New-York tribune., 1919-09-17


humor that played around the fringes
of the German revolution will per-
haps some day be gathered up by somebody
and duly given to the world in attractive
literary shape. In Munich the proprietor
Of we'll known publishing house sat in
his office making out his annual profit and
loss account He unhappy over the
showing Of the books; he was 10000 marks
short in his accounts.
While still pondering over the matter q
blond-haired young man, accompanied by
half dozen nondescrpt troopers, entered.
The youth introduced himself:
~ am the Minister of Education for tho
Soviet Republic. We have come to take
over your publishing house for the state"
"Well, you have arrived just at the right
moment" answered the publisher, "for I
have deficit Of 100000 marks"
"You have a deficit? What's that7"
"Why, Pm short 10000 marks in my ac-
counts for the past year. / have lost $780,
900 mayks."
"You have lost u" mused the minister,
beginning to comprehend. He pondered the
matter for moment, then, motoninE to
two of his men, he gave his directions
"You, Heinz and Muller-you stay here
and see that nothing is interfered with,
The rest of you, follow me-"
And away marched the minister and the
other four men. Within a half hour they
came back, the minister carrying a good
sized package under his arm. He laid it
on the counter and opened it, displaying
numerous wads of banknotes. Then he
announced:
"Ihere, you have that 100000 marks"
The publisher looked aghast "But you
don't understand" he protested, my busi-
ness ran short that much last year. | am
out of pocket that much I am owing nv
authors, printers, the papermakers, that
sum-"
"And here it is" replied the minister,
nothing disconnected. "Now let US pay it
out"
SO the list of the company's creditors
was taken and the appropriate sum set aside
for each. But it was not enough A further
sum of 100000 marks was lacking
The minister was still master Of the sit
uation.
"You, Heinz and Mullcr-you stay here
on guard: the rest of you, follow me"-and
he was off and away once more.
Soon he came back with another package
of bills and remarked:
"Now we'll put this business on safe
basis before the Soviet Republic takes
charge of it,"
And the rest of the debts were settled
day two later the Soviet Republic
had passed into the limbo of more illus.rious
states and ma jcstcs than it, The pub
Usher was congratulating himself that this
Ill wind had blown him good at any rate
But ono morning letter came in his mail
from prominent banking house of Munich,
informing him that it held an account of
100000 marks against him; and he would
please prepare for covering it.
He seized his hat and rushed to the
bank. There it explained to him that
the 'minster' had demanded the money for
paying back what the prblisher had lost.
When the banker refused he was told:
"Wcll, if you don't give it to us we shall
take it ourselves.'
The banker yielded to the sovereign power
of the Soviet Republic and handed out
the money. And now the lawyers of Munich
are cudgelling THEM brains over the legal
problem: whether the bank can collect from
the publisher.
great coal famine next winter is now
looked upon as q certainty. There seems
to be no remedy. Germany has the coal
mines, indeed, but they arc not producing
coal IN sufficient quantities. In the year
before the war Germany produced not less
than 19l 900 900 tons, besides so 100000 tons
of Ignite, or brown coal. To-day the Ger
man mines turning out anthracite and
bituminous coal at the rate of only about
70,000,000 tons a year.
The stocks on hand have everywhere
run very low. The Prussan Minister Of
Railways said this week that the supply
on hand here for the railroads was only
enough for two days, whereas it was neces-
sary to keep a twenty days supply ahead
if the roads are to be operated most sue
ccssfully. Nowhere is there enough coal
on hand to keep the railways in operation
for longer period than two days; and
consequently the passenger service, already
reduced to low volume will have to be
cut down still more sharply. number of
trains are to be taken off
And the situation will grow worse in
stead Of better. Next month Germany must
begin to make deliveries of coal to France
in fuliment of the peace treaty; and Bel