Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-29

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III this country where the freedom OF
the press Is recognized AZ somethins
not to be questioned. people do not
realize the dimculties under wAich
newspapers labor In some foreign lands
when they try to give their readers the
news OF the day. In this country z
paper may publish all the news that
IL Mt to print. Of them. unfort-
unately. do not stop at this limit. -and
as long as private parties are not
treated libelously the publishers are in
| little danger Of any legal entangle-
mepts. There is no government press
CENSOR here to cut out and smother
about all the news that the people
want to read. In the Spanish war, as
a military necessity. we had just a
taste OF it. Russia Is the country
where the censorship of the press has
always been the most severe though In
nearly all the countries of Europe the
censor Is very much in evidence.
In Russia since newspapers were
first known. there have been issued
thousands of prohibitions and partial
prohibitions to show editors what mat
tiers could not be touched upon. No
editor could possibly keep all these or
ders in mind and many who fully
meant to live up to the unreasonable
requirements OF the censorship have
been punished for breaking the law
through ignorance of it. The Russian
government has just made an attempt
to codify and bring down to date its
censorship regulations and a circular
has been issued to all publishers in the
domain of the Gear. The prohibitions
of this circular give a good idea of the
iron hand with which the government
keeps down the press, and indirectly
the people of Russia. Here are some
of the most notable provisions Of the
censorship schedule as it has been cod
flied:
1. Ministerial reports to the Gar
may not be published without the con-
sent of the ministry of the interior;
likewise rumors about the same; like
wise acts and expressions OF the Car.
2. Matters emanating from the high
or governmental circles. such as doc
uments and decisions, may not be re-
ferred to without the consent OF the
authority concerned.
3. Circulars of governmental depart
ments may not be referred to without
the special permission of the depart
ment concerned.
4. Information relating to the En-
pire's defensive position. mobilization
or dislocation of the army or navy
credits for war purposes. construction
of strategic roads or warships, etc.
etc. may be taken only from the Rus
ski Invalid"
s. News or articles concerning the
maintenance of the Chinese Eastern
Railroad and it's guard are forbidden.
6. News about the communicating
of agents of the finance ministry into
Persia and the results of their work Is
forbidden.
7. News about or articles on school
disorders or the last university regula-
tons are forbidden. likewise petitions
of the students, blackboard notices,
etc. Furthermore no information can be
printed about the internal life of any
schools without the consent of the
proper authorities. -
8. Articles on or news about pOliti-
cal arrests or crimes or criminals, ex-
cept what are printed in the Official
Messenger" or other official organs
nd thnCn Whn
form them, are prohibited.
9. Factory disorders and other pub
lie disorders cannot be mentioned with
out the consent of the higher police.
10. Pestilence in Russia and neigh
boring countries cannot be mentioned
without the decision of the medical de-
partment of the ministry of the inte-
rior.
IL. No illusions can be made to the
personnel or the work of the secret po-
lice.
r. No calls for money contributions
can be issued without special permits
sion.
49, Suicides cannot be mentioned
without the written consent of the
nearest relatives, or, in case of their
absence. of the local chief of police.
IA. Mention of contempOraneous
| measures against religious dissenters
or of the Holy Synod's action against
Tolstoi is forbidden. ~
Is. Curb quotations are forbidden.
Is. Articles of a strictly scientific
nature not suited for the masses are
forbidden when bad results might en-
sue. ----,r
Tho discovery has been made nv the