Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-07

are included the president and other Of
ficials of the first durna, and the ablest
and most conscientious leaders of the con-
stitutional party.
| Government in Control.
/ BY these rigorous measures conditions
have been very much improved. Russia
is more quiet today than it has been
since the close of the war with Japan.
The government Is in complete control
of the situation, and NJ. Stolypin has
managed to carry out his reforms with
out interference, either from a vacillat-
| ing sovereign corrupt court. or the
fanatical reactionar:es He has shown
degree of courage and ability which
places him high among the statesmen
of European nations. He has shown HIM
self to be a man of answering purpose
and breadth of vision unusual among
Russian ministers. Although he has
been continually exposed to assassination
by the conspirators and fanatics OF both
the radical and the reactionary parties,
and has narrowly escaped that fate on
several occasions; although he has been
the object of the hatred and the intrigue
of influential conspiraators at court. and
has been liable to dismissal at any
moment. he has gone forward without
faltering. and has done more to reform
Russia and relieve the causes of diSsatis-
faction and distress than any of his pre-
decessors.
Reform of Land System.
His most important measure has been
the reorganization of the entire land sys-
tenn of the empire. 1t has been revolu-
tionized. He has undertaken to dissolve
the peasant communes and establish
system of individual ownership. At the
time of the emancipation of the serfs,
tracts of land were given to the inhab-
itants of each village. averaging sixteen
acres per capita. which We're allotted TO
the different families by the elders. Mis-
management and the lack of sufficient
land to support the population have been
the chief causes of distress. AS the popu-
laton has increased. the allotments have
grown smaller. and the soil has been eX-
hausted by continuous cultivation. Inc
minimum of productiveneSs of the COM
mune lands in Russia has probably been
smaller than in any other part of the
world. official calculations show that II
all the land now held by the communes
were to be equally distributed, good. bad
and Indifferent. the share of each family
would not be more than three acres, while
it requires at least seven acres to support
an ordinary family
NJ Stolypin has emancipated the peas
ants from the slavery of the commune.
where the elders have been selfish and IN
tolerant and the weaker members have
keen kept in serfdom by the stronger.
When his plans are carried out each lam
1ly VIII nave It's own Id ILL., IlC los oPViSu
to sale and settlement several million
acres of land belonging to the crown, the
state and the church, and has acquired
immense areas belonging to private es-
tates by purchase. This will enable the
government to enlarge the average hold
ing of the peasants nearly 100 per cent.
and will give the land-hungry people
chance to raise enough to support their
families.
Another important measure has been
= I, ay,iz of lower
which has been very much needed. SO as
to secure the impartial administration of
justice.
important measures have been under
taken to promote immigration to Siberia.
where there is an abundance of land sim
liar to that of our western parties, and
a chance for everybody to have farm
and home
Deficit of So4,OOO,OOO
The budget for 1908 has been submitted
to the duma. and for the first time in his
tory the autocrat of all the Russias has
asked his subjects. through their repre-
sentatives, to pass upon the plans of his
ministers for the expenditure of the
money raised by taxation. This of itself
marks an epoch. TO- it is not long since
the car owned everything and was able
to do he Willed with every dollar in
the treasury.
The total expenditures of the empire
for 1908 are estimated at S1,251 800 900.
and the total receipts at 1853, 900. 900.
which will leave a deficit of 1900. 600
which must be met by the negotiation
of foreign loan No money can be
borrowed by the Russian GOV eminent
hereafter without the consent of the
duma. and that fact had made 1t nee
essary for NJ. Stolypin to secure a ma
jority in that body that will consent
to such a transaction. 1t is also neces-
the duma to approve all new measures
of taxation. Thus the car mas been
rendered powerless by the concessions
he has made to his subjects. although
they have by no means acquired all
the privileges they demand. 1t is eX-
pected that the present duma will take
such action as is necessary to relieve
the financial situation and provide for
an increasee of the tax on tea. which
is the universal beverage, as we'll as
authorizing a loan.
NJ. Stolypin secured a majority in
the duma by using radical means to
shut out the socalstic elenent-means
that he would not himself have APP
proved before he became responsible
for the government. 1t was a question
of expediency. however He faced an
emergency that would permit Of moth
ing else. He has finally succeeded in
securing a parl lament that will in
dorse his policy and relieve the en-
barrassment of the government 1t
manufacturers and business men of the
educated classes. who will doubtless act
with prudence and show Il practical
DrehenSiOn of their duties