REFORM IN RUSSIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 31

REFORM IN RUSSIA.

A NATIONAL STATE COUNCIL. LIMITATION TO DISCUSSION OF PROPOSALS; ST. PETERSBURG, August 19. A holiday was observed in Russia today, the occasion being the issue of a ukase establishing a National Duma or State Council. The ukase establishes a representative Duma for the preliminary study and, discussion of legislative proposals which will be submitted to the Czar by the existing State Council. The Czar reserves power to limit the period of the Duma to five years or less, and to determine the length of each session. Members of the Duma are to be immune. to arrest for debt and free to express their opinions. They have no responsibility to the electors. Payment of ten roubles a day and travelling expenses to members is provided. Ministers and Chiefs of Departments are ineligible for membership, but may attend the Duma and make explanations. The proceedings are to be officially reported. Differences between the Duma and the Council of Ministers are Mo be referred to a mixed commission; The franchise is co-ordinate with existing elective institutions. LONDON, August 19. English newspapers consider that the ukase maintains the Czar’s will unimpaired. THE LATEST MANIFESTO. PRIVILEGES OF THE ZEMSTVOS ABOLISHED. ST. PETERSBURG, August 21. Mounted police dispersed several thousand revolutionaries who were rioting at Kishineff, after the publication of the manifesto creating a representative Duma. Wholesale arrests were made at Lodz, in Poland. N Great excitement prevails at Warsaw. The troops, occupy several streets. A socialist meeting was dispersed. There are no rejoicings over the scheme for the preliminary study and ■discussion of legislative proposals. The “Noyce Vremya” and the “Slovo” are the only newspapers -which eulogise the scheme.. The Liberal organs demand freedom for the press and freedom of speech, and contend that the high rental qualification deprives all the urban proletariat and a great portion of the Intellectuals of the franchise. Directly the manifesto was published. the Governor of Moscow announced that the privileges of meetings of the Zemstvos were abolished, and further discussion of constitutional questions would riot be allowed. A supplementary decree appoints a Commissioner to consider the procedure of a Duma in Poland, Siberia, and the ■Caucasus.