Russian local government during the war and the Union of Zemstvos

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 1794855874

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-179223

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Polner, Tichon I. http://d-nb.info/gnd/172311195

Title:: Russian local government during the war and the Union of Zemstvos

Place of publication:: New Haven

Publisher:: Yale Univ. Press

Year of publication:: 1930

Scope:: XXV, 317 S.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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INTRODUCTION which overcame all obstacles placed in its path. In the opinion of the Government the zemstvos should have developed those aspects of their work which were in the nature of tutelage over the population, while the zemstvos themselves were particularly eager to emphasize that side which promoted initiative and freedom. The organization of the service of public health by the zemstvos gave Russia full right to be proud of it. The network of free hos- pitals and dispensaries, preventive measures against epidemics, sani- tation, lunatic asylums, sanatoriums—all these institutions for the protection of the health of the nation were built on a harmonious scheme with due regard to local requirements and needs. Elementary education, to the development of which the Government was particu- larly opposed, was effectively promoted by the establishment of a rapidly increasing number of schools where instruction was given free of charge. The advancement of agriculture could be seen in the rapid increase in the amount of agricultural machinery, the larger sale of seeds from zemstvo depots, and the organization of model cattle-breeding farms. Insurance and credit on easy terms for small farmers were new departures which laid the foundation for the fu- ture prosperity of the rural community. The limits of the zemstvo work which were merely outlined by the law showed a pronounced tendency to extend. In every direction the zemstvos were ready to go much farther than was intended by the law. There was no limit to the natural expansion of local govern- ment. The various economic aspects of life were strongly interde- pendent and they were all elements in the progressive movement of a country. The Government soon became aware of the tendency of local government to encroach upon what it considered its preroga- tives, a tendency which was deemed dangerous. As it always happens in history, a period of liberal ideas was fol- lowed by one of reaction. It originated among the landed gentry who took part in the institutions of local government and brought with them the traditions of the bureaucracy who had formerly looked to the Tsar for direction and expected their recompense from him. De- prived of their serfs, with whom they now met in the institutions of local government on a footing of equality, the members of the gen- try felt humiliated and unjustly deprived of their wealth and looked for an opportunity to recover their former privileges. This reac- tionary section of the zemstvo assemblies found support among the or

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