The San Francisco call., 1906-05-27
LOWER HOUSE
DEF|ES GAR
AND CABINET I

with arm outstretched menacingly, de-
clared that ''it is not the Government
but the representatives of the people
here assembled, who must decide wna
is best for the welfare of the coun'
try" the members were wild with en-
thusiasm.
Time and again the house roarec
with ironical laughter at the orator
sarcastic denunciations of the policy
of the Government.
Roditcheff concluded with a demand
for the retirement of the bureaucratic
Cabinet and the creation of a respon-
sible Ministry from the peoples chosen
representatives. He said!
1.-THE Government can destroy the
country alone, but it is impossible fol
it TO restore it without cooperation OF
the country, and we call upon you
(turning 10 the Ministerial benches)
to obey the dictates OF your con-
sciences and give way to Ministry IN
which the nation can have confi-
denee.''
AS Roditcheff ended the members
sprang TO their feet and for three min
utes wildly cheered him and his
speech.
STATEMENT OF THE PREMIER.
The Premier's statement was as fol-
lows;
''The Government, after examining
the address of the lower house of Par
lament in accordance with the in
structions of the Emperor, is fully pre-
pared to lend its entire support to the
elaboration of the questions suggested
by the lower house in so far as they dc
not go beyond limits of the legislative
initiatives assigned to the iower house
This support the Government Will also
extend to the elaboration of the fran
chise law, although it is OF the epin-
ion that this question Will not be made
the subject of Immediate discussion
inasmuch as the lower house is only
just entering upon its labors and
therefore is not yet in position to as
certain the need Of such a change.
Special caution must be shown by
the council of ministers in regard to
the questions raised by the lower
house of satisfying without delay the
needs of the rural population and plac-
ing the peasants on a footing Of equal
ity with the other classes; of satisfying
the requirements of the working peo-
pie; of framing a measure prnvidinG
for obligatory elementary education,
of making the Wealthiest classes liable
to the payment of taxes; of reorganiz-
ing the provincial administration and
of introducing a system of self-gov-
ernment with special consideration fol
PcNQlidl VI liiS itOphiSi
provinces.
The council of ministers attaches
no less Importance to the suggested
law relating to the liberty of the sub
ject. of conscience and of the press and
to freedom of meeting, alterations oi
the fundamental law and conditions
which are beyond the province of the
lower house.
JUSTICE AND RIGHT"
Finally, as regards the solicitude
of the lower house to secure justice
and right in the army and navy, the
Government declares that in the army
these principles are already unshaka-
bly, established, and that the solieitudt
of it's illustrious head is now directed
to the Improvement of the material po.
sition of the soldiers and to devisins
means for a more extensive reaiiza-
ton of the measures directed to that
end.
"As regards the proposed abolition
of the exceptional laws and the ar
bitrary action of officials, the council
of ministers considers this wholly
within the domain of public admins
tration, in which the lower house has
only the right of Interpolation. Fur
thermore, the consolidation of the adj
nninistration into a state of strict le-
gality forms the subject of special
care on the part of the Government.
which will not fail to see that the con-
duct of government officials is inspired
by similar endeavors.
The Government also recognizes
that the present exceptional laws do
not suffice in extraordinary cases TO
insure tranquility and order, and the
Ministers therefore are engaged in
drafting more perfect measures to that
end. II the exceptional laws, despite
their imperfections, have been recent
ly enforced in many districts the cause
OF this is to be found exclusively in the
incessant murders and acts of violence.
Conscious of its responsibility to
the country, the Ministry will main
tain quiet and order by the legal
means provided"