RUMANIA: Caviar to the Bratianus

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Of the mighty dead, Minister of Agriculture Professor Madgearu spoke ill last week to the Rumanian Chamber of Deputies. An uproar and several fist fights started, forcing suspension of the session.

The mighty dead : Vintila Bratianu, last of the Bratianu dynasty of prime ministers, who died recently of a paralytic stroke (TIME, Jan. 5).

"Vintila Bratianu in common with his satellites," cried Professor Madgearu, "used to requisition caviar from the state fisheries in huge quantities! When bills were presented they were seldom or never paid. At the time of his death Vintila Bratianu owed the Rumanian State Fisheries for caviar 14,000 lei!"

To a peasant, and Professor Madgearu is of the Peasant Party, 14,000 lei is a lot of money ($84).