New-York tribune., 1905-07-20
IEMSTVOS ADOPT COURSE.
Il M1KESHIFT ACCEPTED.
Il Class assembly Supported as
Means to End Entry of Police

Moscow, July 19.-The Zsmstvo Congress
opened at midday to-day in the residence of
Prince DolgorulxoG. The congress was attended
by Do delegates. Count Heyden. leader of the
deputation which was recently received by the
Emperor. presided.
NJ GolOvine, president Of the organizing COM
mittee, had barely begun a statement dealing
with the obstacles placed in the way of the con
gress. announcing that Governor General Koz-
Ion had promised that there would be
course to extreme measures. when the chief Of
police. with numerous commissaries and officials.
entered the room. The chief announced that the
prefect had prohibited the meeting OF the con-
gress. and ordered the seizure OF the documents.
Count Heyden protested against the proceed
ings. but the chief OF police began taking the
names Of the delegates. Then cries were raised
of. Write down the whole of Russia" Many
persons present who were not delegates to the
congress requested that their names also be
taken. The police then departed IN order TO
draw up summonses. and the sitting was re-
sumed
The scheme OF national assembly on ths
basis outlined by the Rescript Commission
presided over by the Minister Of the Interior was
carefully discussed It was denounced as totally
inadequate to remove Russla's internal griev-
ances. because. including a property qualircs-
tion and electoral system by classes. IL pre-
vented the assembly from truly interpreting the
will Of the nation. while the exclusion OF nuuner-
ous rataooriaz oJtfzars S-o-,. a.
contradiction of the principles OF equity
and reasonable state policy.
At the same time it was recognized that ths
proposed assembly would comprise consider
able part Of the social forces OF the empire and
serve as the centre Of a social movement which
would tend to gain political liberty and regular
national representation. 1t was. therefore con
sidered desirable that If the Rescript Connmis-
sion's plan a similar measure should be car
ried out the delegates Of the zemstvos and mu-
inequalities should take part in the assembly to
the greatest possible extent in order to form a
compact group and TO obtain a guarantee OF IN
dividual and public liberties.
number of resolutions embodyinx the fore
going criticism and course OF action were
adopted unanimously, as were also resolutions
complaining of excessive administrative and
police control Of elections and insisting that pub
licity be given to the proceedings OF the proposed
assembly, which should be in direct relations
with the Emperor. without interference from the
Council Of the Empire.
After the police had drawn up a report OF
their visit and had taken the names Of those
present, they returned and listened to the de-
bates with interest. When the afternoon session
adjourned until evening each delegate as he
passed out handed his visiting card to the chief
Of police, who had already seized the copies of
The Russian Gazette" in the possession of the
delegates The Gazette printed details or a
proposed constitution for Russia based on the
two chamber constitutions of Western Europe
and elaborated by the committee on organtza-
tion for the congress 10 vote on. 1t is expected
that the congress will sit for three days