Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-03
BOLD TALK TO The CAR
Friends Of the People Tell Him Reforms
Are Imperative.
TWO CAMPS IN EHPeRoRs COUNCIL
ReactiOnaries Headed by PObedOn-
osetsen Say the Present is
No Time 20 Discuss
Changes.

ST. PETERSBURG. Aug. S.-2:5s a. M
There was no session yesterday Of the
commission which has under considera-
ton the national assembly scheme. EN-
peror Nicholas will preside at the second
meeting which will be held this afternoon.
At the first meeting on Tuesday the i'm
perial palace at Peterhof was the battle
ground Of the contending forces in the
matter of reform. For five hours, taking
advantage Of the emperor's request, there
was the freetst and frankest discussion of
the situation and the needs of Russia. The
respective members of the two camps pre-
sented arguments before the emperor in
a series of speeches which left little time
for the actual consideration of the details
Of the project, which will be elaborated
by the council of ministers.
Opposing Forces Meet
Almost score of the members of the
conference took an active part in the dis
cussion. M Bouligin, minister Of the In
terror; General Trepoff, assistant minister
of the committee; Count Ignatief, member
of the council of the empire; Count Sol
sky, president of the economic department
of the committe of ministers, and Prince
Hilkoff, minister of railroads and communi-
cations, were the leading advocates of inn
representatives Of the people, while under
the banner of the old order, M Pobedo-
nostsef, procurator general OF the Holy
Synod faithful to the traditions of life
time, who had arrayed with him Count
Lamsdorff, minister OF foreign affairs; M.
Manukhin, minister of Justice; NJ Schwan-
abach minister of agriculture; General
Lobko controller general, and Baron Fred
ericks, Count Marshal, who insisted that
the present, with the war abroad and
the disorders at home, was no time to sum-
mon a popular assembly or institute sweep
ing changes in the government of the en-
pire.
The partsans of reform were in the ma
jority including besides the leaders al
ready mentioned, many members of the
council of state.
Speech of Count IRnntien.
The feature of the meeting is said to
have been a sensational speech delivered
by Count Ignatieff. who had been sent by
the emperor to investigate the situation In
the south after the mutiny on the battle
ship Kniaz Potemkine, and who declared
in plain, clear-cut sentences that the con-
ditlons there made immediate and exten-
sive reforms imperative. At the same time
he declared order must be preserved and
the agtators kept within bounds with a
firm hand.
General Trepoff, Minister Bouligin and
Count Solsky also emphasized the neces-
| sity of adopting firm measures while in
sttuting reforms. other progressivists
| dwelt more upon the necessity of the i'm
mediate convocation of the people
Three of the ministers, Lieutenant Cen
eral Rudigier. minister of war; M Glasoff
minister of education, and NJ. Kokosvsoff
minister of finance. did not commit them
selves, and four Of the grand dukes present
avoided taking active part in the discus
| sion teu-3ar- -s. .....
When the speech-making was finally
ended and the attitude OF the council mani
tested, consideration of the Bouligin propo-
sition was taken up and this discussion will
be continued at today's meeting at Peter
! hof.
The Associated Press is informed that as
yet no important decision has been taken
and the general impression is that the
commission will not finish its labors with
out at least one or two more sessions.