[14 December 1918]

778

NOTES FROM A CONVERSATION WITH
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNION OF
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES¹
[14 December 1918]

With Frumkin

Regarding the apparatus of Comp- roda the plan of commercial
and industrial employees is directed toward its replacement, toward its
elimination, and not toward its reformation.

Collegium of Glavproduct:
Frumkin
Fin
Novakovsky.

**Union of Commercial and Industrial
Employees**

Their wish: to formalize the participation of the union
(of commercial and industrial em- ployees) in Glavpro- duct and in Gubpro-
duct — like that of a union.

In Kolomna they carried out (in the space of two weeks)
complete municipalization of all trade (entirely smoothly)
in III. 1918, because the Soviet authorities attracted the union of commercial and industrial employees
as a union ((under the control of Soviet institutions)).

In Petersburg the union likewise carries out [the work] as
a union, but the matter stands (according to Novakovsky) disgracefully, because of
interference by other organs.

In Ivanovo-Voznesensk
The Union, as a union, carried out municipalization well.

In Perm it proceeds smoothly.

The Chief Administrations and centers are worthless, they must be
consolidated so that they do not concern themselves with supply
and distribution (distribution is managed by Glavproduct). Consolidate
the "Chief Administrations" into a business "Bureau of the Chief Administrations."

_______________

¹ These notes were found in the materials of the protocol of the session of the Council of People's Commissars No. 234 of 14 December 1918. At this session the question of the utilization of the Union of Commercial and Industrial Employees was discussed and the following resolution was adopted: "Entrust the Commissariat of Food Supply with making an attempt, in the sphere of distribution of products, to give practical assignments to the Union of Commercial and Industrial Employees under the responsibility of the entire Union."