Would you continue from that point, indicating as best you can now recall, what was said about Lee's experiences in Russia?

Mr. Taylor.

It's difficult to remark specifically about what we talked of that day. Perhaps it would be better if I--uh--told you all I can remember that he said about Russia on several occasions now rather than--because I cannot remember specifically what we discussed on that day.

Mr. Jenner.

All right. So we can get one point in the record--I'll probably ask more specifically about the different occasions later on. But give us a running account such as you have indicated you desire to make.

Mr. Taylor.

All right. Lee, on various occasions, and I discussed the life that he led in Russia, his experiences in Russia, and his general observations about it. I guess I should best start with his observations of family life there.
He and Marina lived in an apartment. It was about 10 x 14. And he remarked that all families in Russia lived in apartments of this approximate size regardless of the size of the families--that there were no private residences as we think of them. And that six family units would be grouped around a community kitchen and lavatory, and where all the families shared the same facilities. And that he and Marina did live in this manner. That he worked as a sheet-metal fabricator in the town of Minsk, and received for his remuneration for his work 45 rubles a month--which was the minimum, he said, that everyone in Russia receives whether they work or not.
He went into some detail about what is received directly from the State without payment. In other words, what services a Russian citizen receives in what we would call socialized services--such as medicine. A Russian citizen does not have to pay for medical services; the house apartment, a place to live, a Russian citizen does not have to pay for it. There is no charge for this. And we also discussed what other people made. I believe he said Marina received 180 rubles a month for her work as a pharmacist. And that she had received training in that. And we discussed their school system somewhat--how a student that worked hard is allowed to continue with his schooling, whereas a student that either doesn't work hard or isn't capable is taken only to a level of which they are capable and then put to work.
And we went on and discussed their financial system a little bit further, and I learned that a person does get raises in a job, that salaries---once you are given a job, why your salary does increase as you continue through the years on a skilled job.

Mr. Jenner.

As your skills increase?

Mr. Taylor.

No; at the same job.

Mr. Davis.

As your age increases?

Mr. Taylor.

In other words, for length of time at your machine, for example. When you first come to work, like Lee, and you make 45 rubles a month, as he does it for so many years or for such a length of time, he gets a raise over and above that.

Mr. Jenner.

Then, that increase comes purely as a matter of passage of time and has no relation to skill?

Mr. Taylor.

That's correct.

Mr. Jenner.

Did he say anything about--take the example he gave machine operator--if the machine operator next to Oswald, for example--take a hypothetical person--is much more skillful then Oswald, is the compensation the same?

Mr. Taylor.

Uh--to my knowledge, it would be.

Mr. Jenner.

That's the impression you received?

Mr. Taylor.

That is the impression I received. I believe he said that someone doing his job, by the time they reach retirement age I don't remember what that was--would be receiving something just under 200 rubles a month for performing the same task.

Mr. Jenner.

Did he indicate a comparative relationship between the ruble and the dollar--to give you some notion of what 45 rubles a month, for example, or 200 rubles a month meant in terms of American money?

Mr. Taylor.

I asked Lee that question, as I remember, and he told me that a comparison was difficult because of the socialized or free services given to the citizen by the Government; that, for example, out of his 45 rubles a month