New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-17
AUT0CRATS AT WAR.
SPLIT IN THE CABINET.
Belief That Either Premier or ".
DurnOUO Mast RESIGN.

st. Petersburg, Feb. 16-The desperate struggle
which has been raging In the government be-
tween the reactionary and the progressive forces
is said to be approaching a elimination, and
must end within few days in the resignation
either of the Minister of the Interior NJ. Dur
novo. who is leading the movement for thorough
going repression. or of Premier White and sew
eral other members of the Cabinet
The question at issue is the withdrawal of the
extraordinary powers confided to governors gen.
eral throughout the empire, which In many
cases, 1t is alleged. have been exercised for the
repression not only of political disorders but also
OF the political activity of the Liberal parties.
Inc discussion has reached such acute and
passionate stage in the Cabinet that issue
except the fall of one faction or the other Is
possible. The chances of victory incline to the
side of Count White, who insists that the gov
ernors general must be deprived of their extreme
powers within a fortnight In order to remove the
restrictions upon free electoral campaign.
The Minister Of Agriculture. NJ. Kutler. it is
said on excellent authority. has resigned. The
announcement of the acceptance of his resig-
nation. which was due to opposition to his
scheme for appropriation of private lands and
their division among the peasants. may be ex-
pected soon. 1t is said that -sKutler. who. like
his predecessor, NJ. Yermoloff. has strong pro-
gressive tendencies. will leave the state SER
promotion to the Council of the Empire. the
body reserved for discarded ministers
Rumor is busy with other changes to follow
the first break In the Cabinet of Count White.
The most persistent story is directed at the Pre-
mier himself. who. according to general report.
bluntly informed Emperor Nicholas that he must
choose between him and NJ Durnovo. who.
through his control Of the police machinery Of
the empire. has been pushing repression to the
extreme and throwing all elements of society
into opposition to the government The Asso-
ciated Press authorized to-day at Count
Whites chancellery to deny positively the report
that the count had already resigned. but an
official high In the Premier's confidence signih-
canty said that he could vouch for the fact thas
Eat the present moment the report is untrue"
The scheme Of Minister Kutler. who. next to
the Minister Of Commerce. NJ. Timriazeff. is the
most liberal member Of the Cabinet, struck to
the heart of the agrarian problem. which the
zemstvo leaders. who Liberals, but land
owners, found too difficult to handle at the last
congress 1t provided for the appropriation OF
private estates in excess Of maximum acreage
at price dependent on actual market values
and their distribution easy terms OF pay
ment to the peasantry. whose land hunger Is
too intense to be satisfied with the promised
partition of Crown and Church lands. NJ. Kut-
Ter held that this was the only means of pre-
venting the renewal Of asrarian troubles. which
are the chief source Of peril to the government,
but his proposal not only awakened the intense
opposition Of the rich and powerful camarilla
at court. but also too drastic to suit the
marshals of nobility, who sent a deputation
from the convention at Moscow to demand ex-
plicitly of Premier Witte whether he intended
to accept the KutIer scheme. The Premier re-
al WA Ony a
ton of an individual member of the Cabinet,
and that the agrarian problem was too impor-
tant to be settled without reference to the Ma
tional Assembly.
Should NJ. Kutler not be nominated to the
Council OF the Empire. 1t will be the first in
stance of the kind since the retirement Of NJ.
Krivoshein from the Ministry of Railroads. who
decade ago was dismissed in disgrace for
stealing.