Trotzky's Job

After having been denied a position in the Union Council of People's Commissars (Cabinet) by the Union Congress of Soviets (TIME, June 1), ex-War Lord Leon Trotzky was last week appointed to a departmental post in the Supreme Economic Council under Commissar Dzerzhinzky.

The Supreme Economic Council, as its name suggests, is concerned with industry, finance and commerce. In its Presidium, which consists of 12 members, M. Trotzky will take charge of the electrotechnical branch and will, doubtless, attempt to give effect to the late Lenin's aphorism: "Socialism plus electrification means Communism." "He will also be in charge of the scientific technical department and last, but not least, Chairman of the Concessions Committee, which supervises, gives (and takes away) foreign concessions.

Seated in his new office, M. Trotzky began work with his customary vigor, which once made the War Department the most efficient ministry of the Council of Commissars. He installed U. S. equipment and set about inspecting his various bureaus with his lynx-like eyes.