The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-27
FREEDOM OF PRESS
ELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Widest Latitude and Autonomy
70 be 4 GiverlSto Various Dis
. I tricts zernssvo Equal
,ii,tysof All Citizens
Before the n.
I Law.
HI.Elll ~ q ~ -ll7I,., \ 4 n
a g3i l3lIj!s N M b a (. I ,Ei3.!l
81 " 3II7 4 FlNHlsI I
BY a AssocIated Press.)

(By. u Associated PresE.) s 8s
3S ST. PErERSBURG, p Dec 2s. Emperor.
Ntcholas,s long expected reform ukasc
was issued Tonight. Tho document
deals, under eight heads. wi tn !prac tically
all the5yubjc brought to the Enpcror's
attention BY the memorial tof the cons
gress Of $zens tyo presidents held here
last month. and while not speci ifically
lpledging the government to carry outStho
various reforms IN their entirety, asS do !.
manded BY. /. the memorial, promises that
each shall be referred To the Council ,of
Minister'S tllE orders II o report promptly
on the 4 fullest measures OF relief which
can be accorded ID EonS the various sui jects
Summary Of Subjects.
s One question not touched by the ksase, ks,
.is that Of the constitutional assembly.
Neither Is t he j ewisll$8 religion specift-
emily mentioned. though freedom for all
3creeds or sect Isl. 4 whether Christian or
otherwise. 4. Is among the bjects which
Will be dealt WI tll:$ "a
Ys$ gS$ In brief VI the subje cots which will AZ be
referred to commltte Of Il the ~ Council
sof Minister'S for ca rly report are IA 81 3s5s
First &S ;A ! ust and equab enforce
IA ment OF existing laws, With q View
f to securing the harmonious admin
OF 8nliFthe courts. s3s
SiIiyEy Second. II zenlstvo organlza tionTwltliS
EsSa a. view to giving the widest latitude $s
@ and autonomy to Il the various q is-
nv trlct gsS& zemstvos Y calling SE addlt tlonal i
/ zenstYo represen tiYes where u re- SI
hill qulred. and 5icreating smaller zemstvog
gSunitss capa BILE OF dealing d dlrectly With Il
the 4 locsl ! Feeds OF the peasan is.
Third Equality OF all citizens be
~ " fore the law This touches " he much
fsSf mooted question Of peasant tS equality
;Fss before The courts. si III s9
Fourth, 3 Arrang ging g a& sch heme ~ sof sI
# workmen's i assura nee, " for the bcne -:s1..
s.ss, throughout the nplre,,t Y
ss3s Fl TIL. 5I To secure itlzens against 5
n arbitrary sarrest and to accord irlmn-&
Srityafrom harsh action Of the police "
s$f except ro ca ses OF persons known to S
y be consplring N to commit overtures$
Ii againstgthe stability of the State.
Six # n he rell g Gus freedom Of all $$a
"a; subjects OF 4 the empire without re- re- -,$s
IN spect OF creed or manner Of yyorslli ip.5F
Seventh. For resembling all #unnecj-8 8
81 essaryH repressivc laws, leaving In SS
4 force only those designed for the pro
lection OF peasants and for the ben e5&t
": fit generally Of SUBJ jects OF the empire
Iighth.J4T r o accord the fullest pos
sible$lneasureS OF liberty to the press,
W. ana the removal as far ms possible of S
s53 83S the various q res trictive laws 33slS
i'8 Value Of U kase.
81 The ukase was Issued SO late that slts
contents were not generally known even
stnE the 4 n newspaper offices till long after
Smidnghts Among those able to express
tt was cons sldcred to be8a doc-
zun,ellt whose ltimate value depended
largely upon the Interpretation given BY
the various committees as to the measure
Of liberty which it@ is possible 10 grunt
Sunder8th various heads named .iy
Naturally t. has not met the ful lest
wishes OF the liberals, but on the other
hand 1t Is regarded by the tionaries
as promising entirely toosmuch n$the al
srecton OF Liberal reforms, t Is COM
planned also. that there Isl some am atr-
8biguitySof expression, III the varlo OH S Sec
lions orithe document, t, which must be left
TO Interpretation by those to whom he,
various reforms are entrusted. III NJ 4;
Disorder in Empire.
The following communication was Is
sued by tho government early this morn.
ing; @ g5F@ ii VI d5s n, 8st .a3 Ks
n .sI1 the autumn OF this year there was
la meeting inls ST. Petersburg of several
sZemstvos OF the various governments,
who expressed q series Of desires con- !,
gcerning what were, In thelr.opnion, 1ndis-
8pensable reforms of the interior gov
sernment OF tho empire. These desires
were mado the subjects Q g actio by
members OF various other assemblies,
SSwl,ich8met FOR the purpose, and also, not OF
sWithstandlng the provisions OF law, We're ~.
considered at the deliberntions Of certain
town councils, ,S and zenlstvo, Thus by
the action of3the peopleiwho endeayored to
Introduce dlscord into public and state
life, excitement arose In the minds Of