Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-17
RUMORS CIRCULATED
Intense Public Interest at st.
Petersburg
OVER DOUMA DISCUSSION
Talk of Dispersion Of the Parlia-
ment.
SHARP COMMENT OF THE PRESS
Democrats Radical Program in Tone
of Reply to Gear May Lead
to Dictatorship.
Harp COMMENT OF THE PRESS

ST. PETERSBURG. May 17.-Public op1a-
ion is greatly excited as to how the en-
peror and the government will meet the
defiant attitude Of the lower house of par
lament. Many constitutional democrats
arc not vet convinced that the government
will seek a compromise. They see lndlci-
tions that the bureaucracy is preparing TOR
a desperate fight.
The Rechu, their organ, still considers IL
possible that an attempt may be made TO
disperse parliament, and also prints ru-
NOR that Count Witte is trying to bring
about a coup d'etat which would result IN
his being appointed dictator, backed py
the council of the empire.
The Novoe Vremya thinks the constitu-
tienal democrats are going mad and are
playing into the hands of the social demo-
Gratis. 1.-The constitutional democrats the
paper says 'are digging their own grave
in paving the way to dictatorship OF the
p-oletariat."
AS a matter Of fact the constitutional
democrats are unable any longer 70 noio
the extreme radicals in parliament who are
breaking away and forming about the social
democratic workmen group, establishing
distinct party of the extreme left whlch
wants not parliamentarism but revoiu-
ton Some of the Polish delegates are
complete autonomy for Poland In other
words. the situation in both parliament
and the country is growing more com
plcated and more chaotic, and the great
est anxiety prevails as to what the lmme-
date future may bring forth.
Scheme Favored by Bureaucracy.
The scheme most favored by the bureau
cracy is to allow parliament to formulate
its demands and ventilate its grievances
for two months and then dissolve it.
Barbet De vaux. friend of former
Finance Minister Kokovtsoff, who was with
the latter in Paris and who has just re-
turned to st. Petersburg. says there Is
only one course open to the government,
namely, the dissolution of parliament.
Notwithstanding this reactionary talk the
far-sighted realize that such a step, In view
of the great agitation in the country, would
be fatal, and that the governments only
chance is to compromise with parliament.
This certainly is the emperor's present in
tention The cabinet, however, made a
bad start In this direction. Had It's MEM
bers Immediately begun participating In the
debate and manifested disposition to
meet parliament In a conciiatory spirit
they might already be on the road to a
rapproachement.
AS soon the reply to the speech from
the throne is adopted by the lower house of
parliament the leaders of the constitutional
democrats will introduce a bill providing
for the establishment of civil liberties and
demand its immediate consideration.
The debate on the reply to the speech
from the throne was resumed when parlia-
ment met today. Some of the members are
already showing signs of impatience, as
result of the endless stream Of talk. Para
graphs demanding the removal Of martial
and other exceptional laws and the aboli-
ton of the council of the empire were
passed without amendment
Some Unnecessary Offense.
Count Heyden. prominent member of
the right took the first occasion today to
declare that the right did not oppose in
principle the substance of the reply to the
speech from the throne, although 1t regard
ed some of the paragraphs as unfortunate
and unnecessarily offensive to the emperor.
Prince Peter Dolgoroukoff, vice president
of the lower house. spoke warmly In favor
of q unicameraI legislature. At the same
time, he thought 1T entirely proper that the
to the emperor and without legislative
functions, could be continued
Kiseleff Of Penza also declared himself in
favor of unicameral legislature. He said
a bicameral legislature might be well enough
in the United States and Great Britain, but
Russia proposed to give the western world
generally a lesson in true democracy.
Prof Maxim Kovalevsky of Kharkon
thought 1t of vital Importance that the
council of the empire should be shorn OF
power to participate with the lower house
of parliament In consideration of the bud
get.
Denial From Meyer.
ST. PETERSBURG, May 1.-THE Slovo
today printed what purported to be state
ment OF Ambassador Meyer criticising the
action of parliament and the opening cere-
mony at the winter palace. The ambassa-
dor has authorized the Associated Press to
deny in the most emphatic manner that he
indulged in any criticism whatever. He
says the alleged statement was made out
of the whole cloth.
AN EXPLOSION OF GAS.