New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-19
M. WITTE ENDS BIG TASK.
Russian Press Halls Report as PIC
tory for National Progress.

ST. Petersburg. Dec Ism. Witte president
of the Ministerial Council. TO whom, as chair
man of the special committee appointed in 1902
to investigate the question of the betterment of
the conditions of rural enterprise and general
revision of the peasant laws, was conhded the
task of sitting the enormous of evidence
collected including the opinions Of 1900 of the
best qualified peasants, landlords, merchants
and manufacturers which filed several thou
sand volumes. has completed the gigantic task.
His conclusions. which have just been published
are in line with the most enlightened opinion for
ameorating the peasants condition. These
conclusions which are understood TO have the
Endorsement of Emperor Nicholas and NJ Sviato-
polk-Mrsky, Minister Of the Interior
pected to be adopted by the commission as the
basis of new laws.
The press halls the memorandum not only
a signal victory in the direction of real national
progress put as marking q definite setting ASIDE
Of the plan developed by NJ. PlehVe. the late
Minister of the Interior, for extending the
powers Of local. officials over the peasants, and
increasing rather than decreasing the tutelage
exercised over them. NJ. Plehves purpose was
TO rush through law before the commission
could complete its labors.
In all points NJ Whites recommendations aim
for completion of the Emancipation Act of 1861,
by ending the treatment Of peasants as class
apart, giving them a method Of enabling them
to free themselves forever from the soil and
placing themselves on an equality with all other
classes of the population. and removing the re-
strictions on initiative enterprise which have
heretofore crushed out all ambition. In order
to accomplish this he proposes to abolish prac-
peasants alone. At the same time the back
ward condition of the vast majority of the
peasants and the fact that, if placed COM
plete equality in the matter of the holding and
disposition of property, they would soon become
the prey Of the shrewder among themselves. as
we'll of merchants who would like TO possess
their lands and keep them in a state Of per
petueI debt, are fully recognized. NJ. White
therefore recommends the preservation OF Ger
tain laws designed solely for the peasants pro-
lection, such the inalienabiity OF communal
lands and institutions For the management
OF the and for the freedom of the other from
debt special laws will be recommended. supple
mented by methods whereby peasants may
leave their cOmmunes under certain safeguarded
conditions delimit lands for individual owner
ship. There is also in contemplation the
ganZation of a system of land credit and
scheme for the settlement OF State lands by
peasants who want larger opportunities.
The press halls the memorandum with the
greatest satisfaction, the Russ remarking:
Like a golden thread through It all runs con-
sideration for the peasant citizen of the
empire and no longer parah."
The memorandum is in sharp contrast with
the draft prepared by n. Plehves assistant,
Stskinsky which disregarded entirely the opin-
ions laboriously collected by the commission.
That draft submitted to the provincial gov
errors, with the assurance in advance that It
would have the Endorsement OF the Minister Of
the Interior Stisknsky himself Is a member of
the commission. but is without influence. His
dismissal from the Office of assistant to the Min
!ster of the Interior was of Prince Svato-
polk Mirslly's first acts.