Changes in Local Government

• A new state-appointed office of 'Land Captain' was created in July 1889 with power to override elections to the zemstvo and village assemblies and to disregard zemstvo decisions.
• Land Captains were made responsible for law enforcement and government in the countryside and could ignore the normal judicial process overturning court judgements.
• A further act in 1890 changed election arrangements for the zemstva so as to reduce the peasants' vote and placed the zemstva under central government control. This had the effect of channelling their efforts away from political discussion towards the social services including education health local transport and engineering projects.