Telegram-herald., 1889-09-16
LABOR IN GERMANY
The Social Condition Of the Masses
Not Improving.
TEE CONSUL GENERALS REPORT
The Kieh Growing Rieher sad the foeF
Poorer Coloni1inS Nos Regarded
a. Pat OF the IA
perlal Policy.

WAsHISGIoS sept. l5.-ln an elAbor-
are and exhaustive report 10 the state
Department upon the commere ana M
dustr.es Of Germany in the year isss-ss
by Coasul-G neral Mueller. otgfrank-
fort-0n-the Nam, he reviews every
branch of trade and the material re-
sources OF the empire. some Of the
more important paragraphs are a. fol-
lows
"Labor was well employed at com
mon rates OF wages. Strikes and iric-
tons between employers and employees
We're not of frequent occurrence. With
tie exception OF a largely reduced
grain crop and extremely poor vintage
results, thcsyoar 1855 turned out ell
and mas gwen 70 the German people
little cause OF dissatisfaction and COM
plant.
"Ihe social conditions and prosperity
of the greater mass Of people has not
materially improved during the year,
nor is there any good reason for think
ing changes for the better are mml-
nent. Among the seemingly prosperous
condition OF general trade, the poor
mans social condition shows no change
for the better, unless the system OF ac-
cldent. old age and invalid insurance
be- regarded As such. But what strikes
me as strange IS that good as times may
b.. wOrklngmen az the years end are
where they were when 1t began. IN
creased prices 10 manufacturers Tor
their products is not followed by IN
crease OF wages 70 lahOrCrs, and the IN
creased cost OF wOrkmgmen's neces-
sites seem 20 put them IN more de-
plOrable position than ever. Ine con
slant division Of property and small es-
tate OF those IN society middle classes,
and the crushing out Ot small concerns
by combinations of large ones, IS con-
stantly recruiting the laboring classes,
and fiinglng into them an clement OF
enlightened discomfort that may one
dav churn il into protest. The gap be-
tween the rich and the poor j. growing
grcater-thc rich growing richer, the
poor pOOrcr-when not stationary.
"in the trade per capita IN Europe,
Holland leads the world IN the amount
OF business done per capita OF popula-
tion. The average business done by the
Dutch amounts TO Sla7.34 per annum.
Switzerland comes next, but far behind,
with 500 .f5; then England, $50. .Os; while
Germany and France do a business OF
only $3.50 for each man, woman and
child inside their boundaries.
Now, after completion and perfec-
ton Of the military organization, the
navy department steps forward and
urges its claim for an appropriation, III
annual installments of p 900, 600 marks,
Tor the building of four irOn-ciad sh-ps-
Of-war, nine irOn-clad corvettes, seven
cruisers, two torpedo boats and others
- in all. The first annual installment,
and for the building of four war ships,
has already been voted on and agreed
to.
'The proposed enlargement of the
navy must necessarily entail additional
burdens upon the taxpayers, bat the
great majority Of the German people
seem to be in accord with the govern
ment in a matter which tends TO render
the naval force Of the empire as formid-
able as the army.
"COl0nizing may be now looked upon
as part OF Gormany's imperial policy.
Vast tracts of land IN Africa, cedcd Tor
fifty wears by the Sultan OF Lansibar
under contract to the German East
African company, have been placed
under an imperial commission, and the
Richstag, while defining It's position, rs
one involving no responsibility FOR
losses to those Joining the company or
investing money, has guaranteed the
safety OF its citizens ir colonial matters
AGAINST fencroachments OF hostile actions
of all powers. The struggle of the
natives against the cOlOnists must be
met bv the cOi0nizers themselves. The
Government VIII not interfere, only
with other powers, and promises no
assistance from the navy, only such As
provided for above to ward oil attacks
from other powers"