Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-03
To SETTLE LAND
FIGHT IN RUSSIA
MINISTERIAL PLAN WILL BE
CONSIDERED
Includes Appropriation of Large Sum
to Compensate Owners Whose
Property Has Been
appropriated
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 8. $3.50 a. m.
The ministerial proposition for the
solution of the agrarian question, a
successful settlement of which is gen.
orally regarded as the crux of Count
Whites difficult task, is now nearing
completion and will be taken up for
consideration by the council of the EN-
pire on February s. 1t involves the ap-
preparation Of $150.00O 600 for the COM
pensation Of private owners of lands
appropriated for distribution to the
peasants. The operation will be accom-
plished through the peasants bank,
which will purchase the lands and sell
them to the oeasantry on the install
ment system.
The difficult point In the solution of
the question is the large sum necessary
to carry out the project. AS this is not
obtainable in the country it is neces-
sary to add to the already large sum
which must be borrowed abroad to meet
the existing deficiency in the budget.
The project, after revision by the coun-
Gil of the empire will be turned over
to the douma, Count Witte having re-
peatedly stated that no measure will be
adopted before the convocation of that
body.
The emperor has addressed q plain,
outSpoken mandate to the peasantry,
setting forth that the rights of prop
erty are sacred and that the peasants
will be violating his will if they at
tempt to enter into possession of pri-
vate lands. At the same time his
majesty has assured the peasants that
with the cooperation of the national
assembly lie Will institute measures
for their relief.
The emperers words were delivered
to q deputation from the Kursk gov
ernment. and will be sent broadcast
throughout the empire in the hope of
counteracting the widespread belief
prevailing among the masses of the
peasantry that his majesty had ordered
the distribution of all private lands
and that only the land owners and local
officials were hampering the execution
of his will. The emperor on this oc-
casion addressed the Kursk peasants
as my brothers" and talked 70 them in
simple Russian terms capable of be-
ing understood by the most ignorant
peasant. He said:
II am most glad to see you. You
must know very well that every right
of property is sacred to the state. The
owner has the same right to his land
as you peasants have to yours. Com
municate this TO your fellows in the
villages.
"In my solicitude for you ! do not
forget the peasants whose needs are
dear to me. and I will look after them
perpetually as did my late father. The
Vytong Gosdarstv ennaia Douma (na-
tional assembly, Will soon assemble
and in cooperating with me discuss
the best measures for your relief. Have
confidence in me. l will assist you
But, / repeat remember always that
right of property is holy and inviola-
ble.''
Count Eugene Trou betskoy, who pre-
sented the resolutions of the marshals
of the nobility to the emperor, in an
interview attributed the agrarian trou-
bIeS directly to the revolutionary
propaganda. He expects eXcesses ir
the spring, when the peasants through
out the empire in preparing to take
possession of the new private lands
will become wilder than ever because
they will be unable to agree OH a di-
vision of the spoilS and will fall tC
fighting among themselves. The lane
| owners now are practically ruined. The
| conVocation of the national assembly
| is Immediately necessary to enable th'
! government to raise money abroad, Sc
| it on it's feet and enable it to carry
out it's plans for the wholesale COLOMBIA
lion of Siberia, which is an imperativ
measure of relief.
The abolition of capital punishment
by the civil tribunals of Russia, which
was one of the main demands of re
| form parties will soon be an accom-
plished fact. The project will be con
| sidered this week by the council o
| the empire and there is a stroni
chance that it will be approved an'
signed by the emperor.