The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-27
CHR ISSUES HIS
 OKlsE 0H REFORMS Important Question of a Constitutional Assembly
 Not Touched Upon.
OTHER SUBJECTS DISCUSSED
JEWISH RELIGION NOT SPE-
 OFFICIALLY MENTIONED.

Whether Christian or Otherwise is,
 However, Among the Matters Dealt
 with--State Insurance for workmen
 and Freedom of the Press--Rights of
 Foreigners-An Questions to be sub-
 mitted to the Council of Ministers
 With Orders to Report Promptly the
 Fullest Measures of Relief Which
 Can be Accorded.
 St. Petersburg, Dec. 26.- Emperor Nicholas long expected reform ukase was issued tonight. The document deals, under eight heads, with practice ally all the subjects brought to the emperor's attention by the memorial of the congress of the zemstvo presi- dents held here last month. and W hile not specifically pledging the govern ment to carry out the various reforms in their entirety, as demanded by the memorial, promises that each shall be referred to the council of ministers, with orders to report ponlptly on the fullest measures of relief which can be accorded on the various subjects.
 One question not touched by the ulxase is that of the constitutional as- sembly. Neither is the Jewish relig- ion specifically mentioned, though free- dom for all creeds or sects, whether Christian or otherwise, is among the subjects which will be dealt with. Va rious subjects will be referred to conn mittees for early report.
 In brief the subjects which will be referred to the committees of the coun- ell of ministers for early report are:
 First-A just and equable enforce ment of existing laws. with view to securing the harnaonions administra- tion of all the courts
 Second-Zemstvo organization, with a view to giving the widest latitude and autonomy to the various district Eemstvos, calling additional zemstvos representatives where required, and creating smaller zemstvo units capable of dealing directly with the local needs of the peasants.
 Third Equality of all citizens be- fore the law, thus touching the much mooted question of peasant equality before the courts.
 Fourth Arranging, a scheme of 1 workmen's assurances, for the benefit and protection of factory workers throughout the empire.
 Fifth-To secure citizens against ar bitrary arrest and to accord immunity from harsh action of the police except in the cases of persons known to be conspiring to commit overt acts against the stability of the state.
 Sixth-The religious freedom of all subjects of the empire without respect of creed or manner of worship.
 Seventh-For resembling all unneces- sary repressive laws, leaving in force of peasants and for the benefit general ly of subjects of the empire.
 Eighth-To accord the fullest possi- ble measure of liberty to the press and the removal as far as possible of the various restrictive laws.
 The ukase was isued so late that its contents were not generally known even in the newspaper offices till long after midnight. Among those able to express an opinion, 1t was considered to be document, whose ultimate value depended largely upon the interpreta- ton given by the various commissions as to the measures of liberty which it is possible to grant under the various heads named. Naturally 1t has not met the fullest wishes of the liberals, but on the other hand 1t is regarded by the reactionaries as promising entire- Al.s. s1s. reforms. It is complained. also, that there is some ambiguity of expression in various sections of the document, which must be left to the interpreta- ton by those to whom the various re- forms are entrusted.
 The imperial decree, which is en- titled "A Scheme for the Improve inent of the Administration of the State" is addressed to the senate and is as follows:
 ssIn accordance with the revered will of our crowned predecessor and think ing unceasingly of the welfare of the realm entrusted to us by God, we re- gard it as our duty and the govern ment's duty, In conjunction with un- deviating maintenance of the irnmuta- plllty Ol Iue luiudIIIclItel ldWS VI lliG empire, to have untiring care for the eountry's needs, distinguishing be- tween all that is really in the interests of the Russian people and tendencies not seldom mistaken and influenced by transitory circumstances. When the need of this or that change is proved ripe. then we consider it necessary to meet it, even thought the tansforma- tion to which this leads involves the introduction of essential innovations and legislation. We do not doubt that the realization of such an undertaking will meet with the sympathy of the well-disposed section of our subjects, who see the true prosperity of the fatherland in the support of civil tram ! uuility and the uninterrupted satis-
 l(Continued on Sixth PaEe.l