Russian local government during the war and the Union of Zemstvos

Bibliographic data

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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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter I. Origin and organization of zemstvo institutions

Collection:: Economics Books

30 THE ZEMSTVOS DURING THE WAR vincial zemstvos to form an association, or union, for the reinsur- ance of the heavy fire risks assumed by the zemstvo insurance departments. Association of Zemstvos. Partial concessions, however, of this nature could not satisfy the zemstvo leaders, who were convinced of the urgent need of an all- inclusive, permanent zemstvo association that would serve to regu- late and coordinate their activities on a nationwide basis. As a sub- stitute for such an organization the presidents of the provincial zemstvo boards commenced as early as 1895, upon the initiative of D. N. Shipov, chairman of the Moscow provincial zemstvo board, to hold private conferences, at which the various problems of zemstvo administration were carefully discussed. In 1904, at the outbreak of the Japanese War, there was formed, on the initiative of one of these conferences, but without any sanction from the Government, a “General Zemstvo Organization for the Relief of Sick and Wounded Soldiers.” The authorities were thus confronted with an accom- plished fact, and since the aims of this body were of such a nature that it would have been dangerous to dissolve it, the Government could not do more than try to hamper its work. Under a special law passed in 1900, the organization of food sup- ply, until then in the hands of the zemstvos, was taken from their control. It should be frankly admitted, however, that this work had not been efficiently managed by the zemstvos. This was due, first, to the fact that the organization was built upon the antiquated food statutes of 1834 and, second, to the fact that, being unable to ob- tain concerted action, the several zemstvos were forced to make their purchases in a haphazard, uncoordinated fashion, competing in the market one with another and thus contributing to the inflation of grain prices. But after the food supply had been taken over by the Government its management became still worse, and this is why, in 1905, when there was a famine in some of the fertile black-earth provinces, the Government not only refrained from interference, but even went so far as to place for two years in succession considerable funds at the disposal of the unauthorized organization of the zem- stvos for the relief of the victims of the famine. However, we must remember that times were then changing, for in the same year the revolution swept Russia from end to end.

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