El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-07

.DERLnN, Germany, June Max
d Halter. director Of the Selmens-
schuckert Werke and seinneus &
Halske. the biggest manufacturers OF
electrical goods IN Germany. and
among the leading in the world.
pointed out Of his window IN the I'M
menss administration building at
spandau TO a largs new factory
across the street. exciaiming:
This is one OF five munition fac
tories we put up during the var at a
cost OF 70.00o.600 marks. They are
worthless now"
There are scores OF such factories
al over Germany-Whlte elephants
on the hands OF their owners one
factory in Magdeburg alone, herr
Halter said. cost 800. 00o, 900 marks, OF
approximately S75.0o0,0e0-
Herr Halter was asked regarding
war profits. He produced type
written sheet showing the dividends
paid during the last ten years Ac-
cording TO this statement the stock
holders received 1901. 900 marks for
the fiscal year 1914 For each OF the
years following. up 10 1918, the divi-
dends aggregated 13,4oQ.o0o marks
This was after herr Haller had pro-
tested that German Industries did not
profit By the war.
Made Some Profit
Yes. the balance sheet does show
an advance for the war period he
admitted But one mustn't forget
that the value OF German money mas
declined The purchasing power OF
13.1o0. 900 marks In 1918 vas, in fact
less than that OF 100000 marks II
1--WE put ali our surplus into the
new factory buildings. And they are
a liability rather than an asset we
have TO pay a heavy property tax on
them, based on q valuation OF to,9lys-
600 marks, though they are worth
prices for material and labor
we have no plans whatever for
the future said herr Halter. Every
element that enters into production
and expectation seems 70 be working
against Us. First OF all. We have no
raw materials our laoorers are de-
manlinE wages that VIII make . eN-
ceedlngly difficult for Us 70 COM
pete in the foreign market We have
no bottoms 20 snip in Every day
brings Us new Disappointment Under
such conditions It Is impossiole 70
prepare for a rehabilitation OF our
foreign trade
Herr Halter, when asked what he
considered the most pressing need OF
German industry, replied
Fats Most Needed.
Fats Our laborers need food OF
all kinds. but most Of al fats In
my opinion, the lack OF fats IS at the
bottom OF all our labor trouble. The
working class is run down physically.
perpetualIy half starved A man is
like an engine. If he is not luori-
Gated he can't work"
Herr Halter said he shared the
opinion Of Germany's leading cap
go 90 nnaHHn ~ la q
eminent subsidy toward placing fats
within the reach OF wage Gamers
Il will presume we receive an ade-
Quate supply Of butter from America
or Siberia" he continued Let Us
further presume that this butter
could be retailed at II marks q
pound Ny plan then would be that
the laborer or salaried emplOye
should pay only i've marks, the gov
eminent contributing the balance OF
seven marks. But the allowance for
each person should be limited 20 one
pound a week, at least until We get
on our feet again If man wanted
more he should pay - or 80 marks
for each additional pound
The distribution should Be ven
controlled. I would be in favor OF
having an American supervisor take
charge OF it The card system should
be continued until normal conditions
are restored
without food We cannot have sat
fsfied laborers. Without raw nate
rails we cannot manufacture goods