The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-23

LONDON. Dec. ga correspondent at
ST. Petersburg says that there has been an
enormous falling off in the government
revenues from the famine stricken prov
inces. In the province of NOroneZh alone
the deficit for September was go, 600 rubles;
for October II was 800 600 rubies and for
November it was !. 500, 600 rubles. Ii is cal
.ulated that by the end of December the
arrears will reach the sum of 1000, O0O
rubles. Similar conditions prevail in the
other provinces affected by the famine,
and the prospects are just as gloomy. Inc
passport, labor and other restrictive laws
have been removed, so as TO enable the
peasants to migrate.
Reports of the merciless repression OF
outlawry are continually being received.
The civil authorities do not depend
upon themselves alone to put down
brigandage aud other lawless acts, but,
upon the merest pretext, they summon the
military, with the intention Of overawlng
he people Three men convicted Of rob-
berry at Simhersk We're condemned to un-
dergo punishment with the knout. So
well did the official ply the dreadful
weapon that he poor wretches, who prob
ably had stolen only to keep life in their
miserable bodies. died under the lash
Another case where the sentence, accord
ing to a Russian officials IDEAS was made
to fit the crime, was that of a man who
ing a few turaips. He was hauled before
a court of justice and sentenced TO penal
servitude for life.
The Telegraph's correspondent says that
the distress has not touched the hearts of
the rich merchants OF St Petersburg and
they refuse to subscribe anything for the
relief of their suffering countrymen. He
cites rs an illustration of the apathy with
which appeals for help are received, the
fact that the collection boxes which were
placed about the corn exchange were found
when removed, to be filled with bits of
tin and pieces Of paper. The correspon-
dent further says that, in numerous cases,
the dealers, after receiving eXorbiEant
prices for their grain, sent TO the famine
stricken provinces bags the contents of
which was mostly grass, sand and bran.
A limited quantity of maize was placed in
each after IL had been thoroughly soaked
IN water to increase its bulk. These bags
caught fire, through spontaneous combuS-
ton, while enroute TO their dest stination
and most of them were destroyed. Enough
was left, however, to reveal the fraud that
the dealers intended to perpetrate on the
buyers of the grain.
The correspondent says that the cor
ruption is widespread among the officials,
and that they are little affected by the
sights of distress, sickness and death
which are visible on every hand. Many of
bhe town oInclalS, ne says, refuse to enroll
the starving peasants on the relief list un-
less they first pay a bribe TO them at the
rate OF ten copecks for every pood of rye
given.
URBANA. o., Dec. 21.-John H. James,
OF this city, wrote TO the Russian charge
d'atfaires in Washington, Mr. Gregor, to
know II the people Of Russia were really
starving rs reported in The press. He re-
ceived the following reply and will at
once start subscriptions for aid to the
famine sufTererers:
''clr--l have been prevented by pressure
of work to express sooner my gratitude for
the very welcome and generous sugges-
tlons contained in your letter of Novem Der
j.. 1t Is unfortunately too true that the
population of twelve provinces-govern-
ments-ln Russia, representing a great
deal over 10000, 600 of people, is actually
starving. | have not been instructed to
open subscriptions nor appeal to the help
of the citizens of your great and noble
country, but you may be sure that every
cent subscribed by you and your friends
for the relief of our sufferers will help. and
will bring everlasting gratitude from my
countrymen. l am quite ready and willing
TO see that such aid is properly directed
and delivered in Russia where it is most
needed"