THE TSAR AND HIS DUMA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 134, 29 February 1908, Page 5

THE TSAR AND HIS DUMA.

' A3IICABLE RELATIONS.. \"i. BY TELEGRAPH —"PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. St. Petersburg,' February 27. • Tho ; Tsar, when receiving 304'deputios at Tsarskoyo Solo,, .thanked tho Duma for assisting him to {maintain law and, order.' His Majesty emphasised- tho' importance of improving tho peasnnte' land tonure, but added that the rights of property ,• must; bo respected. , ' i■' ' QUESTIONS .BEFORE THE' DUMA. During its session last year of a month and a half, the third Duma voted ,15 million roubles (-fil.500,000) for famine .relief. • This is the only Bill passed during that time. Several minor Billsintroduced by tho Government passed their initial stages. : ...i-. The / thil-d..'Duma, .„ elected'on a' restricted franchise, is said to' represent moro ' oulturo and less turbulence than its predecessors. - To a telegram, which 112, members.,of ,the Right sent to tho Tsar, His. Majesty, sent,;the ".following telegraphic reply :—"I thank 1 you'for the expression of' your loyalty.,: I■. feel confident that the Imperial Duma created].by. me will pursue a course of industry, ami, while strictly adhering to the fundamental-laws of the-State sanctioned, by'me,;, Will : realise my hopes." . Ono of the principal questions now pending is how, much money the Duma is prepared to vote for rebuilding the fleet. With regard to the land question, the Agrarian Committee,'of the' Duma, ;by a large , majority,,-has adopted tho Government's ■ proposal<.for.; strictly-- individualistic ownership of peasant!,lands.. "This decision." comments a correspondent; "is of tho highest importance, since the majority of the House, when the Agarian Hill coines on for discussion, will doubtless adopt a' similar view. Not only communal.'but also-family, ownership is thus doomed, which 'means that ail' enormous number of peasants who leave their villages for more or: less prolonged employment ill otlier pursuits,- but who, nevertheless; thanks to tlie.faihily system of ownership, have retained their .connection with the' land, will swell tho ranks, of the proletariat." A cause of difference between the Government and the first/Duma was the lattor's de- 1 mand for compulsory expropriation'of land.