New-York tribune., 1907-11-15
WORK FOR NEW DOUMA |
Land Question Foremost Before The
Russian Parliament.

It. PETERSBURG Nov 1.-THE first topic 10 engage
the attention of the new Douma. whicn was for
mally opened Today after the organization of The
committees, will be the declaration of the legisla-
tive ana nscal proposals of the government and the
statement of its general policy The declaration tn
nc oehVered this year by Premier StoIypin will be
shorter and less argumentative than those delivered
before. as the ministry now. for the first time
faces sympathetic house which it is rot neces-
sary TO either convince defy
The burden Of the message this wear will he the
land question. The government feels that the
property holding members of the present Douma
will work to intrench vested interests against the
threatening peasant revolt.
According to A statement made TODAY bv a mem
her or the Cabinet. the governments message will
recognize the fact that the large amount of tenn
porary legislation issued during last two years
under the imperial seal without the approval Of
parliament has been found to be imperfect in some
or its details But the government will stand by
the main lines of this legislation, and these arc
hat the land hunger of the peasants must be ap-
peased not through the parceTing out of the
estates OF the rural nobility but by fostering the
idea OF breaking UP the peasant communes. by en-
couraging the creation of class of aluent peasant
land owners and by expanding the volume of emf
grafton 20 Siberia and Central Asia
In the matter of the budget, the government will
present evidence of its ability to meet the ordinary
expenditures out OF the settled imposts, yet
general confidence and this cooperation between
eminent TO venture upon enlargement OF tho
extraordinary credits for the benefit of the army
me navy and railroad communication, and for this
purpose either short term foreign loan a long
term internal loan must be negotiated Tho
sage VIII make reference 20 the measures taken 10
secure the pacifcatiOn OF the country.
The religious service preceding the opening Of
Parliament. conducted by the Metropolitan Anto-
mus was made the occasion for great display Of
patriotic enthusiasm on the part of the Conserva-
and
hrst' was elected president of tho house. receiving
@1l votes on the first ballot Count Bobrinsky,
conservative. Of kev, received two votes, and VI.
Golovine. Constitutional Democrat and ex-president
of the second parliament. vote. The Conserva-
tiVes voted for NJ KhomyakoT in return for
promise of Of the -presidencies and two
other Offices.
The city is perfectly quiet A few hundred stu
dents gathered in the vicinity of tho palace, but
they did not attempt TO make demonstration.
The only discordant note was struck by the Social
Democrats, who remained in the committee
during the reading of the Emperor's greeting and
entered the main hall only to sign the oath.
In opening parliament NJ. Goubeff, president OF
the Council Of the Empire, said:
az lis m, majesty the Emperor has charged me with
me high duty TO bid the members of the third
blessing on the work before us Of establishing or
der and peace IN our beloved fatherland, of pro
peoples. of consolidating the new state organiza-
ton and OF strengthening the great and indvisble
Russian empire.
President Khornyakoffs speech did not contain
reference to tho Constitution though the Consti-
tutional Democrats made a formal request that he
should do so, to which he replied that he saw no
use for employing the term. which would only
create dissensiou.
The new lower house is entirely bereft of tho
picturesque aspect of its predecessors. Except for
score Of peasants in dngy kaftans and few
labor representatives in their working clothes the
members are all conventionaly gsrbed.
Among spectators al fhe Of
lament was the American charge affaires Mont
gornery Schuyler. jr.. who had a guest in the
diplomatic box Charles r. Miller. of New York.
The Council Of the Empire. upper house OF
parliament, was opened by President Akimof with
the usual ceremonies.
The chanceliery of the pourna received to-day tho
budget for 1905 from tho Minister Of Finance. Ac-
cording 10 it, the total expenditure for the empire
next year is placed 81 600 the ordinary
receipts at sl-l59o00,ooo. The acknowledged deficit
IS $s4.5OoCoa The Increase over last year for the
army and navy is set down at s2s 10000 for rail
roads S5o0o00. for education $3oO00 for agricult-
s5oOoOo for postal communication $4,000, for
Tho public debt 100000 and for other purposes
St, 10000