The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-10-24
BRIBERY IN RUSSIA.
High OniciaIs Who Sell Appointments 1t
-l- Regularly Established Rates.

High Ohiciais Who sell Appointments ~
g. Regularly Established Rates.
To give an idea of the character of
our medical service, writes ''Stepniak,'
two recent and characteristic trials may
be cited. that of Bush and that of
Koritzky. Both of these men were fully
natriculated thieves. The first was
Surgeon-in-Chie of the fleet. His trial
took place in 1882. and made, as well it
might, great noise in Russia. The
other gentleman was Surgeon-in-Chief
of the army. His trial took place in
December, 1884. The two trials in their
main features were identieal-the same
crimes, the same procedure. the same
subterfuge of defense We need then
analyze but one of these trials-tbat o.
Bush-for. though older than the other,
it is richer in detail. Surgeon-in-Chief
and Civil General DIR. Bush did not, like
Rykoff, of the Skopine Bank, dis
tinguished himself by the enormity of
his populations; the blackmail he levied
never exceeded from f1g0 to f200, and
he condescended on occasions to accept
as little as a Is note. For eight years
places, promotions and transfers were
sold in the Chief Surgeons Office with
out any sort of concealment
or disguise, almost as openly
as if they had been offered by auction.
The business was managed by two con-
fidential men--Andreef, who acted as
cashkeeper. and Parteneff, who acted
as clerk. 1t was no secret OF one
hundred and twenty-six surgeons who
were called as witnesses, eighty-six adj
mitted that they had either paid black
mail themselves or knew those who had
been thus mulcted The other forty de-
MED all personal knowledge of the
doings in question; protested even that
they had ever heard tell of them. But
their sincerity was evidently doubted
by the imperial procurator, for he sig
nificahtly complimented the eighty-six
on the 'civic courage which they dis
played in confessing their fault. DIR.
Saviesheff and DIR. Lukne testified
that everybody said that Andreef,
Bush's man of business. took brides. "
The facts were known even to the stu
dents of the Academy of Medicine.
Doctor Inspector Popoff testified to hav-
ing heard students speak of it as mat
ter OF common knowledge. and he had
said sharply to one of them Don't
talk nonsense. How can you pay for
an appointment when you have not got
kopeck in your pocket ?" On this the
student, nothing Disappeared, made
answer "Oh, that is nothing. If l can
not give money can give bill" The
bill system was the only one practic-
able for impecunious doctors emulous
of good places and fat pay. Andreef
always conducted his business "like a
gentleman. The bills, which he took
beforehand, were never presented until
the promises in consideration of which
they were accepted had been fulfilled
If, on the other hand, Bush was not
able to keep his engagement, the bill
was returned-a curious instance of the
'honor" which is said to prevail among
thieves. Ordinary nominations and
simple transfers were dealt in accord
ing TO the established tariff, which
varied, however. from 200 to 400 rubles
| GEO to f40) for each transaction.
Bush of course, endeavored to exact
the larger sum and drove very hard
bargains. The Surgeon General of the
Baltic fleet, Smirnow, testified that in
1880 he was travelling with two young
| doctors, one of whom, unrestrained by
his presence, observed; But it is
altogether abominable. They bargain
down there the Surgeon-inC Chiefs
office as if it were a drug-shop.
offered Andreef $50 rubles, but he
wanted 800, and, as | could not afford
so much. my nomination did not come
off," Yet all was not 'shop." The
story was graced with touch of poetry
and romance, represented by Mile.
Selezneff, lady of the corps de ballet
Mr.. Efrenoff, one of the witnesses, tes-
titled that, being invited to take tea at
Bush's house, he met there the lady in
question and Andreef While they
were at table packet was brought ia
the chief, who, after opening it and
running his eye over the contents. ex-
/ claimed: s'Ah! what a stupid fellow
this Shvank is. He does not know how
to make appointments, and then,
turning to Mile. Selzneff, he said
Nominate somebody yourself. Where.
upon the ballet-dancer named DR.. Tel
choff, aud her nomination was duly car
red into effect.
Most of the posts at Bush's disposal
|
were others from which he drew a regu
lar yearly income. In Russia, as every.
body is aware, a naval or military hos
pitaf is small gold mine for those who
know how to make the most of theil
opportunities. So many things are re-
quired, and it is easy, either by mini
MIXING the quantities or deterioratine
the quality perhaps by both-to save
something on everyone of them. Fol
"save'' read ssteal" This being the
case, it is not surprising that the direct
orship of naval or military hospita
I should fetch a relatively high price
1000, 5000 and even 1000 rubles. Blu
Bush, not satisfied with paymen
down, levied on his nominees an annua
tribute. and if they fell behind witt
their payments, or did not pay what h,
thought enough. the Surgeon-in-C Chic
would threaten them with dismissal
As, moreover, he knew every detail o
the hospital administration, and coult
guage to nicely how much ever,
dictatorship was worth. it was impOs
sible to keep back any part of the plum
der which he considered rightly
his due. There was found anon,
his papers detailed list of the incom,
of Cronstadt Hospital, expressly draw
up for his information by his confiden
tial clerk, Parteneff Its extent may b.
inferred from the fact that it covered
two folios of foolscap. Nothing wa
omitted. Bush was equally tamilia
with what may be termed the interio
or domestic bribery of the hospitals
In his own particular notebook wa
found the following interesting mem
orandum: ''Grinzevitch (the directo
of the hospitals) receives brides from
the doctors through the intermediary O
the clerk Terentieff, from the furnisher
of food and firewood through the inter
mediary of the clerk Makaroff, from tn
furnishers OF pharmacy through Sko
penhalen, from those of the school G
surgery through Akinfieff ''
Thus Grinzevitch did in his hospta
precisely what Bush himself did in hi
more exalted sphere. Each for himself
according to the measure OF his ability
All this went on for long years An
even the trial, when it did come to pass
was the result of pure accident.
functionary so highly placed that h
could not rise or be pushed any higher
General DR.. Nakulovsky. fell out wit
Bush and denounced him in due forr
and had him prosecuted. = Lo'sdo
Times.
Steering Clear of Sin.