The Washington times., 1923-07-25
S37 PER MONTH.
PRESIDENTS
SALARY
Head OF German Republic Re-
celves Less Than Many Amer
lean Office Boys.
By THEODORE C., DIETRICH.
Cosmopolitan News Service.

DV AAEOOONE ", DEIEN1Ck1p
Cosmopolitan News Service.
BERLIN, July 25.-The highest
salary paid officially to any one
IN Germany is being handed each
month to President Ebert, the head
OF tbs young republic.
Ebert's salary has just been fixed
by the government at 1900 900
marks a month. Figured down to
American dollars at the rate of
exchange that the German govern
ment Is trying to make permanent.
$4,000 marks to the dollar, this
means approximately $1,000 a
month as the stipend for the chief
executives!
Value Keeps Falling.
But he doesn't get it. During
most Of this month the mark has
| been jumping around. That means
that Ebert's $1,000 month dwindles
to $40 or less. Salaries are fixed
by the government in accordance
with the standing Of the mark.
But usually increases IN salaries
can't keep up with the gait of
the mark. Readjustments OF sala-
ries are made every three months
while the mark is quite likely to
decrease in value at the rate of
10000 marks a day. 1t never in
creases at that rate, however. So
that the salary of the president Of
Germany really averages not more
than $40 month the year round.
The government fixes the sala.y
and the wages for everyone, with
the president topping the list. That,
Of course, does not mean that he is
the highest paid man in Germany.
The government defines minimum
that must be paid. It never goes
beyond that minimum. Private bus
mess enterprises may pay any ex-
travagant sums they like.
The other day talked this mat
ter over with one of the highest
officials of the foreign office. He
comes of an excellent family, won
Rhoades scholarship, attended OK
ford and is Phi. D. His name at
tached to a document causes wrong
doors to shudder. His salary
amounts to $500 month. of which
the government takes 10 per cent
income tax.
Don't LiVe-Just Exist.
Another man who spent twenty
years Of his life in the army,
talked of his personal affairs. This
man had been a major. He moved
IN the most exclusive circles. One
If his intfmates was the former
Kaiser's son, Prince Joachim, who
could not stand the changed condi-
tons at the conclusion of the war,
and killed himself. Now this man
Els working !. for the government in
I responsible position for a. salary
n marks that amounts to $3.50 a
month. Two years ago he was
married. On the day. of his mar
apartment in which TO live. Be
cause Of the scarcity OF apartments,
all applications are placed on. file,
md the applicants are given them
| IN the order in which their appli-
cations are received. This man ex-
| nects to get one in another year.
Meantime he and his wife are COM
| pelled to share the apartment of
4 friend and pay the greatest part
of the rent.
asked this man how he could
i've on such a wage.
1--WE don't live; we only exist"
he said. 'The last meat we ate
| was on Easter Sunday. We can {
| huy clothes. and, Of course. books
or any other form of entertain
non+ are out Vt the question:
! Why don't yolI go to some coun-
'ry where you can make a living?"
| asked.
Loves His Country.
A dreamy look came INFO his
I yves, as he said, Because love
my country"
There is much bitterness because
/ ~
With the decline of the mark. with
nut more rapid readiustment of
wages. 1t is the intellectuals who
are worse eff in Germany at pres.
| emf than any other class.
Germany has always been famed
J COR it's splendid musicians. TODAY
he regular stipulated salary of
musicians here is 1880 marks a
Sav--less than 25 cents. The salary
# 1880 marks during the run of
play provides for a certain num-
nor Of rehearsals.
Chorus girls receive from So 90 to
$1,000 month. One of the greatest
| nrima donnas in Berlin sings fer
$500 a night. The finest emotional
7"tress in the city has been get
ing at the rate Of $500 a week
'"hich is considered top-notch. Come
8'"ns Of note leading men and
"'"T"n and lesser stars receive from
! 1900 to $500 a month
Want Ford to Come:
The other day the writer made
trip through one of the biggest
'hlpbuilding plants in Germany
seven thousand men were at work
The unskilled laborer there receives
| an average Of l 500 marks an hour,
1r 10000 marks a day-almost as
much as the musician No wonder
he workingmen of Germany were
wildly excited recently when a re-
| port was circulated that Henry
Ford intended to start a factory
mere and pay a minimum wage IF
$500 a day.
The dinner buckets Of these mill
workers were full l examined sew
aral of them and found them to
| contain sufficiency of good,
wholesome food. Where they get
it is hard to understand. Most
| Of them, however. cultivate little
gardens. None Of them complained
Bat all Of them did wish that Henry
Ford would come over and start