The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-15

Prince Charles Anton von Honenzel- fern. the representative of the Emperor of Germany with the Japanese armfes at the front will leave Sunday next. General Oku gave dinner in honor or the prince this evening. The prlpce. who is a son of Prince Leopold or Neuremberg and is a major In the Prussian Army. has been with the Jap anese armies since October.
 Grave Peril Recognized.
 St. Petersburg, April 14.--The im- perial rescript addressed yesterday to the Minister of the Interior. M. Bouli- gan, creating a special commission un- der his presidency to discuss questions relating to peasant tenure of lands. IS a direct recognition of the grave peril involved in the spreading peasant agi- tation which threatens not only the big estates. but the imperial domains. The instructions in the rescript to work out a system clearly marking off peasant land from the land of other owners 'in order to inculcate in the people a perception of property ownei'- ship" amounts to an imperial refuta- tion of the stories current among the peasants that the Emperor has decresed a new division of the land. It is feared. however. 1t may have exactly the contrary effect to the one desired among the ignorant peasantry and tn at shrewd agitators will be able to erp- ploy the rescript bearing upon the gep- eral subject of the increase of peasant lands as being a confirmation instead of a denial of the reports that the aisi- tators had previously circulated about the Emperor's intention to redistribtite the land Two methods of relief are proposed by the rescript--the purchase of additional land by aid of a peasants bank and the colonization of Siberia. The creation of the new commission sounded the knell of the old Witte commission which Is simultaneously abolished
 M. witte's Commission.
 Mir. witte's commission. which was of a much broader character, covering all questions relating to peasant ad- ministration, created a tremendous stir two years ago, being the signal for much outspoken criticism of the present regime.
 on the part of the Zemstvos, notably that of Tver, which was revised out of existence by the late Interior Min ister Plehve. An immense amount or material was collected by the commits sion. but it's work became so diffused and it accomplished so little in the way of tangible results that Its passing away has aroused no regret. But the supplanting of the commission by an- other serves to emphasize the criti- cisms of the Liberals In regard to the futility of reforms conducted by bu- reaucratic commissions. The Govern ment claims. however. that as the work of the new commission is being re- stricted solely to the question of de- vising ways for supplying the peas- ants with additional lands. 1t should speedily accomplish something. Never theless in quarters familiar with the situation among the peasants serious doubts are expressed as to whether the rescript will have any appreciable ef- feet in allaying the agrarian.
 "Afl the acts of the Government come too late" said a nobleman who consid- CTS 1t unsafe to live on his property. The active head of the new commits sion will be M. Goremykin. former Minister of the Interior. who is ex- tremely we'll equipped for the work assigned to him. For a long time he was the Senator In charge of the Sem ate committee relating to peasant af- | fairs.