The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-27
Freedom of Press EX-
 tended.
ZEMSTV0S TO GET RELIEF
Legal Trlai to All Persons
 Accused.
V. De witte Appears to Be Restored to Full Royal Favor and Is Daily visftor to the Im-
 perial Palace.


 St. Petersburg, Dec. 26.-Emperor Nicholas long-expected reform ukase was issued tonight. The document deals, under eight heads, with prac- tically all the subjects brought to the Emperor's attention by the memorial of the Congress of Zemstvos presidents held here last month, and, while not specifically pledging the Government to carry out the various reforms in their entirety. as demanded by the me- morial, promises that each shall be re- ferred to the Council of Ministers. with orders to report promptly on the full est measures of relief which can be accorded on the various subjects.
 One question not touched by the ukase is that of the constitutional as- sembiy. Neither Is the Jewish religion specifically mentioned. though freedom for all creeds or sects, whether Chris tian or otherwise, is among the sub- jects which will be dealt with.
 The ukase was issued 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 depends largely upon the interpreta- tfon Etven by the various committees as to the measure of liberty which 1t is possible to grant under the various heads named. Naturally it has not met the fullest wishes of the liberals, but. on the other hand, it is regarded by the reactionaries as promising entirely too much in the direction of liberal re- forms. It is complained also that there is some ambiguity of expression in the various sections of the document which must be left to interpretation by those to whom the various reforms are en |. trusted.
 The various subjects will be referred to committees for early report.
 Addressed to Senate.
 The imperial decree which is en- titled "a scheme Tor the improvement of the administration Of the state" is addressed to the Senate, and is as fol- lows:
 Tn accordance with the revered will of our crowned predecessor and thinking of the welfare of the realm entrusted to us by God, we regard it as our duty and the peoples" duty in conjunction with undertaking mainte- nance of the immutability of the fun damental laws of the empire, to have untiring care for the country's needs. distinguishing all that is really in the interests of the Russian people from tendencies not seldom mistaken and influenced by transitory circumstances. When the need of this or that change is proved ripe then we consider 1t nec- essary to meet it. even though the transformation of which this leads ln- wolves the introduction of essential in novations in legislation. We do not doubt that the realization of such an undertaking will meet with the sym pathy of the well disposed section of our subjects, who see the true pros- perity of the fatherland in the support of civil tranquility and the uninIer- Iupted satisfaction of the daily needs of the people.
 Placing in the forefront of our care. thought for the best ordering of the life of the most numerous of our estates. the peasant population, we may remark that this matter is al- ready under consideration.
 Simultaneously with a detailed in- vestigation with the proposals of the ministry of the interior which are be- ing carried out locally, conferences are now being held by commissioners specially selected from amongst the most experienced of the high admin istrative officials regarding the most important questions of peasant life. assisted in their investigation of the general, needs of the agricultural in-  ence of local committees, We com mand those to labor. to bring the laws regarding peasants into unity with the general imperial legislation. thereby facilitating the task of attaining per manent security of this estate. which. by decree of the CZar Liberator. is recognized as consisting of free cit.- gems possessing full rights.
 SacrednesS of Law.
 he wide domain of he peoples uttermost needs, we regard as urgent in the interest of the legal stren gthening of civic and public life,
 "First-The adoption of effective measures for safeguarding the law in its full force as the most important pillar of the throne of the autocratic empire, in order that its inviolable full fllment for all alike shall be regarded as the first duty by all the authorities and in all places subject to us, that its n-fulfllment shall inevitably bring with 1t legal responsibility for every arbitrary act, and that persons who have suffered wrong by such acts shall be enabled to secure legal redress
 ''Second--That local and municipal institutions should be given as wide scope as possible in the administration of various matters affecting local well fare and that they should have con- ferred upon them the necessary inde- pendence within legal Limitations. and that representatives of all sections of the population interested In local mat ters should be called upon under equit- able conditions, to take part in those institutions with a view to the com pletest satisfaction possible of their needs. Besides the governments and Zemstvos district institutions hitherto existing there should be also establish ed in close connection with them pub lie institutions for the administration of local affairs in localities of smaller extent.
 "Third-That in order to secure equality of persons of all classes be- fore the law, steps should be taken to bring about the necessary unifica- tion of judicial procedure throughout the empire and to secure independence of the courts.
 Protection of WOrkmen.
 "Fourth-That for the further devel- opment of the measures introduced by us for the protection of workmen in factories, workshops and commercial establishments, attention is to be given to the question of the introduction of State insurance for workmen."
 "Fifth-That there should be a re-