Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-03
The Agrarian Bill.

s Petersburg, July 3.-The govern
 ment's agarian bill has finally beer
 approved, introduced in the lower house of parliament and published 1T the Official Messenger accompanied by sort of proclamation to the peasants glorifying the emperor's constant SO
 licltude for the peasants. It attempts to show that the realization of SO cialistic schemes for the nationaliza ton of the lands, instead of improv. Ing the lot of the peasants would re suit in inevitable misery as the dis tributlon of all the arabic state lands in European Russia would give each peasant less than one additional de ciatine, which would be subject to constant dimunition owing to increas- es in the population and besides would deprive the peasants of the opportu- nifty of obtaining work from the land lords. from whom large percentage of their income is derived
 As finally submitted the govern ment solution makes the following propositions:
 First-To distribute upon flavor able terms" all the arabic land in Flu ropean Russia to the peasants who have not sufficient land.
 Second--To purchase for the account of the state the land which private owners are willing to sell.
 Third-TO sell such lands to the peasants on reasonable terms, even if this involves the assumption by the state of the difference in the cost and the selling price.
 Fourth-To establish the principle that new as well as old peasants lands are not salenble to persons not belong ing to the peasant class, besides ex- empting the land from seizure for debt.
 Five-To assist immigrants to reach Siberia and Central Asia, and to help them in installing themselves there, not only by allotments of land. but by the building of govern ment roads.
 Six-To make arrangements for the sale of he lands the immigrants leave behind them for the benefit of these immigrants. the rigorous improve ment of agriculture, correcting the inequalities in plots of land, etc. and the right of the distribution of the lands severally where desired.
 The statement accompanying the publication of the governments agar ian measure gives figures to prove that the peasants dream that a uni versal distribution would give ample land to all is fallacious. European Russia. 1t Is pointed out. contain 3S0- O00.O00 deciatiDes. of which 10J,O00.- O0O belong to the five northern pro vinces and are unsuitable for agricul- ture. Of the remainder. J6.0O0.00O de- clatines are forests. the preservation of which Is absolutely necessary. leaving 153.0O0.OO0. Of that 111.0OO.. 900 now belong to the peasants. 91.- 100000 being obtained at the time of the emancipation of the serfs and 19,- 000.0o0 being privately owned. Thus covers all the land of the state. church, crown and gentry. while there are over 40.OOO.OOO peasants.
 After reviewing many acts of the Russian emperors for the benefit of the peasants. like the emancipation of the serfs and the establishment of peasant banks the statement solemnly denies that the government Is oppos- ing appropriation in the interest of te landlords. who. 1t says. could con vert their lands into cash. and con cludes with an expression of the vital necessity of maintaining the rights of property as being the foundation of the state. present and future.