At the present moment a number of measures are being drawn up to begin war on “Sukharevka.” The struggle must be carried on in two directions: first, the strengthening of the organs of supply and the control over the work of Soviet machinery; secondly, the destruction of speculators. The measures of the second kind are, of course, merely palliative, and it is impossible to overcome “Sukharevka” without insuring the population a certain supply of the rationed foodstuffs. Even among our respected comrades there are some who consider “Sukharevaka” as an almost normal thing, or, at any rate, as supplementing the gaps in food-supply. * * * * * Many defects in our organization are directly conducive to speculation. Thus many head commissariats, centers, factories, and works pay their workmen and employees in foodstuffs exceeding their personal requirements, and, as a rule, these articles find their way to “Sukharevka” for purposes of speculation. The foodstuffs which find their way to “Sukharevka” are sold at such high prices that _only the upper circles of Soviet employees can afford to buy them, the masses of consumers being totally unable to do so_. These foodstuffs are at the disposal of the--so to speak--_Soviet bourgeoisie_, who can afford to squander thousands of rubles. “Sukharevka” gives nothing to the masses. The Moscow Extraordinary Commission is carrying on an active campaign against “Sukharevka” speculation. As a result of a fortnight’s work, 437 persons have been arrested, and a series of transactions have been discovered. The most important cases were as follows: (1) Sale of 19 million rubles’ worth of textiles. (2) Sale of three wagon-loads of sugar. (At the price of even 200 rubles, and not 400 rubles, a wagon of 36,000 pounds of sugar works out at 8,000,000 rubles, and the whole deal amounts to 24,000,000 rubles.) (3) Seventeen wagon-loads of herrings. (4) 15,000,000 rubles’ worth of rubber goods, etc.