New-York tribune., 1906-07-09
nLLAND FOR PEASANTS
DECISION IN THE DOUMA.
Famine Widespread and Agrarian
Disorder Increasing.

E. ps,ersburg. July S.-The first paragraph of
-. ,ronosed agrarian law-the increase of lands
.,,..,s5 70 the peasants by appropriation Of all
-. aud crown domains and church and monas-
-. ,.nss-has Been accepted by the commission
= .+a lover house with practical unanimity.
-. commissioners are now struggling over the
- - expropriation and the method of dis
-. -, >, -ri,a-e estates. and the end is not yet
in sight
/ Tho determination 10 appropriate church lands
.-t,,b IN distinction TO the great estates owned
- ,be rnonasteries. lie scattered like the lands
!, urinary schools in America, in small tracts
through the country and support the local clergy.
-fa cause complications Such action would
ssurive the parish priests OF the principal part
n their scanty emoIuments.
A correspondent Of The Associated Press has
iust completed a trip through the provinces Of
ssmara and saraJoG. He reports that the
drouth IS finally broken. but the rains have come
TOO late 10 save ne crop and help the peasants,
who are in a PitiabIe condition. Their cattle
have either been sold or are starving in the fields.
The government relief granaries were completely
empted in the course Of last years famine The
present agrarian disorders. which Will doubtless
stsadly grow worse, are due largely to the neces-
sty Of the peasants seizing food and forage to
preserve their lives and save from starvation the
remainder OF their cattle These disorders have
reached the highest pitch in the province of
yoFonezh, where the troops and Cossacks al
though in considerable force are practically
Il helpless and on the defensive. Many peasants
have been killed or wounded IN desperate at
iscks On the military patrols and the rural
guards
A telegram received here from Tambon says
that peasants on the estate of Princess Bariat-
risky attacked a conlmissary and posse Of
rural police. The commissary and four police
men were seriously wounded. In another sec
ton OF this province body Of peasants, armed
with pitchforks and spades. resisted a squadron
Of Dragons The troops fired. killing three
peasants and wounding many others. At Keda-
hey, southeast Of Tilis, a hand-to-hand fight
has occurred between Cossacks and an armed
hand Of peasants. several men being killed on
both sides
There has been n fatal encounter at Krassno-
posk, IN the province Of Podolia, between rich
PEASANTS and poor peasants. The poor men were
incensed because the rich men had sent tele-
gram 10 the lower house protesting against the
proposed distribution OF land. In the fighting
one Of the wealthy peasants killed four and
seriously wounded several Of the poor men.
In ST Petersburg a thousand woTkmen have
me' and passed a resolution opposing the agra
nan programme of the Group Of Toll in the
oVer house. They say that fearful corse-
ouences would ensue If this programme became
effective. and urge the members OF the group
70 Cooperate with the Social Democrats and the
Labor porty.
There have been grave disorders on the es-
tate o. the Minister Of Agriculture NJ Stfchin-
SKY in Tula province. The representative OF
Tie Associated Press at Rostoff however. re-
ports that TIE cror conditions in the Kuban and
Don districts are above the average. The gov
eminent hopes 10 avert agrarian disorders
among tho Cossack agricultural population, al
hough there has been some ferment in the mil
Harry leyies over orders to do police duty.