New-York tribune., 1921-10-06
Employers Close Factories
Rather Than Continue
Wartime Wages; Price
Deflation MOI Begun Yet
Public Works Planned
Rumbling Among Socialists
and Lack af Organization
TO Face Problem, Menaces'


they refuse to accept the peacc-time
wages offered them by employers, and
the employers close their factories
rather than continue to pay war wages
Lack of organization to face the prob
lem and a growing rumbling among
the Socialists add to the menace of the
present situation. Rome prospers and
her people live high because the gov
eminent has not cut the number of en-
pioyees in the overstaffed Offices. But
IN the industrial centers and many
places IN the provinces there is suf-
tering and unrest as the result of the
continued idleness
455,000 Out of Work
Premier Bonomi estimates the num-
ber of jobless worhmen at 5000 al
though the Socialists insist that 700
900 is correct. The Premier continues
to hope that the crisis will soon be
past, but the Social SITS are pessimistic
and are pressing Bonomi for an carly
sc sslor OF Parliament to deal with the
situation.
The Premier is beginning to realize
the harm tnat subsidies for the unem-
rloyed do, for upon this custom of paw
lng doles lies the chief responsibility
tor the present emergency. The work.
men would rather LOAF and skimp along
with what they get in unemployment
insurance than accept job at lower
wages than the war industries paid.
AS result, the Premier is working out
a plar which will provide Jobs for
every man who wants to work Bonomi
IS looking forward to the expend ture
OF S5oC,O00,000 on new roads. rail
ways, hydraulic plants and irrigation
schemes. This project will be laid be-
tore Parliament when it reconvcnes.
ana is expected, when adopted to do
away with subsidies that only encour-
age lazlncss. Then there will be steady
employment at fair wages for every
one. hmlgra ton of peasants will be
stopped and they will be put to work
reclaiming Italian lands.
In the Venetian provinces the uneNl-
ployment situation is being dealt with
on practical lines. At Naples the idlers
are set to work on an S00-mile cleo
trlfled railroad that is under corstri1c-
ton. At Bella the workers reyoltad
against the advice of their syndicalist
sabotage advisers and are back in their
factories, but in other districts through
OUT the country machinery is idle and
men and women are walking the streets.
Trieste Ship Makers Idle
Considerable difficulty is beinp ex-
perienced with workmen in the sh;n-
yards. In Trieste 5000 were thrown
out of work last Saturday hv the
closing OF the yards, after the gov
crnment had cancelled contracts Oh
fourteen merchant ships. Ten other
SHIPS had been completed and de-
!lvered, but the price charged by the
builders was too high for the gov
ernment and the cancellation Of the
contracta was unavoidable on that
account, as the budget allowance had
been exceeded. Negotiations are un-
der way now to reopen the shi2yards
and 60 ahead with the construction
OF tho vessels. The Trieste ship
workers are the highest paid in the
world.
In the industrial cities proprietors
Of many factories are threatening to
close their doors unless wages are re-
duced. Many are already shut. At
Genot the paralysis of freight traffic
has brought on q crisis. The 'wace
scales fixed by the seaman's fedora
tion is 50 high that the steamship
companles are threatened with bank
ruptcy. One company has decided to
abandon its service, while another
transatlantic line is negotiating for
merger with some foreign, possible
German, line.
Turin probably has suffered more
from unemployment than any other
city since last years OCCUPATION Of
the factories by the Communist lead
ers sowcd discontent among the work
men. The motor car and steel fac
torres there have shut down as the
workers refused reduced wages.
Socialists Dissatisfied
The Socialists are most pessimiStjc
ahd unsatlsilcd with the government
Bureaucracy and have formed their
own comnlittee, whose program deals
IN detail with the needs Of everv
province. Deputy Donati, who is chair
man OF the committee, insists that the
nam idea is 10 hasten organization.
me Socialist commission has for
mulated plan which is Indispensable
if applied before winter, otherwise un-
employment viii be hopelessIy in
creased" he said to-day. "The prob
lem is easily solved if tackled in time,
but unfortunately, owing to the DELAY
OF the capitalists and employers who
/ seek their own interests, they view
the question irrespective of the needs
Of the prolet etariat
They. hope for the return of low
W&ges irrespective Of the economic
| CONDITION ol the country. Their atti-
trde compicates the situation. as
- ~ AOlrc tltt government 10
subsldize the Industries, which would
rum the country. According to our
plan the state must help by stimu-
latlng private enterprise or bv pro
viGing work for men on reclamation
projects like ports, railways and roads
all works which in private hands
spell success.
Unemployment must be relieved
and the government must hasten the
organization Of the plans. The pro-
posed funds, however, are insufficient
A further grant is needed before
winter, or else the projected work can
not hc started Hence the reopeninp
OF Parliament should be hastened."
From the point OF view Of the Catho-
lie party, what is needed as much as
funds is a united effort Of eli classes
toward economic living,
"ltalians," said Z wcll-known Catho-
lie Deputy, "formerly were the most
ccone mic race, who worked we'll and
saved for 4 rainy day. Now they spend
every cent they earn and borrow in
order to dress beyond their means
Work and save is the motto Of ou,
party"
This propaganda already is well
diifused in the Venetian provinces
which are practically controlled by the
popular party.