been discovered on the edge Of Lake Bal
kali. New discoveries of gold are reported
from the Trlxutsk river.
M. Popoff the inventor of a system of
wireless teIegraphy. is going to England
soon to discuss the sale OF rights to an
English company.
Roads Blocked with Snow.
london Ian 1S.-The storm continues
along the coasts and inland, accom-
nanied hx heavy SHOWS. Nidespread