The Mena weekly star., 1906-07-12
RUSSIA M)N \ BANKRUPT
The Czar's Government is in Dire Straits, Says the Minister of Fi-
 nance, M. Kokovsoff.
FRESH LOAN TO COVER FAMINE RELIEF

Parliament Informed that the Treasury is
 in Much Worse Condition Than Gener-
 ally Believed Cabinet Minister De-
 ciares Government is Living Far Beyond
 Its Means--Lower House Opposes Bonds
 St. Petersburg July S.-The debate on the Bialystok report was adjourned until Monday to permit the consider ation of the ministrys bill appropri ating S25, ,0o0, ,000 for famine relief day. showing that the constitutional democrats have finally found a lever by which they hope to force the gov ernment to surrender control of the purse strings, the vital object with which they have been aiming from the beginning. Prof. Hertzenstein chairman of the committee which re- ported the bill, revealed the important fact that NJ. Kokovsoff, the finance minister, who appeared before the committee, made no effort to conceal the desperate financial straits of the government He informed the com mittee that the condition of the treas uIf W4S lAdtu WOf SC tAuii ~f~A and even impeached the figures given in this years budget. made by M. Ship off. as conveying no adequate idea of the real state of affairs. He said. the government was living far beyond It's means and agreed that 1t must re- trench, but, he explained, this could not be accomplished this year. There fore it was necessary to make fresh loan to cover the famine relief.
 Professor Hertzenstein said this was exactly where the committee took is- sue with the ministry Parliament, he added, was in favor of a famine relief measure and would give more money if necessary. But 1t would never agree to a new loan, for which in reality there was no necessity The budget was filled with extravagant items and money could be found by revising the budget This method, the committee proposed, should be coupled with the provision that the right to make such revision belonged to parliament and not to the ministry. M. Kokovsoff, who was present. replied to Professor Hertzenstein. The minister denied that he had proposed fresh loan. He had said only that, beyond the ST. 800. .00O which 1t was proposed to ap- propriate immediately. the treasury had no funds available and that the sum must be taken temporarily from money assigned in the budget for other purposes. New sources of rev. enue to meet the full famine appropri- ations must be found but it was not in the province Of parliament to speci- fy the means by which the money should be raised That duty fell to the government finance committee.
 Whom NJ Kokovsoff left the tribune the members of the left followed him with cries of resign Ego to Sakha- lien. i" etc. but the center did not join in the demonstrations.
 M. Rodetcheff and other members of the committee insisted that the budget must be scaled The real cause of the financial straits of the govern ment. M Rodetchen said, was its per sistence In it's present political policy Unless the government did something 10 stay the course of the revolution in the country. the state and natjn would be bankrupted. The wea'.ne $ of the states credit was due to the re- fusal of the government to heed the voice of the nation. ss evidence of which was the fact that prices on the bourse rose upon every rumor that the ministry intended to resign The greatest service fhe ministry corld now render the country and people would be to give way to responsible cabinet representing the views of the majority in parliament.