Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-09

sign of reconciliation between the auto
cratic and the constitutional empire IN,
deed this reconciliation must be effected
before the raising up Of Russia may be
achieved.
The government Of Russia, so often &C.
cused of autocracy. may now be termed
definitely a constitutional hereditary
monarchy. On August 8 u9. 1906 an
elective state council 'tgosudarstvennaya
duma) was created and on October IL 600
a law was promulgated granting public
liberty 20 the people based upon inviola-
bility of the person freedom OF con-
science. speech. assembly and association
and establishing unallerable rule
that no law shall come into effect with
out the approval of the duma and that the
elected Of the people shall be guaranteed
real participation in the control of such
acts as are approved by the emperor. The
duma. it should be added. is elected for
five years by the law of June 16). 1907.
The council of the empire and the duma
have equal legislative powers and the
same right OF initiative
EQuaI legislation and of ad-
povere dressing questions to
ministers. Every meas
ure before being submitted for the inn
perial sanction must be passed by both
the duma and the council of the empire.
A proposition reje ED by one Of the two
legislative institutions cannot be submit
ted to the car. Both the duma and the
council may annul the election of any OF
their members. Ministers are eligible for
the duma and when elected may vote.
Among the questions discussed by the
recent duma were the army and navy ap-
preparations. The debate on naval ap-
preparations terminated June % by vote
of 113 against 2J to establish credit OF
20.OOOOOO rubles to construct new battle
ships which the duma had refused on
June o. The orators Of the council or the
empire called attention to the ukase OF
November = 1905 according to the terms
of which neither the ministers Of war nor
marine were subject to the authority OF
the president of the council OF minister's
but on the contrary. were Immediately
subordinate to the emperor.
The Count de White invoked the text OF
the ukase and deplored the lack of regard
for these restrictions which had taken
the question of naval constructions into
the domain of parliamentarism.
The Temps. commenting upon the sin
gular attitude OF NJ. de White and NJ
Stolypin, says:
IF NJ. Stolypin is entirely right In WISH
ing to restore to Russia the fleet she lost.
he Is wrong in pretending to confide Its
reconstruction to those who were respon-
sible for its loss and who have to their
debit Port Arthur and Tsushima. The
commission Of the national defense on the
18th of March adopted the following con-
clusions:
First. feet is necessary to Russia.
Second. The ministry of marine. as 1t
is constituted today. is incapable OF Great
ing proper fleet"
In view Of the lack of accord between
the council and the duma the minister of
finances. by virtue Of special rules. in
scribed the credits voted by the council OF
the empire in the budget. namely. TO-
79S. 839 rubles for naval constructions. and
1851, SAB rubles for naval artillery.
n{ynln md fnni0 Qua
tions." announcing the reorganization of
the Russian army" says that the duma
in its session of June 80 examined two
projects Of a law presented by the minis
ter of war-firSt, credits for the construc-
ton of military, storehouses; second,
funds necessary for Typographical studies.
construction of routes. etc. for strategfcai
purposes. The minister Of war said:
-.
at Is true that the reduction of military
electives is a desirable thing: but it is
only possible by time and
Military when the conditions have
r.h..;., been improved. We should
give to the army the cohe-
sion which it needs We should prepare
for the staff the corps Of instruction that
is necessary and form a solid contingent
OF re-enlsted non-commissioned officers.
1t is only when We have attained such
a point that We may think Of a reduction"
The duma then voted $4,000, 600 rubles
for the first project and 5000 rubles for
the second.
Among other important questions dis
cussed by the recent duma was the ques-
ton Of the Caucasus. introduced March
IL. by a group Of deputies of the right.
who questioned the president OF the coun-
Gil of ministers concerning the disorders
in the Caucasus.
Along the Turco- Russian frontier and
recently TurcO- Persian, there are perpetual
disorder, murder and rapine. Kurds en-
croach upon Persian territory in the re-
gions of Ourmio, and for a fact there Is
never peace or security on the frontiers.
Russia opposes to these various ele-
reinforced In 1905 by division Of troops
from Kief. The Turkish army has also
important electives the frontier OF
reservists (rediO and territorials Cnama-
there is an Armenian agitation, due In q
great measure as much to Russian
maladministration as to the incen-
diarism of revolutionaries. Gen. Galittyne,
the last governor general who admins
tered the Caucasus before the re-estab-
lishment Of the vice regency. took coer-
Give mea sures against the chiefs of the
Armenian Church who were accused OF
anti-Russian acts. In 1904 the troubles in
the Caucasus resulted i'm the violent death
his Armenian policy, rendered impossible
for his successor. There are socialism and
disorder in the Caucasus, but no unity
among their chiefs
4
The socialist Georgian Ramish-V Will In
the tribune of the first duma. cried:
'Proletarians OF all coun-
Vain tries unite" The appeal
", k,S.
Appeal. was VAN, IN TINS oeor-
ties were broken into refractory fraR-
ments. The revolutionary contingent OF
Georgians to the third duma was a coun-
terpart of those sent to the first and the
second. The official report of Senator
Kouzminski in 1905 proved conclusively
the unfitness of Russian institutions for
the Georgian and Tartar populations, for
the agrarian, for the judiciary and for
the schools and parishes.
In the matter of schools. Russia. ac-
cording to a correspondent of the Debats.
is little fit to teach her own youth. The
correspondent writes:
IF calm reigns I'm the streets, folly
reigns in the heads of young Russians
boys and girls. who are little looked after
by their parents. In this country reputed