New-York tribune., 1918-05-05
Wages Up
Only SO Per Cent


Meantime, according to an investiga-
ton Of the Imperial Statistical Office,
wages of the great mass of working
people have, on an average, barely in-
creased by so per cent. The data pub
lished by this Office show that in Sep
tember, 1915, j. e., during the third
year of the war, the average wages Of
male workers had increased by 46 per
cent and those of female workers by
54.1 per cent. These figures are COM
irmed by comprehensive investiga-
tion by the Central Council of the
Hirsch-Duncker trade unions as to the
increase Of wages of male workers in
the more important German industries.
This investigation, which compares
the wages paid in January, 1917, with
those current before the outbreak Of
the war, shows that, although metal
workers wages had increased by So
per cent in greater Berlin, in the other
provinces of Prussia and in other
states of the empire wage increases
in this trade were much lower, and in
some instances did not exceed 16 per
cent. In the chemical industries Of
the Bitterfeld district time wages had
increased by 26 to 35 per cent, and
piece-work wages by "a per cent. The
trade union leader Hartman estimates
that in the tobacco industry wage in
creases during the period 1913-l5
amounted to a per cent, and in 1916
to between 10 and 20 per cent.
High Pay
A Myth
These data demonstrate plainly that
the so-called "high" wages of workers
are myth. A relatively large num-
Der of capitalists, manufacturers,
dealers, and landowners have doubled
and trebled their income and wealth,
but very small is the number of work
ers whose wages have been SO in
creased that they were not forced to
lower their standard of living, i. e,
whose present-day wages have, the
ing the war and have actually profited
by the existing high prices. Even if the
| employers are reasonable enough to
grant wage increases and high-cost-cf-
living bonuses, these are without ex.
ception not sufficient to -counterbalance
the increase in prices and the deprecia-
ton of the German money. Employers,
moreover, who have granted wage in-
creases endeavor as a rule to shift
them upon the consumer, and, il pos.
sible, with profit to themselves. This
causes a further increase of prices, and
new wage demands become necessary,
and this process goes on without end
same purchasing power as their pre-
war wages. The great mass Of the work
ing people were only able to obtain in-
significant wage increases which wers
entirely insufficient to make up for the
increased cost of living. The value OF
their labor deprecated during the Wal
In the same ratio in which the income,
ground rent, and profits of largo
number of capitalists and landowners
increased. If, in spite Of these facts.
the official organs and secretaries q
employers associations raise the cry
that wages must be lowered and init
mate that otherwise German INDUSTRY
will go under, it must be characterizeo
as an impudence which is to be COM
bated with the strongest means at tns
disposal of the workers. AS long -
the industries are able to pocket sues
profits as those which they nav
reaped during the war, Germaa "a
dustry will not perish, but will fasssh
in a manner dangerous to the puD''s
veal, while, on the other hand on
only need to take a look at the Ses-
man workmcn in order to perce's
that they suffer greatly from undsf-
nutrition, that they are dcgenerat'ns
and that, in spite of their so-esiises
"high" wages, misery looks sus 3
their eyes.