Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-10
To Offset Russian Gov
eInnlent's B|under.
Recently Made in Talk About
Settling Ag[arian Question.
Warm Talk in Lower Aouse-..Peasanls
Still Decidedly uasasy.

st. Petersburg, July 9.-The initial
S'ep toward the adoption of a direct
address to the country to counter,ct
Tie impression the governments com
ihuhlcations with regard to the settle
ihenl Of the agrarian question is max
ing among the peasantry, We're taken
In the Lower H,usc of Parliament to-
day when an Interpolation was intro
duccd asking for an explanation of the
dissemination of the governmental pro-
ciafnation to the peasants July 3. This
proclamation accompanied the publica-
ticn in the Official Messenger of the
governments agrarian Dill and set
forth the Emperor'S constant solicit
tude for the peasants welfare and de-
MED that the government was opposing
appropriation in the interest of the
landlords, concluding with an express
sion of the vital necessity of maintain
ing the rights of properly as being the
foundation Of the state. The interpel-
lation was referred to a commission.
winch Is expected to recommend the
issuance of Il counter appeal setting
forth the views and intentions of Par
lament.
Professor misunderstanding, the
legal expert of Parliament, has deveI-
ope1 the theory that the action of the
administration in spreading views di-
rectly opposed to the expressed policy
OF the Legislative branch was an illegal
encroachment- on the privileges of Par
Lament. Count Mukhanoff, president
OF the House agrarian commission, di-
lated on how the law which the COM
mission was now celebrating was hand
icapped by the circulation of the EN-
peror's proclamation Count Mukhan-
off added that the report was being
spread in many parts of the country
and that the Emperor had ordered the
distributions of lands to the peasants,
but that Parliament. like the wicked
fairies in. Old stories, was withholding
the Little Fathers gift from his chill
dren."
Deputy Won RutZcr, from the prov
ince of kursk, who has just returned
from visit to that section, told The
Associated Press today that he had
found many peasants harboring a dis
stirct feeling of distrust, if not of ami
mostly, towards Parliament, which
petty officials are naturally doing their
utmost to encourage. The govern
mentS agrarian proclamation. he said,
was being distributed broadcast in the
form of hand bills and posters through
out the country and agents of the adj
ministratiOn are actively attacking
Parliament's principle in the agrarian
.qucsticn" as being aimed as much at
the small holdings of peasants as at the
vast estates of the nobility.
The House made slight progress to-
day with the debate on the BialyStok
troubles. The principal new contribu-
ton was Deputy Ninaver's assertion
that anti-Semitic pamphlets are still!
being printed in the office. of the pre-
lecture of police at 81. Petersburg. the
deputy giving the title of the pam
phlet and the name of the author.
During today's debate Baron Ropp, a
Catholic bishop representing Wilma,
said a general had Informed him that
the soldiers would never fire on Christ
lars, but only on Jews. He said he
was convinced that the chief admlnis-
traton officials always We're capable of
stopping exccsscs if they cared to do
50.
Baron Ropp acknowledged that some
discomfort was felt by soldiers and po-
IiCc elE li'' JEWS, tlt Cctu@c o'liiS
the model organization of the Jews,
which is tho envy of the Christians.
II WIS necessary, he said, to give self
government to the western provinces Or,
else PoGrams would soon occur. TIE
central government, which alWayssgas'
aiming at the Russitication of. these,
provinces. had even prohibited the crt-ss
alton Of a moderate constitutional par-S
ty at Wilma. under the esidepcy of
the bishop, and hostile HEAnarehist6.i
In consequence the SovSrhment ew3E