The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-09
Russia's Parliament.

1t is evident that the Russian Parlia-
ment, which is to meet tomorrow, will
proceed forthwith to the transaction of
public business. Already political parties
have been organized and programmes
have been formulated. At the last
moment the Reactionists have shown
their hand, while the Constitutional
Democrats, who are expected to have a
majority in the popular branch Of the
national legislature, have outlined a
plan for solving the agrarian problem
which, as they hope, will assure to them
the support of the peasants represent
atives.
The fact hat the draft OF a funda-
mental law, or constitution, upon which
we commented at the time Of It's
thorized publication, had not received
the sovereign's signature up to the time
when Count WHITES resignation was
accepted, was naturally supposed to
indicate that the Car disapproved of
the attempt to minimize the powers Of
the national Legislature. Perhaps he
did, but he seems not to have persisted
in the disapproval. Whether the draft
should be dropped or sanctioned has
no doubt been the subject of heated
controversy during the last week at
Tsarskoe-Selo, but it is patent that the
Reactionists finally %triumphed, for on
May 5 the original draft, modified, how
ever, in certain points, was signed by
NICHOLAS H., and late on the evening of
May 7 it WIS promulgated officially and
declared to be the permanent basis Of
the Russian State, unalterable except
upon the initiatiye of the Emperor, A
concession to the Liberals is made by
striking out the provision empowering
the sovereign to fix the salaries and pen
sions Of officials and thus enabling him
to subject even the judiciary to undue
influence. On the other hand, the Crown
lands are expressly exempted from in
reference on the part Of the Parliament,
and the Emperor reserves the right to
conclude loans independently should the
Parliament refuse TO pass the budget.
That is to say, the power of the purse
is ostensibly withheld from the peoples
representatives and the Parliament is
forbidden to adopt that solution Of the
agrarian problem which the Constitu-
tional Democrats have arranged to advo-
cate. Their proposal is to lease the
lands belonging to the Crown, including
those of members Of the imperial family,
and to purchase the lands Of the Church
and so much Of the lands Of private
owners us shall be needed for the public
welfare, paying therefor with interest
bearing certificates guaranteed by the
Government. The aim Of the project is
to supply land to all landless peasants
and to enlarge the lands of those whose
present holdings are inadequate to the
support of their families. The stupen-
dous proportions Of the scheme will be
appreciated when we point out that in
forty-nine provinces nearly 5o,o00,o 900
peasants have less than 355 900, 900 acres,
whereas in the same provinces the
Crown holds more than 4O6, 600, 900 acres,
the imperial family almost 1000, 900
acres. the Church about $4,000, 900 acres
and the large landowners upward OF
ESQ, 200, 600 acres.
The parliamentary experience Of other
countries justifies us in predicting that,
not long after the Russian Parliament is
in working order, the Constitution framed
for the purpose of Gripping it will be
revised formally, or evaded in practice.
The Emperor will find it impossible to
obtain foreign subscriptions to a loan
which the peoples representatives refuse
to sanction, and he will imperil his
dynasty if he sets his face against an
adequate plan of agrarian relief brought
forward in the Duma. Especially would
it be a grievous and probably fatal
blunder to refuse even to lease the
Crown lands, which il turned over to
the peasants would safeguard many Of
them from the famine with which they
have been threatened in many parts Of
Russia. The Constitution itself discloses
a method by which it's restrictions may
be avoided; for what Is the initiative
Of the Emperor without which the pro-
.,;atrna - 3ka MAJ Ru,la-.~-k. L.