Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-02
INDUSTRIAL CRISIS NOW IS
SWEEPING ALL AUSTRIA
one-Fifth Of Population l.
Supported by Tax
DuyCrS

VIENNA, May I.--Onc-nfth OF the
population OF Austria. 100000 mem
bers or the families OF central pro-
vinciai and municipnl government en-
| p!oyeeS, are supported by the tax
PAYERS, according to the paper New
Eight o'Clock. in an article question
ing statement by the Finance Min
lister. DIR. Rcisch.
In the negotiations recently con-
/ Guided between the Cabinet council
and ctnloyces of the central govern
ment for general increase In sal
aries and allowances the top hcavI-
ness OF tho Austrian governmental
, machine was revealed. Foreign OBJ
servers and investigators having TO
10 with the peace settlement have re-
pcatcdly commented on the cxtrava-
giant numDr OF civil servants employed
in all departments
Owl List Numbers 2aO,OOO.
l)r. Rcisch admitted in the discus
siona that the civil list numbered geo.
300 persons. The New Eight O'Clock.
however, challenged that figurc as too
low and declared that IL the various
stipulation 'comnIisaiopt; and other
positions created under after-war CON
d!tions were taken into consideration
!; would be shown that there arc not
far from 100000 government en-
p!oyccs.
! Austria has only 100000 popula
ton and II is estimated that each
government salary supports "A family
are uniting in a demand that the civil
/ HIST he reduced by the Immediate dis
in!ssal or 10 per cent.
The adjustment reached ahou;
March IL adds "A round 1000, 900. 900
crowns 20 the already appalling deficit
that confronts the government. II is
TO be met by another increase in the
price q; tobacco products and in pub
, lie utility rates. such AS railway
.re!gh; and passenger tariffs and pos
! SHY hostage ana tclrEraDnS.
About the only concession the gov
eminent won was an Increase in hours
OF from six to seven a day with the
understanding that possible extern
sion 10 an clght-hour day would be
the snbiec. or further negotiation.
Employees OF the national States or
, provinces. apart from those OF the
central government. arc also demand
allowances. AZ FIRST they made an
enortsto join forces with tho latter.
, but this became complicated and wa.
defeated by the demand of the mum
r.pal employees OF Vienna to be ad-
mi;ted to the combination favored by
the new government scale. Govern
mant servants In Austria enjoy a
special low railway rate. but among
the demands they made. which wac
refused. was free transportation.
II. L. l.. Jumps O,4SJ Per Cent.
Figures just compiled show that
in 1913 an average family OF TOUR per-
sons, ltNlnE IN the most INQUEST man
ner and eliminating all Injuries. spent
1916 crowns a year. while now the
same necessities. IL available, would
cost ,231,S9S crowns.
The more thoughtful and serious
newspapers point out that the an
creased wage scale is only another
stcp In the vicious circle. and thai
the uncontrolled merchandizer viii
put up prices correspondingiy. >, On
every hand the question ~ asked
when will the end come: And what
:hen?" :.
Meanwhile the government says II
cannot decrease the civil list and dis
miss so large number of men, when
there is no employment open 10 them.
and immigration is practically prohib-
tied. 1t would. they say. bring about
"a crisis
In some quarters. IL is asserted. the
government is powerless TO break
down the old bureaucracy. 1t Is n
firmly entrcnched relic OF the empire
il Is said. and 10 touch ii would mean
political death for the government
brave enough To attempt il.