The sun., 1909-06-22
The Russian Pariiament's Work.

Although outside Of Russia relatively
little attention has been paid to the pro-
oeedings Of the third Duma, that body
ought to be credited with some substan-
tial legislation during the session which
on June is was prorogued until October
%. A glance at the work accomplished
will show that the assembly has played
part by no means Insignificant and
that it is gradually aocustoming the
Cars subjects to the practice Of self
government.
1t is true that the Duma, like the
Reichstag, has failed TO secure the
concession OF Ministerial accountability.
1t Is also true that the sovereign has
refused to recognize the right, which
the assembly strove to assert, Of regu-
lating the administrative departments.
1t was especially the Navy Department
which Premier SroLYPIN desired TO
purge, because notoriously for years
it's usefulness has been minimized by
embezzlement and corruption. Fortu-
nately the Czar, while declining to
sign the naval reform bill, has by his
personal fat brought about an improved
state OF things, 50 that the Government
has entered with considerable conf
dence on its programme Of naval e1-
pansion. The keels Of no fewer than
four Dreadnoughts we're laid down the
other day, and it is expected that the
vessels will be completed in three years.
II now We are asked what substantial
work has really been effected, We answer
that in the first place the Duma has
completed an examination Of the budget,
thus reaffirming the principle that the
consent of the peoples representatives
is needful for the collection and ap-
preparation Of taxes. In other words,
it has claimed and gained the power
over the purse. 1t has also undertaken
to solve the agrarian problem, which
is only second in Importance to the
fiscal. Shall the bulk OF Russia's till
able land continue to be owned and
worked on the communal system, or
shall tho principle Of individualism be
substituted? Premier SroLYYISs an
swer to this fundamental question ID
embodied in bill providing for the
dissolution OF the mfrs or village CON-
munee and the distribution OF their
lands in severalty among the adult male
peasants. When We look both at the
magnitude and at the drastic charac-
tor OF the contemplated change we
must recognize it as unique expert
ment in sgrarian legislation. Among
many other bills passed by the third
Duma in the session just closed may
be mentioned a measure Of peculiar
interest to Englishmen and Americans,
reforming the judicial procedure so az
to grant an accused person the right Of
being represented by counsel at pre-
liminary Investigations.
Still another important piece Of leg
islation which the Stolypin Governmen,
succeeded in carrying through the Duma
though not without having submit
ted to several distasteful amendments
moved by the Octobrists, is the bill
removing the religious disabilities Of the
so-called Old Believers. There is rea-
son to believe that the measure will b<
defeated in the Council Of the Empire
or upper house of the Russian Parlia-
ment, where the bureaucrats Of the Holy
Synod are strongly intrenched. More
over, those who think that Mr.. SToLY-
PIN 10 the best man for the hour will
regret that the religious disabilities bill
should have caused breach between
him and the 0ctobrists at this time when
concerted and strenuous effort il
about to be made to supplant the pres
ent Government with a Goremykin OF
Trepoff Ministry. 1t seems likely that
the crisis will occur after the festival
which will be held in July to oommem-
crate the bicentenary Of the defeat OF
CHARLES XII. by PETER the Great at
Poltava.
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