The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-13
Russian Minister of Finance Discusses the C0untry's
 Domestic Conditions
THE PEOPLE ARE
 MORE PROSPEROUS
Abolition of Vodka Largely lnstru- mental in Bringing About \ Prosperous Conditions.
 He Declares

Petrogrnd. April f2.--Nia London. April f2. 5sof D. m.D--opinion wns cx- pressed today by Pierre l.. Bark. Rus- sian minister of finance. thnt. eco nomicaIly considered. the war has been n blessing to the people of Russin Discussing financial and social aspects of the conflict in m interview with tue Associated Press VI. Bark snidi Notwithstanding the depressing and paralyzins effect of the war. the Russian peasant class is more prosperous than at any previous time in the history of the country.
 Tt is not difficult to account for this unusual prosperity By virtue of the all lewance made by the government to the families of soldiers which exceeds the earning power of the soldiers. the total income of these families Is greater. than in tmes of peace. Thus. instead of feel ing any pfvation as the result of the absence of the men and the loss of their services. the people are beginning to regard the war as a peculiar sort oe God-send which is putting money into their pockets
 What about vodkags was asked the minister
 Tt is prohibition of the sale of vodka which Is primarily responsible for the ameicrated condition of the peasant" he responded. 'rhe sieve through which all the available earnings formerly dis l..,t money is either spent for present neces- sites or is saved for future wants.
 Prosperity Noticeable
 ''It is not necessary to have inventories to explain why the Russian people should be more prosperous, for the actual fact is that this prosperity Is everywhere noticeable. Before the war the average yearly savings deposited amounted to from n5,0oO.o0o to s2oooo, 900, while m the month of June alone about sso.oOoooo was deposiied
 What about the crops?s
 'frhe farmers have been very fortunate in being compelled to hold their supply of grain on account of the difficulties of transportation, for grain is now at the highest price of the year. There is every reason to believe the farmers will soon be able to dispose of their grain in for eien markets and at great advantage Discussing the Paris conference ot the allies finance ministers to consider finan- cial problems arising from the war, M Bark said:
 One result was the formulation of an agreement with our allies to pool all the expenses of the war. In acuord- ance with this understanding. Russia is to draw upon Great Britain ana France for money expended in the war, while our allies are to call upon Rus sia for grain which they need.
 This Is an excellent arrangement for all concerned, for while Russia has enormous resources she is in heed of immediate capital and our allies, on the other hand, have more capital shan supplies.
 Credit Arranged
 '1 have already arranged d credit of S125, 100000 in France and Of Sl25.- 000,000 in England which Russia is to use at any time the occasion requires. We are on the point of making use of part of the French credit"
 In response to a question regarding the recent increase of 30 per cent in the tariff M. Bark said; That is only a temporary affair, designed partly to make up for the loss in revenue from the vodka traffic.
 Russia looks for tremendous in- crease in her trade with the United States and her allies to replace the German trade existing before the war. I am not an authority as to what kind of trade treaties will be formed at the end of the war but | am sure every thing will be done to open the Rus sian market to these countries. anc not permit 1t to slip back to Germany
 There is now a particular oppor- unity for the United States. for she of all the countries 10 which we look for trade is not crippled by the war
 M Bark was asked what means were being employed to replace the revenues formerly derived from vodka.
 "'rhe amount of this revenue exceed cd $45o.000,000,' he replied. This Is be- ing replaced in a diversity of waSs. including a special war tax on rtilroad transportation, matches. sugar and most ordiary commodities