Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-31
including the proEiaciaf governments and


8. Public INSTRUCTION.
Z Finance. HAa -
0. Agriculture.
10. Railways and public works.
IL. Commerce and navigation. =.
y. Controllers general. who is sort OF
Ii. Procuratcr d the holy synod
IL State secretary for Finland
The ministry does not often hold Joint
meetings like the cabinets OF other ma
to visit the pala&e for a conference with
the emperor at which he makes his reports
and submits matters of business which are
interesting to his majesty. Thus the em-
peror is supposed to have personal knowl-
edge of everything that Is going on In his
government and to- exercise q general au-
thority over his ministers. There Is no
degree in the administration, although he is
entirely at the menry of his advisers and
knows only what they desire to communi-
cate to him.
The Gear a Man Of Moods,
Nicholas II works by fits and starts He
is man of moods. Occasionally he takes
very active interest in everything con-
nected with the government and insists
upon knowing every detail, while at other
times, week after week and month after
month, his ministers may not be able to
engage his attention. At the beginning Of
the war with Japan he issued an order re-
quiring every report from the army or the
fleets in Manchuria to be addressed to him
personally, without first being sent through
the admiralty or the war department. And
he often retained news of vital importance
for several days before communicating it
to the proper authorities. But it is now
stated that after time he became tired of
the continual reports of defeat and disas-
ter and issued another edct forbiddine the
officials from troubling him wit of flo Of
the war. In this respect he Is the opposite
of his father and grandfather. who were
men of method and system and never
failed to act upon their own Judgment in
all matters of Importance 1t was often
said that Alexander III worked harder and
longer than any of his subjects, and, al
though he had the constitution of a giant,
he died of 'overwofk
The emperor has two private cabinets
One of them consists of the five senior
grand dukes. several OF the ministers and
other high funetionaries. whose duties are
underlined and merely advisory. He also
has a board Of almoners, which looks af-
ter public charitabIe institutions and his
own private charities.
Government of Provinces.
The empire is divided into seventy-efght
provinces. At the head Of each is a GOV
ernor general representing the emperor,
who may be a civil or a military officer,
and he Is assisted in the administration of
affairs by council appointed by the min
lister OF the interior The local affairs In
thirty-four Of the provinces are Entrusted
to zemstvos, or assemblies, composed of
representatives. elected by land owners,
house owners and taxpayers The prov
inces are divided into parishes, or conn
munes, there being 197 ,676 in European
Russia. which are presided over by star
shinas, or elders" elected by the people,
each community having one vote for every
ten houses.
The people also elect communal assem-
biies. which meet at intervals to discuss
and decide local affairs, according to their
own dispositions. They are very seldom in
terfered with by the general government,
provided the taxes are paid promptly and
the young men report for military service
The tax collector iss also elected by the
commune, and assesses the people accord
ing to his best Judgment and ability. He is
required to raise certain sum annually.
which he must deliver 10 the financial au-
thorities; of the provinces, and he gets It
as best he can.
Thus you viii obsefre that the people of
Russia have a considerable degree of self
government, and, are,:aAOwed to take.care
of their own affairs as long as they submit
to the higher authority. pay their taxes
regularly and present themselves for mill
tary service. Condition., vary In different
acter and disposition IF the officials and
military commandments. traveller can al
ways tell whether or not the governor Of
province Is just apq liberal man by the
: appearance. of the people. The mobiles and,
+boyars. or large lann swnersi have ID great
deal to do with the happiness and pros
perity of the peasants, hut the priests e1er-.
else the greatest influence of all. for they
control the gates of paradise, and the Rus
sian peasant is, religious fanatic. He is
a stupid, stolid. stubborn creature, submis-
sive and enduring. loyal to the church and
complaint until he is educated Then he
struggles to break through the barriers that
confine him. An educated peasant Is almost
always a nihilist.