New-York tribune., 1909-04-27
PARLIAMENT PLANS
TO DEPOSE SULTAN
RFCH4D EFFENDI MAY BE
PLACED ON THRONE.
Action Depends on Ruling of Sheik-
uI-Isldm-Albanian Force Hietdr
-Massacres CeaSing.


Sultan Abdul Hamid appears now to be certain.
and the 1O1 guns salutng Mehemmed Rechad
Enendi as the ruler Of the empire probably
will be heard before the next selamlik on Fri
day, The dignitaries OF the Church care as
little for Abdul Hamid as does the COMMITTEES
Of Union and Progress The higher clergy are
seeking to curb the agitation Of the enthusiasts
Of the Mahornetan League Senators and Depu-
ties who have made inquiry among the Ulemas
find them in different degrees favorable to the
sutans removal
A caucus CT Senators and Deputies determined
to-day to make an effort to compel the Sultan
to abdicate under the ecclesiastical law, by the
terms of which a decree may be issued by the
sheik-ul-Islam, the highest authority Of Ma
hometanism, pronouncing the Sultan incapable
Of ruling.
The grounds on which the issuance OF a canon
fcaI rescrfpt will be demanded are that the Sui
tan's supremacy is harmful to the Church, con-
trary to the sacred law and unjust to the Turk
ish people. The programme as agreed on at the
caucus is that demand shall be made for the
abdication Of Abdul Hamid simultaneously from
the highest court OF the Church. from the Ma
tionaI Assembly and from the military chiefs.
An offer Of palace and of liberal allowances
will be made the Sultan
The parliamentary leaders wish to discuss
this programme at public sitting before they
approach the Sheik- l-Islam on the subject. for
ii is with this man. who lives secluded life OF
a mysterious semi-holy character in the pop
uIar belief that the difficulty lies He is not
likely to act without giving serious considers-
tion 10 the subject taking counsel with the
principal UIema and seeking the opinion OF ths
xfsest and most powerful men IN the Church
The ConstitutionaIists have no wish to op-
pose ecclesiastical authority or to undertaks
the tasks Of progress without the support ef a
majority of the Wise Men, and II they str Jnsly
opDose the abdication Of the Sultan L would
hardly he insisted on at present. although this
IS regarded as the simplest course TO avoid
further complications with Abdul Hamid
uebemmed Rechad Effendf, the heir apparent
to the throne. who will probably be selected
to succeed Abdul Hamfd. has lived practically
= nrisoner for twenty-five years in the large
naIace and gardens not far from the YiIdez
Kiosk Since the July revolution. however, he
has often been in the streets Of Constantinople'
looking from the carriage windows on the
scenes in the thoroughfares which must have
been strangely interesting to him He IS gray
haired and not very strong. to judge from MS
annearance. He is sixty-fve years old. and is
we'll educated. although inexperienced in the
affairs OF the world
This afternoon witnessed the final act in the
siege of the YiIdiz. General Schefket. COM
rnander OF the Constitutonalists, Overawtng the
AIbanians into surrender This force. which
was composed Of two hundred men, was sta
TONED IN the imperial palace. The Albanians
were not engaged in the fighting on Saturday.
hut they, persfstentIy refused 70 lay down their
arms General Schefket sent up a strong oody
OF Macedonians and six field pieces were placed
in a prominent position above the palace Otner
guns we're disposed on the neighboring heights
while troops commanded all the approaches
The red flag continued however TO fly de-
family until O'Clock when the watchers saw
II dropping slowly down the staff making place
for the white token Of surrender A few min
r,tes later crowd of fugitives was seen pour
ing down the dusty road leading to Beshimtash.
where the men were fastened together with
ropes and conducted under military escort TO
| the headquarters of the commission of inquiry
The prisoners included domestics, eunuchs.
pages. secretaries. and ractcalIy the entire
male staff of the palace. as we'll as the famous
Fusieers the spoiled proteses of the sultan
| Their commander arrested in disguise at
| CaIata and severely handled and subjected to
| indignities
TEN THOUSAND UNDER ARREST
The Salonicans show great severity. Many %
| the arrested sOftas credited with being reac-
| tionists have been brutaIIy treated, and others.
| concerning whose loyalty there is doubt. have
| not entirely escaped. The vigorous search con-
| tinues even into the European quarters. II il
| estimated now that at least ten thousand pris-
| oners are in the hands of the Salonicans. Those
liable to severe punishment such as the rebel
| lious Saonica chasseurs. have been securely
| roped. Among the civilians arrested are Maui
| red Bey. editor of the 'NIizan"; Abdurrahman
| EffendL Assistant Minister of Finance. and sew
| eraI high officials of the Porte A number OF
| reactionary newspapers have been suppressed
| Fresh battalons continue TO arrive from ths
country districts AS they came in to-day eacn
marched to the Palace of Justice. where the
| Parliament sitting. and saluted the repre-
sentatives of the new government Many oe
/ the soldiers went to the mosques to-day TO pray
| Tewfk Pacha the Grand vizier and the other
| members of the Cabinet resigned to-day, but
| their designations were not acted upon Tahir
| Pacha one Of the commanders of the Tildiz
| garrison. has been degraded and dismissed from
| the army Many other officials OF the palace
| have been dismissed ws,.le many women of the
| Sultars harem. with their families. have been
sent away.
The Senate ard Chamber of Deputies in joint
session requested the ministers to remain in
4 TIKI