Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-04-24
RUSSIA PROPOSES SUBSIDY
Ftnance WtnIster Has fIau 10 Pro-
mote snip BuiIdinE and
shtppins.


spondence Of the Associated Press)-
Finance Minister wltte has devised a plan
10 promote ship building and shipping In
Russia. which contests the palm OF origi-
nality with the sugar regulations. Grand
Duke Alexander Mlchaelovich who Is com
petent authority in the matter turned the
project over to the st. Petersburg Vedo-
mosti in order that # migl Il freely dls-
cussed. lie invites critic 20 ,ress him
personally. po,,W,
Bene1ciaries. under the Wb'o ,ol-
lows. are to be Russians e. NV,
companies whose stock is held oni. III.
SLAMS
I. owners Of new ships made in Rus.
from Russian materials, will receive from.
the government a non-interest bearing loan
to so per cent OF their value, payable in
equal twenty year instalments.
2 Plans and specifications Of such ves-
sells. which must be Lloyd's hrst-class,
must he approved by the finance minister,
and vessels exceeding 1000 tons must make
ten knots; smaller vessels must exceed
eight knots.
g. The government assumes insurance
risk up to two-thirds Of the current value
Of a ship, charging therefor a premium OF
per cent annually. Owners must insure
the remaining risk. The current value can
never be taken as less than half the
original value.
T. The state will pay for half the fuel
consumed. provided Russian fuel is used, on
voyages to and from Russia, and on condl-
tion that the outgoing vessels are loaded
TO three quarters OF their capacity with
Russian goods, and. on return ships have at
least one half their space occupied.
5. The same favor will be enjoyed by ves-
sells plying between Russian ports, pro-
vided. one-half the cargo is OF foreign
going goods or that the entire initial cargo
is salt. fuel, iron or cast iron from the
Azores and Black seas to the Russian ports
on the Baltic.
6. The subsidies are limited to eight
years from January 1, 1904
New Religious Sect.
Considerable attention is being given to
a new sect which has gained many adher-
cnts In the province OF Perm. It is known
as the sect of Jehovists, though its real
name Is brotherhood Of the Right Hand"
Its declared purpose is the reconciliation OF
all religions. Lately It has assumed a char
acter Of pronounced enmity to the govern
ment. This is attributed to personal rea-
sons, Colonel Hin, the founder, having
spent twenty years in solitary confinement
in a monastery for abjuring the orthodox
faith.
The Russian government and church as
sumo that anyoEc who obstlnately persists
in leaving the orthodox church is insane or
possessed of devils and sometimes exercise
the right OF treating such persons precisely
they would dangerous madmen. Their
property may be placed under a curatorship
and their children under guardianship
while they themselves may be immurred in
a monastery until there is evidence OF re-
stored sanity, that is, until they declare
their willingness to return to orthodoxy.
Power over the Peasants,
An Illustration OF the despotic power
which the local representative OF the min
lister OF the interior has over peasant com
munites is afforded by a report from Gooff
on Lake Peipus, in the Baltic country. Two
thousand peasants who took part in ar
election held in a volost, a wider peasant
commune corresponding somewhat to
county were fined 3 roubles because they
refused to vote as this representative
called the zemsky nachRlnik or rural boss
demanded. Those who did not pay this fine
were compelled to spend three days in jail
There is no appeal. The Official in question
may fine persons up to the sum OF 3 roubles
without the victim being able to obtain re.