Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-28
SITUATION CRITICAL
Feeling of Pessimism Grow
ing in st. Petersburg.
OVER ATTITUDE OF CAR
Toward the Lower House of Parlia-
ment.
DOUMA DEBATES AGAIN TODAY
Moderates and Reactionaries Are Busy
Former Suggested Two Plans
to Meet the Exigency.
DoUMA DEBATES AGAIN TODAY

ST. PETERSBURG, May 2S-There was
no direct echo at todays session of the
lower house of parliament to the decisive
struggle which opened last Saturday, but
in anticipation of Il sensational sequel u
crowd of considerable size gathered out
side the Tourida palace. There was much
excitement in the corridors before the
house met.
An officer identified as a colonel on the
general staff created a stir by openly de-
claring in the presence of a score of peas
ant members that the time had come
when the army should support parlia-
Ipent, which represented the will of the
people and not the emperor.
AT the opening of the session some
amusement was caused by the reading OF
communication from the minister of the
interior asking for a credit of S24,500 for
the reconstruction of the orangery and
laundry of Dorpat University.
Another communication transmitted was
a project to grant general authority to
open private schools.
A member from Poltava proposed that
the house interpellate the minister of the
interior to ascertain why two teachers
arrested four months ago had not been
tried or confronted by the charges
brought against them.
a petition signed by seventy-siX members
proposed the appointment of a parliament
tary commission to investigate the abuse of
power on the part of the administration.
The Personal Liberty Bill.
The debate on the personal liberty bill
was then resumed. The feature was
speech made by NJ Chtcheglovtoff min
lister of justice, in exceedingly liberal
tone, pointing out the necessity for supple
dcrsed, with bills providing for the reor-
ganiZation of court procedure and others
to enable officials guilty of abuse Of power
to be prosecuted civilly and criminally.
The minister's speech created much COM
ment, especially as the government dis
tinctly repudiated ali responsibility for the
minister's conciliatory remarks on Satur-
Gay, and in view of the fact that 1t was
rumored that he would be dismissed
The outcome of the minister's concilia-
tory remarks was to show how great is the
gulf between parliament and the ministry,
the speakers who followed him scorn!ng
his advances and declaring amid applause
that parliament wanted instead of tie re-
sponsibility of the judges, the responsibility
OF the ministry.
The personal liberty bill was then referred
to a committee.
Pessimism is Growing.
The pessimfsm over the outlook continues
to grow. The government as usual in
every crisfs. seems to be hesItating as to
which course TO pursue. The emperor re-
fuses to yield to the counsels of the court
camarilla, but his attitude continues to be
negative and not affirmative. He seems 10
cling to the idea that a compromise is still
possible. Several official notes have been
issued denying that the government intends
to resort to force, but at the same time
there is no evidence that the emperor is
ready to yield to the demand for the su-
persession of the present ministry with
one from the majority in the lower house
OF parliament. The result is virtual dead
lock, the prolongauon of which only
serve to diminish the chances of a peace
full settlement.
Two plans for extricating the government
without meeting the direct issue are sug
gested by the emperors moderate advisers.
One is simply TO allow the lower house to
talk until the end of June, when the sum-
mer vacation will be scheduled. The other
Is to dissolve parliament and order a
election. But either course, in the opinion
of the best judges of the situation, will
only increase the danger of an explosion
in the country,