The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-22
MORE COAL AND FOOD
Fats, Sugar and Condensed
Milk Added to Supply
Of Latter.
DEFICIT NEAR 25 BILLIONS
Prices More Than Doubled
Since Last Year and Ex-
change Still Falling.

Special Cable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1890, by The NEW YoEK HxuALD.
VIENNA, Dec. 21.-The highest paid
labor In Vienna receives only So
week in wages and workers here could
not have subsisted last month had not
the Government contributed thirty
two million crowns daily to reduce the
price of food says an official state
ment describing Austrian conditions
which was prepared for THE NEW
YORK HERALD. 1t says the situation is
improving in some respects, but, taken
as a whole, is more disquieting than
1t was year ago.
IF one compares the present eco
nomic conditions obtaining in Austria
with those at the end Of 1919, the con-
clusion must be that, taken as whole,
they are nearly as bad and decidedly
more dangerous" the statement says.
last December the chief difficulty
was in Che impossibility to procure
enough coal and foodstuffs and thus
keep traffic moving and the population
fed and clothed.
This December the coal supply is
larger than it was a year ago. and
there are considerable supplies of food.
raw materials and manufactured goods.
We have about third of the fuel and
raw materials We want But prices are
more than doubled and the exchange
rate on the Austrian crown Is approach
ing that of the Russian ruble.
Majority Live on State Relief.
Last month the Austrian Govern
ment contributed thrty-two million
crowns a day to cheaper bread and
flour rationed TO the population. That
is att the rate OF twelve billion crowns
year. This sum does not include the
States purchases of fats, sugar and
condensed milk. Without this cont-ibu-
tion a majority of the population would
be abandoned to unspeakable misery.
for they are hardly able to afford to
pay even these artincially low prices.
The daily deficit incurred on account OF
the rationing OF food considerably in
creased this December because Of the
further depreciation Of the crown.
I'm the budget the entire deficit orig
crowns, but when the Finance Minister
made his last announcement he said
it had already gone to twenty-five bill
lions, although the States revenues had
increased 22S per cent. in tho foregoing
year. This simply means that the fnan-
cial capacity of Austria Is out OF all
proportions to her requirements and that
chaos Is imminent il the reconstruction
plans of the Reparations Commission re-
main an unfulflled promise much longer.
The time is coming when no one
abroad will accept Austrian crowns In
payment of debts. The circulation of
paper crowns Is already expected to be
more than 81 1.o00.00o,0oo crowns by the
end Of this month.
''1f we had coal and raw materials
enough to supply our industries fully
we could afford to raise prices TO tho
world market level and so save the gift
OF 30.000.000 crowns daily which the
Government presents to the poor. II
would be a ruthless experiment and
probably Would doom many families to
death. but ID would break vicious
circle. II would make 1t possible 10 set
up n budget with a greatly reduced
deficit. or with no deficit Wha tgoever.