(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The ruthless procedure of local Soviet officials, disregarding later amendments of government instructions, is responsible for increasing misery among the declassed Jews, complains B. Slutzky, Communist writer, in the Communist Yiddish daily, “Emes.”
Soviet local officials obstruct the proletarization of the declassed Jews, the writer charges. The ruthless misapplication of the laws drives the Jewish poor to the depths of despair. The writer cites the Ukrainian law requiring eviction from municipal dwellings of former Nepmen which was active until July 1927 and later amended to apply only to Nepman who earn 3,000 rubles annually. The officials disregarded the amendment and evict former Nepmen who are now artisans and many who are unemployed.
In the Kiev eviction campaign there was a real orgy hitting exclusively the category of ex-Nepmen who had long ago become artisans or who are unemployed. The Housing Committees acting illegally strike terror in the hearts of the Jews, ruining hundreds of families. Many Jews who have been working less than five years are classified as non-workers.
Many who were evicted have appealed to the courts, but in the meantime they are facing complete ruin.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.