RUSSIA’S "BLACK BOOK ”

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1544, 28 August 1905, Page 3

RUSSIA’S "BLACK BOOK ”

There exists in Russia, says Y. E. Mavsdon, in the Juno “Fortnightly Review,” an infamous institution known as tho “ Black Book. * If a man’s name is onco entered therein—and overy ofTioial in authority has the powor of so damning his subordinates without causo assignod —i t is impossible for tho victim, on dismissal, to obtain Government work _ again. Beforo any substantive appointment is made to any post undor the Government, the candidate’s name is sent to St. Petersburg, and the “ Blaok Book is oxamined. If tlioro bo no ontr against tho candidate’s _ name the appointment is duly sanctioned, but not otherwise. _ „ Tho most droadod “ Blaok Book is that in tho keeping of the political police, but every Ministry nas its own private “ Black Book,” the power of which usually extends only with n the sphere of influence of that particular Ministry. Thus an official who is so unluoky—it is quite a matter of luck, aot v J guilt, and has, of course, nothing whatever to do with what the laws if an; • country, including also Russia, ■egav.. ns oven a misdemeanor —as to oe er.'Ored in the Ministerial “Black 800k '’ may, through friends and. protection, eventually perhaps find employment with another Ministry, even after summary dismissal from his own. But tho hapless individual whom the political police, who work in secret and entirely uncontrolled, have once marked as “ politically suspect ” m the general “ Black Book,” may knock at all tho doors of service .in tho Empire for tho rest of his life, and never be admitted in any capacity. Always, howover, with the proviso that some very high persona go does not take up the case for a whim, and procure his reinstatement against all the accepted usages of the service.