Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-17
GEAR NAY FREE 10000


While there II yet no Sign ofIcially given
at 81. Petersburg Jet thess II . growing
expectation that the Gear win issue . de-
cree Of amnesty on May 70. his birthday.
but there b general conviction that he
VIII grant only partial amnesty. Fun par
don may be granted to an arrested by ad-
ministrativs process, and ali condemned Tor
political crimes. a. such crimes are inter-
preted by the government. and this would
lead to the liberation OF more than 70.000
persons throughout the empire. but the ter
rorists. all ciasses OF bomb throwers, shoot
ers. stabbers. incendiaries. plundsrers and
armed insurgents are expected to be ex-
Guided an common criminals.
The prospects of the government accept
reply to the cxar's speech are much dis
cussed. There ID little perhaps no, belief
that they will be conceded. The attitude
Of odlcialdom was aptly expressed by an
the debate on the address from the press
gallery. '-This is simply impertinence." he
said to a reporter. A majority Of the
bureaucratic. however. do not display their
feelings as candidly az this They are
keeping their counsel and awaiting events.
Many Speakers on Reply to Gear.
The debate on the address was con-
tinued last evening. It 10 really hardly de-
seyibable as debate. It In rather Sue
cession Of declarations OF political faith In
almost identical terms. Every member
wishes to be able to say that he delivered
speech on this historic occasion. It has
at length been found necessary to limit
each speaker to FIVE minutes.
Never before has such Widespread inter-
est In politics been evinced In Russia The
Hobbies of the Tauride palace are thronged
throughout the sessions by groups OF min
listers. peasants. women OF all social classes,
workmen, ambassadors, authors ana profes-
sional men, all discussing the newborn par
hamentarism the policy Of the douma and
the needs Of the nation. Many society
women are conspicuous In these lobby de-
bates, Numbers Of them urging the neces-
sity for reforms, to the establishment and
Indignation Of the bureaucrats.
Social revohuttontsts made strong pleas
for the abolition Of the death penalty. For
the peasants one speaker declared that
they did not want land without liberty,
and that II their demands were not salts
fed Immediately revolution might be ex-
pected. Another speaker demanded justice
for the workingnan and liberty for all
without distinction of race or religion.
For Worldwide Peace.
M. Kovalevsky proposed to add para
graph to the address recognizing the en-
peror's declaration that he strongly desires
that peace should prevail throughout the
world, and declaring that the douma. sharing
in the desire. proposes to offer to cooperate
with his majesty In guiding the foreign
policy Of Russia The proposal, which will
be discussed today. will be generally sup
ported.
Count wltte approached the leaders Of the
liberal minority of the council OF the en-
pire yesterday and expressed the opinion
that the douma's address in reply to the
cars speech was wisely framed and should
form the basis Of constructive legislation
IL the douma refrained from declaring that
the principles declared in the address were
the only conditions under which the douma
could work. The liberals did not respond
to Count Whites advance.
The council, by q vote Of % to S. ap-
pointed committee OF eighteen. with full
powers to draft reply to- the czar's
speech without debate in the council.