V. I.

Lenin

729

To:   V. A. SMOLYANINOV [1]

15/V.

Comrade Smolyaninov:

I have to reprove you and Comrade Zaks—with the warning that stricter penalties will be applied next time—over
the fact that having checked up on the work of Comrade
Ulrikh, who for several months now has been following the execution of the C.P.C. and C.L.D. decisions, I discovered
immense disorder.

The card, which is here enclosed, defines the form and order of Comrade Ulrikh’s work. You will see, however,
that this is not being fulfilled; neither you nor Zaks have
seen to this, although it is your primary duty to do so. I
have instructed Comrade Ulrikh to fill in the card with the
strictest accuracy, severely to the point of pedantism.

I charge you, together with Comrade Zaks, to secure the
most precise fulfilment of this; if Comrade Ulrikh fails
to learn, she should he replaced, and an absolutely accurate worker found.

The enclosed cards show that Comrade Fotieva has also started, like Comrade Ulrikh, to alter the card on her own.
This I absolutely do not allow. Only deputy chairmen, by
their joint signatures, have the right to prescribe or permit
any alteration of the card. Any other alterations should
entail dismissal from office.

It is better to verify only a part of the C.P.C. and C.L.D.
decisions (as marked off by the deputies or business manager),
but they should be verified with pedantic accuracy.

It is the duty of every People’s Commissar at once to appoint several comrades with responsibility for verifying
execution (business manager, his assistant; secretary, his
assistant, etc.) and to communicate their names to the
C.P.C. and C.L.D. business manager. For negligence these
persons should be relentlessly punished by arrest or dismissed by order of the deputies. For carelessness, a People’s
Commissar should be punished by a reprimand, simple or with entry in his Party card. To watch over this—most
strictly—is the duty of the C.P.C. business manager, and
I will not hesitate to dismiss him from his post, unless
he fulfils this with pedantic precision.

The task is to teach the People’s Commissariats to be accurate, jailing and dismissing the careless workers.

What has been said about the People’s Commissariats applies to all the separate institutions (State Planning
Commission, Central Statistical Board, Concessions
Committee, People’s Commissariat for Internal Trade, etc.)
and to the gubernia executive committees, regional economic conferences, etc.

You and Zaks shall have the duty twice a month to write
me (briefly, in telegraphic style) about how the accurate
verification of execution is organised. Failure to do so
will entail dismissal.

I enclose the cards filled in by Comrade Fotieva (which
she has done carelessly and inadmissibly) and the clean
cards corrected by me: don’t dare dirty them, don’t dare
make any unnecessary entries, don’t dare make the slightest departures. Otherwise, I shall sack both the secretaries
and all the business managers.

Show this paper to both deputies at once. Have them sign (before my departure, i.e., within not more than 3 or
4 days) a most precise order on how, in accordance with my
instructions, they are to verify execution, fill in the cards,
and punish for carelessness.

V. Ulyanov (Lenin )

Chairman, C.P.C.