The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-27
SWISS INCREASE
WAGES TO OFFSET
HIGH LIVING COST
Special Tax of % Per Cent.
Levied on War Profits
to Meet It.

Hemmed In by warning nations
and with her economic life hamper
ed by the Central Powers on one side
and the quadruple Entente on the
>~ther, the Swiss republic Is staggering
nnder a load Of trouble that steadily
Sacreases as the war goes on, says the
New York Times. Reports appearing
in recent issues Of Swiss newspapers
seem to show that, with the excep-
tton Of the farmers and the owners
OF factories engaged in manufacturing
munitions, the Swiss people are suf-
fering as result Of the hardships
due to the war. In addition the food
question is becoming extremely seri-
GUS, especially so far as the working
class and the small salaried persons
are concerned.
Many Of the Swiss municipalities,
as well as the federal government it
self, have recognized the impossible
ity Of their employees meeting the
present high cost of living with their
ordinary salaries and have taken
taken steps to grant substantial in
creases in pay to be continued dur
i ing 1917 and probably so hong as
the war lasts. Part of the money to
meet the additional expense imposed
upon the national and local admins
tax on war profits decreed by the fed
eral council on September 1S and
mentioned IN brief cablegram sent
to the American press from Berne
the next day. The tax decree pro-
vides that Of the rs per cent. levy
on profits In excess Of the average for
the two years preceding the out
break OF the war, One-tenthI remains
in the treasury Of the canton in
which the taxpayers live and the ball
ance goes into the federal govern
! ment's vaults. No tax Is to be paid
on profits Of less than 10 per cent.
nor on gross annual receipts of $2,-
900 or less.
An idea of the seriousness of the
food situation Is given by the follow
ing excerpts from an official appeal
and explanation printed in the Berner
Bund of October g.:
I'VE are living in serious times.
! The mighty events of the war, with
their accompanying phenomena, are
constantly confronting our fatherland
with new difficulties. which can only
be solved through the preservation of
cool common sense and the employ
ment Of all the economic power avail
able. y
SAT present the question Of the
food supply is one of our hardest
I problems. The poorer population,
especially, regards the approach of
winter with a feeling Of fearful ap-
prehension. This Is understandable.
And yet, the fears voiced in many
quarters are decidedly exaggerated.
AS much as the situation calls for
attention, it is by no means some
thing to cause desperation. Through
sufficient solidarity on the part of the
people and careful domestic economy
it ought to be possible to keep the
spectre of hunger. far froml every
home.
TN order fully to recognize the
correctness of this assertion it Us
necessary to obtain an idea of the
quantity and quality Of the food sup
plies that are at our disposal"
Fruit Crop ABUNDANT.
The statement adds that, although
the Swiss potato crop Is far below
the average and there is bound to be
a real shortage Of this food staple,
the fruit crop Is abundant, the num-
Der Of cattle has Increased 10 per
cent. during the war, there is enough
milk to be had at somewhat higher
prices than usual, and that Switzer-
lands friendly relations with the
warning powers will no doubt allow
the republic to continue to import
the grain that is absolutely necessary.
'In the country" the statement
concludes, mutual assistance in the
matter Of food supply can be carried
out without any difficulty. The
cities, however, would do well to lay
In reserves They will be able to
do this If they intrust to experts the
matter OF making the necessary pur-
cllases, which such trustworthy
agents, In line with ordinary trade
customs, can effect more successful
" than special commissions that, ac-
cording to experience are not always
the best instruments for this purpose.
But we also demand that our agri-
cultural classes display national soil
darity In these serious days and 10y
ally assist the cities in obtaining sup
plies Of food. -
eft, however, contrary to all ex-
pectations and in spite Of painstak-
ing measures, the matter of food
supply should turn out to be diff
cult here and there, then, in the
first place, the local administrations
must act theoretically and without
delay. In our opinion this action
cannot consist in the fixing OF max
imum prices, a measure that Is rath-
or doubtful under all circumstances,
but in taking all possible steps to
bring breadstuffs to the place where
they are needed. Where the ffnan-
cial ability Of individual families is
not sufficient to provide them with
food, the community must step in
and all the various bureaus con-
cerned, relief commissions. COM
munal, and state bodies are under
work reso1utely and intelligently. The
government council will also devote
4 full attention to the question.
''Neither matchmaking nor COM
planning is able to help us through
these hard times. That can only be
done by united action and the firm
resolution to help each other and to
stand together"
Milk Cents q Quart.
Among the latest steps taken by
the Swiss authorities in the matter
of food regulation was the raising
OF the maximum price for milk a
fraction Of cent q quart on Nov
ember 1, bringing the rate up to about
8 cents, and the taking of a census
OF the stocks Of coffee and hempseed
in the country.
Writing In the Basler Nachrichten
about the big profits made by the
Swiss farmers because OF the ezeT+