New-York tribune., 1905-08-20
RUSSIAN REFORM POPULAR
RECEIVED QUIETLY
Private Conferences of the People
No Longer Permitted.

St Petersburg Aug. 19.-The Emperors maiii-
festo, promulgating the national assembly ana
the details of the project as published IN tho
Official Messenger this morning, were read 10
the ruling Senate, which met in special session
at noon to-day.
These important documents were not given 10
the morning papers, but special editions OF the
afternoon papers copied them from the "oniciai
Messenger" These editions were soon bought
up and eagerly read
The feast OF the TRANSPORTATION of Christ was
celebrated to-day. All the shops were closed
and the city wore a holiday aspect The mani
festo was not read in the churches to-day. THIS
will be done tomorrow.
The Emperor's gift of popular Representative
was received quietly and without speclai IMAM
festation by the undemonstrative RUSSIAN puo
lic A stranger in ST. Petersburg wouu oi'
have noticed that the crowds in the slreees "@4o
carefully reading in the newspapers the long
columns of the manifesto and the details OF 'he
nroiect as they walked home from church'
The newspapers, which published the fun text
of the manifesto and the project as wen DIS
tables fixing the number of representatives. had
little room for comment. Except among lle
extreme radicals, who had made up their minds
in advance to be dissatisfied, and In the reac-
zionist camp and among others of extreme VIEWS
who believe the Emperor has surrendered far TOO
much in creating an assembly. public opinion is
slow to crystalline as the outlines of the ne"
institution are too broad and too complex to oe
grasped and understood on hrst survey, pu'
the indications that the project VIII pe
nonuIar The manifesto had an extremely good
effect as the revolutionsts and other asitaIorS
had been declaring that the Emperor hao no
intention of carrying out the promised reiorins
The principal comment heard to-day con-
r,olo nd electoral
scheme but it was explained that this was
on,ing IN the differences In local organization on
which the scheme of suffrage rests. The EN-
neror has intrusted the elaboration of measures
to supplv the deficiency in this and other prov
inces of the empire where the system OF local
organization is irregular to a special commis-
sion under Count Sosky, of the committee OF
Ministers with instructions to have report
readv in time to permit the participation Of all
parts Of the empire in the first elections.
Besides ST. Petersburg and Moscow. the
manifesto and accompanying documents were
published simultaneously in other governmental
centres. and now known throughout the
length and breadth of the empire.
In the imperial ukase ordering the ruling
Senate to promulgate his manifesto for the
creation of the assembly the Emperor rescinds
the ukase of March 81. he considers that all
questions relating to the perfecting of the sys-
tenn of government ought to be submitted to
the assembly. This decision emphasized
by General Durnovo. Governor General of Mos
COW, Yesterday at his reception, which at
tended by members of the zemstvo congress.
The Governor General informed them that in
view of reforms now granted, all privileges ac-
corded by the previous ukase had lapsed that
private conferences would no longer be neces-
sary, and that he would not permit in Moscow
private meetings of zemstvo congresses or the
discussion of constitutional questions