New-York tribune., 1906-07-07
HOUSE FINDS A LEVER
RUSSIA,S NEED OF MONEY.
Parliament Refuses Ne1o Loan
". KobOUsof"s Troubles.

81. Petersburg July 6.-rhe debate the
Bialsstok report was adjourned to-day until
Monday 70 permit the Russian lower house 20
consider the Ministry's bill appFopriating S2D.-
o90000 for famine relief. The discussion showed
that the Constitutional Democrats have finally
found lever by which they hope to force the
government 20 surrender control Of the purse
strings. vital object at which they have been
aiming from the beginning M, HertEenstein'
chairman OF the committee which reported the
bilA revealed the important fact that nj. Kokov-
soft the Finance Minister. who appeared before
the committee, made effort to conceal the
desperate financial straits Of the government.
The minister informed the committee that the
condition Of the treasury was much worse than
was believed, and even impeached the figures
given in this years budget. made by NJ. Shpoff.
as conveying no adequate idea CT the real state
OF affairs. He said the government was living
far beyond its means, and agreed that it must
retrench. He added that this could not be
cOmplished this year. and therefore ii was nee
essafy to make fresh loan 20 cover the famine
relief
NJ. Hertzenstein said this was exactly where
the committee took issue with the ministry.
Parliament. he added. was in favor of famine
relief measure, and, would give more money If
necessary, but it would never agree to a
loan, for which in reality there was no necessity
The budget 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 parlia-
ment and not to the ministry
NJ. Kokovsoff, who was present replied 20 NJ
HertzeDsfein. The Finance Minister said he saw
the trap which had been set for him, but he re-
fused to enter it, and added he regretted that
what had been said to the committee had been
reported to the house
The minister denied that he had proposed
fresh loan. He had only said that beyond the
$7,5OOOO0 which 1t was proposed to appropriate
Immediately. the treasury had funds avail
able and that the sum must be taken Temporal
rily from money assigned in the budget for other
purposes. n. Kokovson added that he had In
formed the committee. and he repeated it to the
house. that it impossible 70 scale the budget,
as it did not even include items coming over
from last year. which it was necessary TO meet.
and We're not provided for In the recent loan.
New sources Of revenue TO meet the full famine
appropriation must be found. but 1t not in
the province Of parliament to specify the means
by which the money should be raised That duty
fell to the government finance committee Par
lament could only specify what was needed and
the committee and the Minister of Finance would
undertake to raise the money.
When NJ. KokovsofT left the tribune the men,
bers OF the Left followed him with cries OF RE-
signr' go to Saghalienr' But the Centre did
not join in the demonstration.
NJ. Roditcheff and other members Of the COM
mittee insisted that the budget must be scaled,
and insinuated that the entire purport OF what
M. Kokovsom had said before the house dis
torted their remarks This afternoon. before the
committee NJ. KokovsoG had asserted that the
amount the budget assigned for the liquidation
%
guess, but, as the government wanted TO con-
tract a big loan, the budget figures were per-
haps exaggerated.
The real cause of the financial straits of the
government. NJ. Roditcheff said. was it's persist
ence In it's present political policy. The SlO.-
100000 appropriated in the budget for rebuild
ing the oil industry OF the Caucasus was the
sum which the country paying for the blind
policy OF Prince Galitzln, former Governor Gem
eral Of the Caucasus. Now. unless the govern
ment did something to stay the course of the
revolution in the country. the state and nation
would be bankrupt. The weakness of the states
credit was due to the refusal of the government
TO heed the voice of the nation. as evidence Of
which was the fact that prices on the Bourse
rose upon every rumOr that the ministry in
tended 70 resign. The greatest service the min
istry could now render the country and the
people would be TO give way TO responsible
Cabinet representing the views OF the majority
in parliament
Yesterdays advance on the Bourse was not
sustained to-day government securities closing
fractionally lower.
The outcome of the debate was the adoption Of
the ministerial proposals as amended by the
budget committee, appropriatng $7,500.000 in
stead of S25O0OOO0 for famine relief. 1t was
decided TO provide the remainder by budget
economies. A Socialist proposal to md s25.ooO.-
900 By the abolishment OF the police and by a
revenue from the imperial domains rejected