New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-14
TUESDAY,
MAY a, 1901.
IN THE CARS EMPIRE.
GRAM DUKE MICHAEL ANXIOUS TO
VISIT THE UNITED STATES.
THE STUDENT AGITATION INTERESTING
FACTS ABOUT THE FAMINE DIS
TRICTs OF SOUTHERN RUSSIA


TRICTs OF SOUTHERN RUSSIA
St. Petersburg April 2s-Grand Duke Michael.
Heir Presumptive to the Russian throne. has a
keen desire visit the United States. but whether
he will be able to fulfil it depends largely on the
course of events both national and international.
In a recent conversation with Ambassador Tower \
the Grand Duke expressed lively hope that he
might be enabled to do He recalled the two
visits paid the United States by the Grand Duke ,
Alexis and declared the latter was greatly I'm
pressed not only with what he in America. but
that he had grateful recollection OF American
hospitality. Ambassador Tower viii so 20 Glas-
gov in June as the delegate Of the American
Philosophical Society. to the four hundred and
hftieh anniversary celebration Of the Scotch Uni
versIty.
The Ministry of Finance is working out new
project for the taxation of commercial travellers
subject which has Occasioned much acrimonious .
controversy with neighboring States. particularly
with Germany, whose merchants complained OF the
discrimination against foreigners Under the
regulations. If they are adopted. every traveller
whether living in Russia or abroad. who shall
traverse the Empire for the purpose of taking orders
shall pay tax. Concerns which pay not less than
loo rubles year in certain taxes will be allowed TO
employ untaxed representatives. For others the T
tax will be 30 rubes for each travelling agent and
local taxes may increase this amount by 20 per
cent. Travellers who reach the border without the
necessary papers will have TO pay 80 rubles. and
the restrictions upon Jewish travellers remain In
force.
THE STUDENT TROUBLES.
General vannowsli, the new Minister Of Educa-
ton, intended be present the student gather
ing held the day the university examinations
were TO begin. but though he was present in the
university he did actually attend the meeting.
The Minister at the last moment changed his mind.
owing 70 intination that some OF the students
were talking of Kissing and sroaning when he aD-
peared
The delegation OF students who warned General
Vannowski informed him that hostile demon
stration would be the work Of a very small group
who had not the best interests of the university
at heart. In fact. according 20 the students
mittee the plan originated with men believed to }
be police agents. with the object of prejudicing
the new Minister and driving him into the ranks
OF the reactionaries. Such methods. according to
those we'll informed on these matters, not IN
usual in Russia At a recent meeting of the stu
dents of the Military Medical School, which is
der the direction OF the Ministry Of War. the
chairman professor. noticed a man in students
uniform whom neither he the students around
like a moujik. and evidently OF maturer age
than the other students When his turn arrived
10 speak he delivered himself with extraordinary
violence quickly left ordinary student topics, and
launched into a TRADE against the Ministry and
even the Emperor. The students were amazed and
indignant. At the end OF twenty minutes, during
which. under the rules OF the meeting. a speaker
might not be interrupted. the chairman called .
inspector and ordered the man be put under
arrest.
This is not parliament he declared. You
have nothing 10 90 with the government or his.
majesty"
The meeting applauded storrniiy.
The next day the authorities of this school re-
ceved letter from high official whose word
is law in such matters. Yesterday you arrested
a man who IS our agent the official is reported
TO have written with admirable terseness. Please
release him at once"
Judging from a notice published by the local Gov
ernor the Ekaterinoslav factory and mine opera
tfves must be OcCasiOning serious alarm. The GOv-
ernor declared he would not shrink from the sx-'
tremest measures in putting down disturbances and
would command troops to use their weapons and TO
shoot If need be Director VenCeldes, OF the metal
works who was recently forced. with other officers
OF the company 10 fee for his life through win
dow OF the office the day before the Easter holi-
days. died a day OF heart disease. Inc
workmen destroyed office furniture and books and ,
up the officials furS because they were denied
an extra half holiday with full pay. Such riots
are not uncommon. Al a large spinnery near here
three thousand workmen tried to drown the d.
rector I'm a river u
SUFFERING IN THE FAMINE DISTRICTS. (
sample OF the bread which is being distributed
in the famine stricken districts shows that it is
composed OF mill sweepings. roots and any other
object that could be presumed to be in the slightest
degree nutritious II is sold for half cent
pound The physician who sent II said he had seen
children msnching this bread and crying II
their hearts breaking. Other reports pub ,
ushed and unpublished. indicate that the need is {
dre-peI h4pS great in fact, IN certain lOcatteS
in the worst preceding famine years. 1t seems. .
however, the Russian public has become callous-
The famine reports longer make impression
The disease become chronic. II be
felt nothing short OF complete change OF q
munaI land ownership, will prevent the repeated
recurrence of these caamitieS, and that spasmOdic
charity would have no effect except to make the
apparent that the peasants in the famine territory
the districts where lean years are about as many
good years have lost their power OF resstance
That the conditions are bad is shown by a letter
from q physician 70 odessa newspaper. He
pronOunces all palliative measures hitherto ap-
piled in his district absolutely insufficient The
need is growing every month. In the village OF
Slynka are thousand needy persons, for sixty
eight of whom help is given. and II Is Just bad
government afford something better than
famine bread AZ half cent a pound.
This and similar publications have ELECTED
other communque from the Ministry Of the In
ment This document recalls that the gOvernmenr
provided the stricken territories with loans from
the emergency fund. which the peasants raise by
taxation. and appropriations from other sources.
amounting 10 5Ol4,5l9 rubleS. 10 which after
ward added the of 1900 rubles. These sums
must have been sufficient il is remarked. because
by the local authorities. Detailed reports given
10 show the people being fed and amply pro-.
yided with seed corn. but these cOntradicted
bv the end of the Howe
provinces Gall the famine districts South
OF Russia. in Siberia) a large part of The rural
population Is composed OF persons who not en-
rolled in the local cOTnmuneS, and who f,frm on
rented land follow manual trades They natl
urally suffer with everybody else in time OF want
They have no claim upon support from pu5lic
and as they are landless they are without every
means OF support