Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-25
UNEMPLOYED PROBLEM
REVIVED IN RUSSIA
Approximately 100000 Out
Of Work in Moscow Dur
ing March.
IBy United Ncws.I

MOSCOW. June 23.--Thc problem of
tho unemployed. with Its corroilaries
OF beSKardom and crime has been
revived in Soviet Russia along with
the new economic policy and its shift
back TO capitalists.
During the Revolution, strictly
speaking, there was no unempIoy-
nent problem in Russia. The Com
innnistic political and economic or
Eanism absorbed all classes Of society
giving each person !, job and a ration
OF food. whether there was any actual
economic demand for his services or
not Unemployment was even a mis-
demeanor. Ia that II implied evasion
OF The decree ordering every one to
report for duty in some governmental
institution.
with the charge back to capital
ism state capitalism" as Commun-
istic literature styles 1.-THE govern
.heht discharged large numbers work.
'hs IN htlds to be given back to pri-
Eate capital. or occupying swivel
| chhirs' Tor which there was no need.
| This sudden dumping OF thousands
upon the labor market before private
I industry was able TO expand and take
,hem In. piled up steadily increas-
! ing mass OF joblcss as the winter
months progressed
Figure. for March.
During March tho unemployed IN
MOSCOW were estimated a, h.,w.cn
10000 and 100000; in Pctrograd.
around 10000. In both cities about
70 per cenS OF these wer. woman
Ihe number OF jobs has tripIed since
the beginning OF this year. according
10 statistics OF the department Of la
nor. More than 10000 were on the
waiting lists Of the government, cm
pioSmcnt bureaus the first OF .April
| ~ is SAID this represents between
,"urth ana hfth of the actual num-
Der out oC work
owing To lack OF means, the depart
ment OF labor has not been able to
90 much beyond Offering to HELM then,
hunt jobs. Toward this end. the gov
eminent recently Cancelled private
firms the right of freedom to con-
tract for labor. obIiging every en-
, p.oser TO engage his workmen
| through the government employment
omccs. In this way. the department
| hoped to regulate the labor market
ana distribute the jobs where thew
were most needed
rms decree was issued ten days
ago. and 1t is still too early TO see
results. II is doubtful whether II win
be very effective, however. moi only
because Il Will be difficult to enforce
out because the cause OF the uncrn
pioyment is much deeper than the
mere question OF distribution OF Is Dor.
ana cannot Improve greatly until in
dustry can rebuild itself
No Bread Lines.
bread lines. like those in America
, and England. were not possible II
was explained. because the depart
mcni was short OF funds and because
all available food was needed for
'he famine regions. Only recently
was any material help at all ex-
tan1nd
aside small sum for their benefit.
Moscow's begsars-the singing beg
CARS. the pauper minstrels. the fax
ers. the shakers. the paralytics, and
Just ordinary ragged ones. always
were one OF the most picturesque and
pathetic Of Moscow's sights before
| the war. No truly Russian street
| scene. no marketplace. church or
public place. would be complete
without them. They ngure in Rus
sian opera and literature alike. and
are as much a part of the stage set
! ting OF the city as the little boot
black in New York.
| They disappeared during the Revo-
luton. Where they went is - mys-
terry. The able-b bodied of course,
were compelled 10 work. And the
others doubtless were DISCOURAGED
iioH stthlHs aims Wy the TACT tnat
people did not have loose money in
their pockets because there was lit
tie opportunity to use it. all shops
| being closed and all food being
handed out by the government in
the form OF rations.
! Now they are back in legions. A
gauntlet OF from six to a dozen stands
| in front of every large restaurant.
cafe and church. Every sunday
| morning they take their places rcgu-
! larry in the outer corridors Of the
Church OF our Saviour. near the
| kremlin. Singing beGgars take up
their position on the steps outside
| beginning their Oriental cnchanta-
| lions as the congregation energies
some genuine paraiytics. more Of
| them fakes.
| Hardly less picturesque and Orien-
| tai arc the street minstrels who may
| he seen almost any evening on the
side streets near the Theater Place,
on the Red Place, Tverskaya, etc.
pass one every evening on the way
! to the Foreign Office as he stands
| playing his pipe in front Of the Union
Bank. on the Red Place. with his
long beard swaying rhythmically
| with the weird melody. his high
sheepskln cap. his bright eyes, sharp
nose. his flowing overcoat. he Is
picturesque figure.
|