Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-04-30
MANY PEOPLE IN
AUSTRIA DEPEND
UPON TAXP AYERS
0ne-Fifth of the Population
Lives on Public Funds;
Newspapers Demand That
the List Be Reduced.

NOFNINu JOURNAL SFHClSI AEAsbp "lNE3
Vienna, April 29.-One-fifth Of
the population of Austria, 1,200,-
600 members of the families of
central, provincial and municipal
government employees, are support
ed by the taxpayers, according to
the paper New E'sht O'Clock, in
an article questioning a statement
by the finance minister. DR..
Reisch.
In the negotiations recently con-
cluded between the cabinet council
and employees of the central gov
ernment for a general increase in
salaries and allowances the top
heaviness Of the Austrian govern
mental machine was revealed For
eign observers and investigators
having to do with the peace set
tlement have repeatedly comment
ed on the eXtravagant number of
civil servants employed in all de-
partments.
DR.. Reisch admitted in the dis.
cussions that the civil list numbered
100000 persons. The New Eight
| O'Clock, however, challenged that
figure as too low and declared that
| if the various liquidation commits
sions and other positions created
under after war conditions were
taken into consideration it would
be shown that there are not far
| from 100000 government employees.
Austria has only 100000 popu-
| lation and it is estimated that each
government salary supports a fam
| lily OF four. The newspapers gen.
orally are uniting in demand that
the civil list be reduced by the inn
mediate dismissal of 10 per cent.
The adjustment reached about
March ID adds a round 100000,
600 crowns to the already appalling
| deficit that confronts the govern
ment. 1t is to be met by another in
crease in the price of tobacco
| products and in public utility rates,
! such as railway freight and passen
ger tariffs and possibly postage
and telegraphs.
About the only concession the
| government won was an increase In
hours from six to seven a day with
the understanding that possible
extension to an eight-hour day
would be the subject of further me-
! gotiation.
Employees of the national states
or provinces, apart from those OF
| the central government, are alsC
demanding a heavy increase in sal
| aries and allowances, At first they
made an effort to join forces with
the latter but this became compii.
| Gated and was defeated by the de.
mand Of the municipal employees OF
| Vienna to be admitted to the com
bination favored by the new gov
ernment scale. Government serv.
ants in Austria enjoy 4 spacial low
railway rate but among the de-
| mands they made, which was re
fused, was free transportation.
Figures just complied show tha
in 1913 an average family ot foui
persons, living in the most modest
manner and eliminating all lux
uries, spent 1876 crowns a year
while now the same necessities, il
available, would cost 231,S9|
crowns.
The more thoughtful and serious
newspapers point out that the in
creased wage scale is only another
step in the "vicious circle" and thai
the uncontrolled merchandiZer will
put up prices correspondence. or
every hand the question is asked
when will the end come? Ant
iwhat them"
| Meanwhile the government say'
it cannot decrease the civil list anf
dismiss so large a number of men
when there is no employment oper
to them, and emigration is practi
cally prohibited. 1t would they say
bring about "a crisis"