SOVIET PURGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20278, 21 August 1937, Page 4

SOVIET PURGE.

CHARGES AT INQUIRY. OFFICIALS’ LUXURY BUYING. EXCESSIVE EXPENSE ACCOUNTS. Soviet lenders have endeavoured to - Id 11 two birds with one stone ” by ordering an investigation of the 1936 expenditures of the Commissariat of Communications, says the Moscow correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor. The investigation served to damage the reputations of the two oommissars during this period, A. E. Rvkoff and Heinrich Yargoda, and at the same time was a warning to other high Soviet officials who submit excessive “ expense accounts.” Mr Rvkoff.. former Soviet premier and Mr Yagoda. former chief of political police, successively occupied the post of Commissar of Communications during 1936. after being demoted from more important posts. Once among the most powerful men in Russia, they are now both in prison awaiting trial. Mr Rvkoff is accused of conspiracy against the present regime, and Mr Yagoda is charged with embezzlement- and misuse of power. Investigators offlctallv reported that these two men misappropriated State funds. Other officials of the commissariat were involved, including the chairman arid vice-chairman of the financial department and the chief bookkeeper. Others Still at Work. The newspaper Economic Life declared: ‘‘The investigation Is not yet completed. All those responsible will reoeive their just deserts. Some of those Involved aro still at work In the commissariat.” Inspectors from the Commissariat of Finance reported that more than 2,000,000 roubles were illegally expended by the two oommissars during 1936. They declared that money had been poured out for the private benefit of their favourites, for luxurious banquets and tours, for extravagant office-furnishings, upkeep of automobiles. Higher officials, the report stated, drew freely from State funds for personal expenses. The chief of the radio department, for example, charged the State with 2500 roubles for rent of his country home, 950 roubles for its furniture, 227 roubles for a billiard-table, and 050 roubles for maintenance of his child in a special kindergarten. During this one year, Inspectors reported, the commissariat expended 347,000 roubles for free trips, maintenance of private automobiles and premiums for higher officials. An- | other 217,000 roubles was spent for free meals and theatre tickets for employees visiting Moscow. More than 200,000 roubles were spent to equip a suburban rest-home for higher officials. Private Elevator. When Mr Rykoff was arrested in mid-1936 and Mr Yagoda took his place, the inspectors reported that more than 300,000 roubles were spent to refurnish offices for the new commissar; a private elevator was Installed for his exclusive use. A fund of I 7.000,000 roubles at the disposal of the commissar was alleged to have been Illegally diverted. The investigation in the Commissariat of Communications was ordered only after the two commissars had been arrested. One Soviet newspaper ironically observed that financial Inspectors had previously respected the 44 tradition of extra-territoriality ” in the commissariat. Soviet newspapers have made it clear that expenditures of the sort reported in tiic Commissariat of Coinj municatlons have also occurred In 1 oilier commissariats and State entcri prises. Investigation of a largo sleet j plant in the Ukraine showed that \ several million roubles had been spent Re-decorated Apartment. j The director, now discredited, was io re-decoraie his apartment.. If is . common kimwl-dge Dial many hk!i stale [l'-M.-e. hive free meals delivered from M.e, , ;.i! rt'-t.lur.uils, main • in f,lf d°r «■ <■> kept up e\p-ns t » of the c:.le; ; rise. simil I'laeiires have not yet been m Sy\i<T Him-:.i ha\e p-rquisite.-Cm cer.paral:\ely smai' s.larms paid Rn‘ the pm.:,-im j rej.orls of inves-•’F'-ams in the „f ,: om - J;» y ' T: . ' !i' ; er ’ rVnd.-r'Mm ;! ;< n\ re:,-.mi they fall inH