Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-01
BY GEN. ERICH Won LUDENDoRFF

time may have increased this ill-feel-
ing; they certainly did harm The
political democratic agitators made it
. their business to add fuel to the
b flames.
1t would have been an absurdity to
/ spare the area administered by the
: commander-in-ch in the east. from
humanitarian reasons, at the cost of
, our own country.
Owing to the intensive cultivation
in Germany any action prejudicial to
the agricultural industry must be far
more harmful than decreased produc-
tiVity in the area of the commander
in-chief in the east
The provision of raw material was
an important undertaking, for which
we also paid cash. The Jew was, in
this instance, indispensable as mid
dle-man. We supplied the home war
department with skins and hides, cop
per and brass, rags and scrap iron.
Great importance was attached to the
manufacture of barbed wire.
With the provision of raw materials
there was slight improvement in
trade, which was necessarily ham
pered by the restrictions on personal
intercourse. which. for military rea-
sons, we We're compelled to impose on
the country.
Exploited Great Forests.
The rich forests particularly invi-
ted exploitation, but indisCriminate
telling was prohibited The cOnsump-
ton of wood for field works and rail-
way sleepers was enormous Saw
mills arose one after the other, and as
we gradually provided for all the
needs of our army, we were also able
! to deliver wood to the west and Ser
bia Suitable timber was sent to Ger
many, and also given to the inhabi-
tants for the rebuilding of their
| homes.
Cellulose wood, for the manufacture
of powder and paper. was sent to Ger
many in considerable quantities. We
soon allowed unrestricted trade in this
particular kind of wood. as we and
Germany profited by it, / was glad to
| be able to help the supply of paper to
| the German newspapers.
The agricultural possibilities of the
! land were very thoroughly developed
in every direction, but we spared the
country and local population as much
as we could. Consideration for the
rate of exchange made il impossible
always to pay in German money. I'M
agreement with the Imperial bank
and the authorities in Berlin, the
Iarmy-independent Geheimrat Kessel
and Captain Konigs issued special
local coinage of the commander-in-
chief in the east, which was soon
gladly accepted. We also opened
German banks in order to revitalize
economic conditions.
Scramble For Mere Pay.
1t was no simple matter to finance
the whole administration
There was an absoluten scramble |
among the various departments of
my administration for places and ex-
ira pay for the subordinates
The commandments on the lines of
communication were always coming |
to me with fresh demands. l had to !
smooth things over, and so gained |
some idea of the trials and anXieties
of our national financial administra- |
ton.
AS soon as we had successfully |
drawn up our first budget, we for
warded it to the war ministry in Ber-
lin and to the quartermaster-g general. !
After careful scrutiny and violent |
disagreement it was at last approved. |
Our revenue was derived from GUS |
TOMS monopolies. taxes and national
industries.
The technical details of the whole
system of taxation had to he arranged
on the simplest possible lines. The
buIk of our revenue was derived from |
customs. indirect taxation and mo- |
nopolies. in view of the Russian prac- |
tice. Import duties were collected at
the frontiers bv Prussian financial
officials against an indemnity TO the |
prussian treasury
Monopolies of snirits cigarettes |
salt. matches and confectionery were
introduced. We introduced a rough
system of graded taxation per head |
We could not have any better basis
for n system of personal assessment |
As regards taxation on nropertv we |
introduced a fax IN land and nrofits |
and inba bfted housa dutv
The peopIe on the whole were SAT- |
isfied with the taxation which ala |
NOT burden them heavily Tho total
taxes ner head including the local |
rates did not exceed 10 so marks an
nually. as against 80. rs marks before
the war. They could not however
get used TO the doc license Owing |
10 hydrophobia dogs had become F..
danger to the country and counter |
measures had to he taken Tho tax
however, was abolished when its mr.
nose had been accompIisbed
have only Indicated the nrincina, |
items of taxation Further sourcos
of revenue were gradually develoned |
The results were favorahle for Tho
receints sufficea for tho odp,inistra
tion of the country without assistance
from, the imperial treasury