The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-30
Taxes Collected From Russian
Peasants by the Knout.
NARROWING TALES OF HUNGER.
Disastrous Fires and the Cattle
Plague Add to the Horrors.
England and Germany Tell China That
Mere Promises Are worthless-The
Pope Celebrates Mass-German Crop
frospects-Inhuman Cattle Shipping.

BERLIN, Sept. 29.-Returns received from
various agricultural societies throughout
the empire show that the total summer
and winter wheat crops of Germany
amount to 1S,407, 740 double quintals,
against 1922, ,007 last year.
LONDON, Sept. GA dispatch from st.
Petersburg to the Telegraph, describing
the situation in Russia arising from the
failure of crops, and detailing narrowing
incidents of the famine now prevailing
says that not for centuries has such wide
spread distress been recorded. The Tele-
graphs correspondent says the authorities
delayed taking any action to relieve the
distress until it was too late. In addition
to the scarcity of food which has caused
untoward suffering, the distress is intensi-
he'd by the enormous number of unusually
disastrous fires throughout the famine
stricken district. In many districts en-
tire villages have been destroyed. Added
to this came the cattle plague Thousands
OF head of cattle perished and many fami-
lies thus lost their only subsistence What
little food it is possible for peasants to OBJ
tain Is OF the vilest description, but SO
sharp are the pangs of hunger that they
gladly eat stuff that at other times they
and the ground is so soaked with water
that potatoes are rotting. The price of po-
tatoes has already doubled and is still ris-
ing. A peasants board has sent petition
TO the ministry praying that taxes and ar
rears of taxes be wiped out
A circular has been issued by the min
lister of the interior which enumerates
thirteen governments in which the people
Il e
in which partial famine prevails. The
great fair which is annually held at Min
Novgorod, attended by merchants and
dealers from all parts of Russia, was a
failure this year. This was due to the
enormous number of bankrupts and their
consequent withdrawal from the trade
In many villages the peasants have
nailed up their huts and have left their
communes to scour the country in search
of work. Hundreds of them have failed in
their search, and are begging along the
roadsides. In numerous cases seed corn
which was furnished the peasants by the
government has been eaten up instead of
being planted, and the lands are lying fall
low.
Notwithstanding the terrible condition
OF the peasants, taxes continue to be
extorted from the starving people. Every
thing is taken from them to satisfy the
demands of the tax-gatherers. Where the
peasants display any unwillingness to pay
the taxes collectors resort to physical
means TO extort money from them. The
knout is extensively employed by officials
of the tax-collecting department of Russia.
CHICAGO, Sept. 29.-It is reported here
that the French government during the
last three weeks has been quietly buying
up enormous amounts of grain and meats
through its agents in this country. The
explanation offered is that the govern
ment is in a delicate position with regard
to both grain and meat in France. Prices
are high and the demand for the removal
of tariffs is pressing. The government
does not like to directly let down the bars.
The threatening aspect of European
affairs gives it good excuse to provision
itself strongly in advance, and as the gov
ernment supplies this stuff it will enter
free, and the French people will get it
cheap.