The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-12-03


petitioners, we have today several
of a different class-a childless old
peasant dragging out his last days
in restitution, very poor woman
with a big brood of children, and
another peasant who, l think, is
well-to-do. All three visitors are
residents of our own village, and all
come for the same purpose. Taxes
are being gathered just before the
new year, and the old fellows tea
pot, the woman's sheep, and the
weather. peasants cow have been
confiscated. All three wish me TO
shield and aid them.
The weather. peasant is the first
to speak. He is tall, good looking,
and we'll along in years. He tells
me that the village elder has come
to his house, seized the COW and
demanded ~ rubles. He needs the
money for food, and it should not
be collected at this time.
The old man whose teapot has
been confiscated is the next to
speak. He is little, decrepit fell
low, poorly fed, and poorly clad.
His grief and amaZement is touch
| ing as he tells how the tax gatherer
had come to him, and taken his
"samovar," and demanded three
rubles seventy kopecks, which he
has not, and cannot get anywhere.
"What kind of tax is it," ask.
God knows! Government taxes,
| suppose. Now, how can get the
money, with my old woman to sup
port? We're just able to live as it
| is. What kind of Justice is this ?
Pity our old age; help us.
l promise to do what I can. turn
to the woman, who is ill-nourished
and worn with suffering. l know
her. She has drunken husband
and five children.
They've got my sheep. They
| come to me and say: Give us the
money l say: My man is out
working Give the money!
Where will l get it,? Then they
take my sheep" She bursts out
weeping.
20 to the elder, an intelligent
looking, powerfully built peasant
| with a long beard, just turning
gray. l ask why such sudden
harshness? He explains that some
one higher up gave the strictest
orders that all taxes be cleared uI
before the new year, including all
back taxes.
but are you empowered to seize
teapOts or cattle?" l ask.
What else can | do?" the elder
reioins, Struggling his shoulders
They must pay. There's Abaku
moff (the we'll TODD peasant whose
COW had been seized.) He has son
on the exchange who drives three
horses. Why shouldn't he pay?
And still he s trying to get out OF
it,"
well, leaving him out of the
question, how about the poor?"
ask. mentioning the old couple
whose tea urn has been carried off
"They are poor, it's true, and they
have no money to give us. But the
people higher up don't find out
about these things"
| ask him how long he has held
this position and what there is in
it for him.
Eyes, l am paid he answers. He
seems to guess my unspoken ques.
ton how he can be party to such
an affair. II am considering re.
signing. The pay, sir, is 80
rubles-but the weight of sin it puts
upon the soul"
And they'll keep the sheep, the
fowls and the tea urn?'
Yes, sir, of course. The dis
trict office will name a day for a
public sale"
And they'll sell the things?
Eyes. They'll get their share out
of it."
l drive over to the district Of
flee to learn more about this
method of tax collecting, which is
new to me. The chief tells me that
there are seven kinds of taxes, back
dues which are now being gath
cred from the peasants; gov
eminent tax, land tax, insurance
tax, provision dues, provision cap
ital in place of compulsory work on
roads. district tax, village tax.
The chief tells the same story as
the village elder. Strict orders from