New-York tribune., 1891-09-17
AUSTRIAN COMPETITION.
FACTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO AMERICANS.
HOW AusTRIA-HUNGARY AIDS MANUFACTURES:
LABOR AND wAGEs-coNDruoN OF THE
WORKING PEoPLE-IEcREAsE OF EMI.
GRAFTON TO THE UNITED STATES
IMMIGRANTS WHO SHOULD
BE EXCLUDED.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rLfsusE.,


relating 10 the manufactures and Isho,
of Austria- Hungary and the emigration from fb.t
country TO the United states, which are OF speca,
interest at this time.
1t appears that the Government Is doing all "A
can especially in Hungary TO foster and promote N.
manufactures that It's efforts thus far have been
most successful. Recently compact was entered
into with the largest firm OF wooIlen manufacturer.
In the Empire to build and maintain a factory in
Hungary with capital Of 100000 forins-s3ssOoo.
This is 10 be exempt from the payment Of all
taxes for period OF twenty years and IS to eajoy
other exceptional privileges. within the last two
years the following factories were built: One for the
manufacture Of firearms one factory for wored goods
six large sugar refDeres. electric light factorv
one factory for nails and screws. one agricultural inn
pIements factory paper mill. one factory for
chemicals one for cognac. for barrels and boxes
and one for paraffne. They are now building two
large cloth factories one machine shop one factory
for wire tacks one brewery and for tie manutac
ture of artificial fertilizers All Of these enterprises
enjoy certain privileges such as exemption from al
taxes for certain number OF years, remssions Of an
dues fees and stamp taxes for registration of
purchases of real estate or on contracts, shsres or
documents of any description, and the privilege of
buyng for industrial purposes, impure salt at price
lower than that prescribed by law. When the fact
is considered that the tax improved real estate
alone in Austra-Hungary amounts TO fifty per cen.
OF its rental value better estimate be made of
the value Of the taxexempton privileges granted 70
manufacturers. The condition Of the working people
in Austria Hungary is thus described by Mr.. Gold.
schmidt:
The working classes Of Austria ere, in general, o,
steady, industrious, and sober habits The snail
amount Of wages earned allows them opportunity Of
saving. Living is almost expensive here as IL Is
in the United States. Flour. meat vegetables ard food
in general cost as much here as they do with Us.
House rent is fully high only the price Of clothing
is in favor OF this country.
Again speaking of the workingman. he says
The condition OF his dwelling is very bad. In
sequence OF very high rents he Is obliged 10 live al
considerable distance from his place OF work. His
food is more abundant than substantial His breakias,
consists either OF cruel OF roll or some rye bread
together with some surrogate coffee Dinner means
some kind Of soup and vegetables, together with some
rye bread with occasional change OF vegetables,
and salt smoked pork twice or three times week,
other kinds Of being rarely available Some bsei
boiled in soup forms his holiday dinner. The supper,
in cities consists OF bread and beer with piece d
sausage, while in the country it Is usually coffee and
bread only. The cost OF providing average sI4
family with the necessares of life is estimated by well
informed people at about $50 forms year. ns
average wages Of skilled workmen II employed through.
out the whole year. 500. forms per annum
OF day laborers is about 300 norlns and workmen In
factories generally receive still less. The balance 70
maintain life must be earned by wife and children.
Under such circumstances life is but one continuous
struggle TO keep the wolf from the door, and only the
more prosperous able to indulge, TO moderate
degree, in the comforts Of life.
1t should be explained that surrogate Coffee is
one Of the socalled coffee substitutes which contain
no coffee whatever. Reducing forms to American
money it is found that the annual cost OF providing
an average sized family with the necessares Of Life
in Austria-Hungary is S199 So. which seems little
enough; that the average wages of a skilled workman
employed during the whole year amounts to Sls1 80;
that day abOrer receives for years work about
sIOS 90 and that "wOrkmen In factories generally
receive still less'
II the worltingman pays a direct tax amounting
to 81 Sc more year he may vote; otherwise not.
Every artisan must serve regular apprenticeship
and pass an examination before he become
mechanic, and pass a second examinton before he
can engage in business for himself. No person Is
allowed TO follow than one occupation and Nr.
GOldschmidt remarks "The effects are disastrous
in many cases. as is seen IN the instance Of the
pearl button workmen who living upon public
charity. They can find no employment in their own
trade and they are not permitted TO follow any other
occupation"
OF course the working people eager to escape
from such conditions, which are aggravated BY com
pusory military service and emigration to the United
States from the Austrian Empire is steadily increasing
despite the efforts Of the Government TO discourage
aud prevent ii. In 1881 the number OF emlsrans
TO the United States from Austria was 21,1Oo; nom
Hungary, 6,326; total, 27,935. In the year ended
June go 1891. the figures were Austria Except PN
land), 2673; Hungary, 23,366; total, 7l,O39, benz
an increase of 43,104 compared with lesl and
ID, ,S6l over the year ended June So 1890.
According to Mr.. Goldschmidt about threefourns
Of the emgrants are peasants and working people,
while tho remainder are chiefly merchants anu
mechanics who seek to escape the heavy burden OF
taxation which amounts to about thirty per cent .,
the net income and to nearly one bali OF the ren~i
value of improved real estate.
Respecting the character OF the emigration be ar
From Lower and Upper Austria and from Bohemn
there are great number Of families emigratng 70 n'
United States for the purpose Of settling tlere per
manently and Of becoming good and awabding eIAen'
while the Hungsrians 10 large extent so'oonh o'
few years IN the United State IN order IN aecuh4e
little fortune with which home to invest thef
savings hl their native country, and pe'napS' re.u' "
the United States once more only 10 'epoS' o
| pertinent again. such ehigraioh oSiho' 70
sirable 1t furnishes unfair competition 10 our nome
labor and should be considered sort OF eontiaes
| labor. These Slayakan emigrants are ri the loWes'
class Of the otherwise noble race Of Hungarans Ihy
| stick TO low and habits which they VIII r'~"'
and must prove poor acquisition to the United states
| IL would be blessing to our country II by proper
lagsative measures t,ey could be excluded from our
I shores with any other undesirable clements As
rule the Hungarian day laborerais too poor 10 pay his
fare to the United States and must be regarded as
/ p9uper or eohtfdcb l"Oorer lmpoIOeu W iAN''"o -
! railroad companies their authorized agents.
| The Consul-Gene complains that none OF tho
Austrian newspapers has published any Information
! concerning the laws aud regulations OF the Unle'
| states in relation to emigration. and adds
The United States COnsus should be authonEN
publish oniciay in the public press OF this Empire
synopsis United States laws which have been
passed prevent the immigration OF undesirable clemens
The proposed measure Of consular certificates viii neV
20 advantage; In fact II VIII prove useless % =
check the bad clements Of emigration, while II wiz
/ come to shores Under existing circumstances
publication pamphlet form OF our laws on emgFeuo,
! would be welcomed by tho Austrian Governments sni
more so BY the local authorities throughout th'
Empire. ,
The report clearly shows that the laws and resu,
atons cannot be TOO strictly enforced, especially -
regards immigration from Austria Hungary