Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-31

ne declared. should be additional TO tho
bank for the mobiles and that for the
peasants. NJ Back declared also that y
loan was necessary. Russia's neighbors
did not cease TO arm: therefore Russia
was obliged to arm and prepare for
the national defense
NJ Chingaref (cadet deputy delivered
a long criticism of NJ. Barb's speech An
increase of expenses. he said. would
promptly lead government to the |, IS of a
financial equilibrium. The miltariza-
ton of the budget had made enormous
progress. The balance sheet was unfavor-
able. The close relations OF Russian banks
and industrial syndicates had proved pref
judicial to the economical prosperity OF
Russia. The president of the council had
invited deputies 10 visit him that certain
statements might not he falsely inter-
preted: but il was AT the tribune thar
false interpretations should he corrected
1t belonged to the duma to criticise the
general policy of the government
Apropos OF the agricultural banks pro-
posed by NJ. Barb. IL is interesting 10
note that the subject is one to which at
tention has been directed for some time
The renewal of the Russo-German treaty.
which treats of the industrial production
and agrarian policy of Russia. interests
both countries. The asrarian policy OK
Russia as TO the expectation and im1or-
tation of cereals is shown by the cam
paign of German journals which FAVOR a T.
renewal of the treaty concluded between
Russia and Germany IN l.hi-treatS winch
was mauifestlv Instantaneous for Rus
STA That Finland should find II adNan-
tageous to import wheat from America
and Germany was proof that goVernheht
had not properly studied its interests anu
had neglected to control the culture 81
grains and the depreciation in the quality
The great idea of Alexander III was 10
divide the lands IN order To Obtain pet'er
results and this idea was now being put
into execution.
NJ Il ri
cheine. who possesses in high degree
the esteem of the ear twho had nm IN
view for a much higher post. Is master.
nevertheless, of the department over
which he presdes. NJ kriVocheine mas
written an interesting ueatse on nusS'
agrarian policy.
, The minister declares that the asricui.
turaI budget during five years-lsos-iE
pa ssed from 100000 ruhles to la''-
100000 rubles. The adminstrau.s
penses decreased from SIS per cent TO "a
per cent-that is to say. that 34.6 per
cent of the total of the budget are gwen
directly TO the country. FOR the same
period-190S- 1913-the report OF govern
ment values passed from SD millions IN
1902 to 1857 millions in 1918. an augment
tation of 40 per cent. In fact for these
five years we find 5l0.oO0,ooo rubles OF a..
resource, against oil, 100000 rubles for
expenses.
Preparatory measures during late years
for the new agrarian organization have
given excellent re-
Agrarian suits on which one
may base action for
oI6dAlAation' work in concert with
agrarian organizations and the zemtsvos.
to which credits are transmitted for dis
tribution. OF the 511 100000 rubles cited
above 140,OOO,OO0 rubles have been as
signed to the rural organizations and
then as in 1908 only ffty-six lots were
counted in ten cantons. in 1913 there was
1.292 lots in 800 cantons; the personnel
employed in the new fields increased
from 2,s1O men in 1909 to 10000 men in
1913. These figures. sufficiently eloquent
of themselves. prove the defects Of Rus
sian agriculture. the principal defect be-
ing the ignorance of the agriculturist
and his lack of instruction. With many
agriculturists sent to the provinces as
instructors, general and technical in
struction was entirely absent or in many
cases elementary. These defects are
temporary, for better conditions and ad-
| vantages are causing the youth to turn
to the schools whose special sections
have recently been increased by 60 per
cent The avidity with which the peas
ants themselves turn to the conferences
given. often in the open air. show an
awakened interest
In 1872 1647o,o peasants were as
sembled at 1000 points to listen to spe-
cial subjects of interest. 1t is remarked
that many changes have been intro
duced in the practice of cultivation for
which the credits appropriated have in
creased from 5000 rubles to I.OO6.OOO.
Peasants now demand of their own
initiative artificial soils and i'm
plements. for which they expend
about 120 millions annually. Al
though the production of mineral ma
nures augment, the importation grows.
and for 1912. for example, it had reached
496. 900 tons. Finally it should be re
| marked that there is great attention paid
to the thrashing out of grain and the
organization of a great number of agri-
cultural societies. 1t is not possible to
discover the result Of this work, but il
may be said that the production in Rus
STA has passed from milliards to
milliards and the expectation from l to
~ milliards for the period of 190S-1913.
The reforms which are being effected
in Russia are confined principally to
agriculture, and in that connection the
struggle against alcohol But there are
other reforms in embryo which propose
to develop Industries i'll country
where during i've months of the year.
in winter great part OF the inhabitants
are idle The development of rural in
dustry is great question. which en-
cages the earnest attention OF the
Zemstvos. This industry furnishes. as
it is, 500,00oeD rubles and employs
100000 workmen. The expositions of
Moscow and st. Petersburg have eN-
hibited specimens of that industry, which
includes carpentry, arms, furniture OBJ
jects of art, knives, woven goods. etc.
The renewal of the treaty of COM
MERGE with Germany presents special
interest in agricultural life. The fact
that the public, the press and parlia-
ment discusses the subject proves the
seriousness with which il rs regarded.
The great part of the agricultural so
cieties take an active interest in the
work, and have constituted commit
tee composed of three sections. cereals.
forests and cattle raising.
The unity of the press and parlia-
markable, and shows the general in
terest which has been awakened
throughout Russia In 1912 Russian
expectation reached 4Ji million rubles.
but in place of increasing in 1913 IL
fell to 453. The importations from
Germany for the same time passed
from 521 millions to CAB in 1919.
1t has thus become an urgent neces-
sity to attempt as far as possible TO
re-eStablish the equilibrium.
Thus while Russia is apparently in
disaccord with the duma, she is, on the
other hand. under the guiding genius
of her minister of agriculture. estab-
fishing accord with her hitherto
neglected agrarians. The name of
krivocheine may day have the
same renown in Russia that of
Sully in France. who said: