Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-23
POOR RUSSIA.
Stories of Dire Distress From a News
paper Man in St. Petersburg.
THE HEARTEESS ACTS OF THOSE
Who Have Reaped Reward on Account Of the Fam
ine-Distributors of Aid Charge the Poor
Wretehes Zee Before Enrolling Their
Nanes-Soms Real Philanthropy
Displayed.

LONDON, December 22.-The Tele-
graphs correspondent at st. Petersburg
says that there has been enormous fall
ing off in the Government revenues
from the famine stricken provinces.
In the Province of Voronozh alone,
the deficit for September was $4,000
roubles; for October il was 500, 200 rou-
bes and for November it was one MIL
lion roubles. 1t Is calculated that by
the end of December the arrears Will
reach the sum of 100000 roubles.
Similar conditions prevail in the other
provinces affected by the famine, and
the prospects are just as gloomy. The
passport, labor and other restricting
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 alCne to put down
brigandage and other lawlesS acts, but
upon the merest pretext they summon
the military with the intention OF over
awing the people.
Three men. who were convicted or
robbery al Simbersk, capitol OF the
government Of that name, were con
demned to undergo punishment with
the knout. So well did the official ply
his dreadful weapon that the poor
wretcheS, who had probably stolen only
TO keep life in their miserable bodies,
died under the lash.
The correspondent of the Telegraph
tells story OF the famine that does
agree with the reports hitherto received
regarding the feeling Of the Russian
people as whole toward the famine
sufferers. II is known beyond question
that the officers of many regiments
have foregone their usual regimental
banquets in order to devote the money
which would thus have been spent to re-
lieve the poor and distressed.
This action was also followed by the
members of the order Of St. George
upon the occasion OF that Saints name
day. Othe have followed the example
thus set, and large sums have been
turned over to the relief committee,
and it was believed that the Govern
ment was looking closely into all the
expenditures for the relief of the suf
ferers.
1t is fact that a number OF grain
dealers who were detected in adHlterat-
ing their products were sentenced to
terms Of imprisonment, and 1t was then
stated that the Government would prose-
cute any one who was found TO be trad
ing in an unfair or dishonest manner
with the peasants.
The cIegdph'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 suffer
ing countrymen. He cites as an illus
tration of the apathy with which the
appeals for help have been received,
fact that the collection boxes which
had been placed about the corn eX-
change were found, when removed, to
be filed with bits OF tin and pieces OF
paper. That in numerous cases deal
ers after receiving eXorbitant prices for
their grain, sent TO the provinces bags,
the contents of which were mostly
grass, sand and bran.
The correspondent says that corrup-
tion is widespread among the Office
holders, and that they are little affected
by the sights Of distress, sickness and
death, which are visible on every hand.
Many town officials, he says, refuse to
enroll the starving peasants on the re-
lief list unless shey first pay bribe to
them at the rate OF ten copeckS for
every poOd of rye given.