Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-17
SOVIET INCREASES
NATIONAL BUDGET
Proposed Expenditures and
Expected Income Exceed
Five-Year Plan Figures.
BY JUNIUS B. WOOD.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

MOSCOW, January 1.-THE Inn
presSive 31,918,000,00O ruble Soviet
Union budget for 1881 is due to the
fact that the national revenues of the
Soviet state include all foreign trade,
domestic industry and utilities, as well
as the larger proportion of domestic
trade and agriculture. According to a
recent statement of Gregori Grinko,
commiSSar of finance, the total turn
over within the country this year Is
estimated at $4,000, 100000 rubles. of
which 65 per cent passes through the
government.
What this Is actually equivalent to in
either American dollars or pre-war ru-
bleS is a matter of computation. Ac-
cording to the fixed rate of exchange
published by the state bank, the dollar
equals 1943 rubleS, while the actual
rate paid on sight drafts on New York
is l. 1872. In contrast with this, money
exchanges in Berlin offer 80 rubles for
dollar, while the rates in Hardin and
Constantinople are even lower.
Budget Subject to Changes.
Soviet authorities strictly prohibit
bringing this money back into the
country, but spectators in Moscow it
self offer 10 and IL rubles for an
American dollar. In the following flg-
ures the ruble is computed roughly at
0O CenLS.
The budget as announced Is subject
to changes and transfer of funds from
one item to another by the Presidium
of the All-Union Central Executive
Committee at any time during the year
as eXigencies arise. Consequently it Is
considerably more flexible than the an
nual appropriation of other countries.
Also, as this year for the first time in
the history of Russia the fiscal and
calendar years coincide, comparisons
with previous years, especially the last,
which included is months, are some
what misleading. Previously the fiscal
year started October /.
The large budget shows a modest
surplus of $750,000000. The estimated
revenue also includes proposed domes-
tic loans amounting to $3.50 900 900,
5000 900, 900 on deposits in savings
banks, $50, 000, 900 in additional sales Of
stocks In tractorstroi (tractor factory at
Stalingrad) and $350,000,000 outstand-
ing in debts paid banks. The popula-
ton is expected to contribute these and
other items totaling 81 ,941 100000
The largest sources of the estimated
nationalized income are Industry
81, 038, 900 900; transport, 81 SOL 900, 900;
state, foreign and domestic trade, $740,-
1000; agriculture, $547 ,000, 900; bank
ing, $466, 100000; cooperative stores,
$500, 900 900, and municipal utilities,
1887 100000.
Timber Industry Revenues.
Revenues from the timber industry
are estimated at only $35, 100000. the
electrical at $4,000 900, and from the
postal and telegraph, 500, 900 900.
In addition to this revenue of ma
tionalized activity, totaling $6,697, 000.-
900, national taxes are expected to
yield $5,421 100000, and local taxes
$218, 200, COO.
Three novel items appearing are rev.
enues from social insurance dues,
81 ,087, 000, 600; cooperative store dues,
$461 100000, and labor union funds,
5000, 900, 900.
Social insurance, which theoretically
is paid by the employers, insures the
workers against unemployment, sickness
and old age. There Is no unemploy-
ment here, as the authorities quickly
find work for any loafers, while the
other side Of the budget estimates the
distribution Of $17,000,000 for social in
surance this year. The members Of CO.
operatives do not share any profits, but
merely the privilege to purchase in the
stores, while union funds cause no con-
siderable outlay.
Expenditure Items.
The outstanding items OF proposed eX-
penditures are: Industry, including new
building, $3,496, 100000; agriculture,
S2,419, 000. 900; railroads, $1,155, 900 900;
education, $1,758, 100000; State trade,
81 ,092, 900 900; army and navy, $685.
600, 900; public health, $685., 100000: So
cial welfare, $500, 900; electricity,
$432 ,00O, 900; communal lodgings and
utilities, $408, ZOO, 600; cooperative
stores, 1888, 100000; inspection and
audit 1898, 100000.
The budget, as well as the national
income, are considerably in excess of
the expectations of the five-year plan,
which in the latter is 100000 rubles,
though the plan three years ago ex-
pected only 100000.
(Copyright 1879