The Washington herald., 1907-01-27
GEAR GROWS MILDER
Marked Change Toward Lib
eralism at TSark0e-SelO.
GOVERNORS STILL AUTOCRATIC
Refuse to Follow the COncIIiatOry
Policy of MinisteFS-LineVitch Char
acteriSes Portsmouth Treaty Great
Russian BIunder-AppTOVes Re-
fusaI of Concession for New Road.

St. Petersburg, Jan. 26.-GGests at
the Cars receptions since the Russian
New Year have observed that the En-
peror was freer from reactionary infiu-
ences than at any time since he called
the Douma into existence. 1t is the i'm
precision Of experienced observers at the
palace that he personally wishes to retain
the Donna as an institution on conditions
that it keep It's hands off his imperial
forces.
One definite decision that has remained
unchanged throughout the recent confer
ences at TsarkOe-Selo is that his autOc-'
racy remain supreme over the army and
navy. He still desires national advice on
questions of democratic reform, but his
elected advisers are expected to furnish
the budgetary appropriation for imperial
defense en- block, and it will be dis
tributed by the council of imperial de-
Tense, Of which his majesty will take the
active presidency, superseding Grand
Duke Nicholas Nicolaievitch.
Advisers More COnciIIatOry.
Under the foregoing conditions his mill
taTy and aTistOcratic encourage is willing
TO abate its aggressive hostility TO the
October manifesto. This changed atti-
tude has been greatly marked since Gen.
Ignatieff's assassination. It is wrong,
however, to suppose that it extends far
beyond Tsarkoe-Selo and the ministerial
department. The attitude, taken by the
most vigorous provincial governors is that
they are more necessary to the Car than
the Car is 20 them. The recalcitTant con-
duct OF the governor of Moscow IS char
acteristic Of the frame of mind from
which the autocratic provincial pro-con-
suls are drawn
The governor of Moscow sets NJ. Stoly-
pin. minister of the interior, at open q
fiance on the question OF the condition Of
electoral meetings
Governor Overrides StOIypin.
NJ. StoIypin sent instructions TO the pro-
vincial governors and projects that their
representatives must be responsible for
the nlegality of meetings and the verif-
cation of the names of speakers as actual
electors Of the locality. The governor of
Moscow has overridden this with a regu-
lation making the chairman of a meeting
liable to a fine of 800 rubles or three
months Imprisonment if there is ans
breach Of the instructions at a meeting al
which he is chairman. The presiding Off
Ger is made liable to punishment if any
impromptu speaker gives a wrong name
OF circulates leaflets explaining the pro
gramme Of his party.
This efectually debars anything ike a
mass meeting, and he has gone a steI
further authorizing the police to strike
1900 names from the voting register OF
the ground that the men are employees il
a factory or building where the police
are attempting To find men 10 prosecute
for disorders that occurred a year ago
LinevItch Regrets Portsmouth.
The private primary baIloting has passed
in good order, except in Samara, where
for four days there were incessant arrests
of the workmen and peasant leaders ans
conhscatiOn of their electoral lists.
Gen. Linevitch, who is regarded as tn,
most experienced practical authority OF
the Russian situation in the far East, de
clares his emphatic approval Of - gov
ernment's refusal of the L0f ar
American syndicate To- constr d seCon,
Siberian line. He declares that Russi5
gave the japanese far too much In tn,
Portsmouth treaty, the conditions o
which he regards as great Russian
blundaT. He opposes altogether the pole!
of cultivating foreign concessionaires.
Russias foremost task in the far Eas
at present is the construction Of a railroad
from Irkutsk by way of Tchita 4
KhatharOvsk.