Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-28
CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA
Agricultural Glass is in Hope
less Plight.
IGNORANCE THE RULE
REFORMS MUST BE RADICAL AND
SWEEPING.
Reports Of Committees Which Have
Been Investigating the Sit
uation There.
IGNORANCE THE RULE

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
ST. PETERSBURG. Tuesday. October IA.
The reports of the local committees on
the agricultural depression are receiving
wide publication here. whole pages of the
newspapers being filled with them.
The Russkiya Vedomosti. one of the
| ablest newspapers in Russia, has carefully
followed the work Of the local committees
and now prints a general review.
1.-The view has prevailed in most Of the
committees" says this liberal organ. that
the inquiry into the causes of the agricul-
tural depression rendered 1t indispensable
to study the fundamental needs of the
country. They undertook this task with
entire sincerity and in all seriousness. 1t
has been found that the aim in view, agri-
cultural Improvement, can be attained
through no agronomic technical measures
or special measures for the benefit OF spe-
cial branches of production.
Radical Reforms Necessary.
According to the majority Of the COM
mittees, no improvements in agriculture or
| In the economic life of the agricultural por-
| ton of the population are possible without
| the removal of the main hndrances to
| progress. Such hindrances are the low
| the population on the one hand and land
| hunger, inequitable taxation and excessive
| protection of manufactures on the other
Many committees have made universal
educat ton their basic demand and have d.
| rected attention to the insufficiencies of
! existing schools. Many have laid equal
| emphasis upon the necessity of a change in
| the legal position of the peasants, of the
| emancipation of the villagers from bureau
cratic tutelage and of thorough change in
| the local court organization. According to
! committees which lay stress on this side of
| the problem. no considerable economic i'm
| provement is possible without the moral
| intellectual and legal uplifting of the peas
ant and without the legal equality of the
| peasantry with other classes.
The condition of our system of taxation
has been generally declared unsatisfactory,
and 1t has been stated that the burden is
| too heavy for the great majority of the
| taxpayers. In some committees the pro-
portional income tax has been pronounced
| the most suitable for Russia. Numerous
| committees have demanded the partial or
! complete cancellation of the Indebtedness
| of the peasants for their lands"
Attitude Of the Press.
| The reactionary press is not particularly
| pleased with this liberal propaganda, but
even in such papers as the Novoye Vremya
| the need Of radical remedies is admitted.
| The Journal of Commerce and Industry
| published by the ministry of finance. finds
useful Information in the reports of the
American consul at New Chwang on Amer
lean commerce in Manchuria. After re-
captivating the facts, it observes that Rus
STA ought to be able to wrest the kerosene
trade from the United States and to secure
a share of it's textile trade.
Crop failures are reported in various
parts of Finland, especially Uleaborg River
improvements at cost of $3.50, 900 for the
benefit of the suffering population will
| probably be undertaken by the Finnish SEN
ate