Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-14
HERR|OT MUST CUT
FRENCH LIVING COST
OR FACE DEPOSITION

PARIS, Oct. 11.-With foreign
affairs reasonably adjusted for a.
time, Premier Herriot is struggling
with all his energy with even a
bigger problem, Frances economic
tangle.
He is fighting for his political life.
He must reduce the cost of living
and at the same time make some
show OF balancing the budget for
1925 If he does not succeed the
strong background Of his achieve
ments in foreign affairs will be
shattered by attacks from all sides
of the chamber and his coalition
government will almost certainly
fsn
The task of the premier is formi-
dable. Ever since the war food
prices have been raising, and with
orable, the strain upon the people
of France has become insupport-
able.
Herriot came into power upon
promises to the -.ectors that he
would cut the cost of living and
balance the budget, which was ex-
cellent campaign material, but not
so easy to do.
Herriot made good in foreign at
fairs at London and Geneva and
hurried back to Paris, popular
hero, to turn his attention to criti
cal home affairs. More than ever
! the people expect him to deliver. He
has found the states business in a
very bad way. His predecessor was
so busy trying to make Germany pay
that domestic affairs suffered. Her
riots heritage was a crisis, with
books that did not balance and
series of emergency measures OF
questionable effectiveness designed
temporarily to avoid bankruptcy.
Repeal Extra Tax
Herriot promised he would repeal
the double decline" legislation of
the Poincare government, 20 per
cent addition to all taxation, which
was drawn up and quickly passed
to arrest the alarming fall of the
franc last fall.
The Morgan loan, rather than the
QOuDle QGclul6, SdNSQ IIlS Il e1AS,
but now Herriot faces the task of
drawing up a. budget without this
additional taxation. 1t is hardly con-
ceivable that he could persuade the
present parliament to accept the
double decline" for practically all
of the new members on the left
of the chamber denounced it in their
campaign. The measure Is unpop-
riJor 1xritI1 n StrataS Of society,"
And yet the budget must be bal
anced in order to improve the franc.
Hermot has all of his ministers
working en- estimates. They are
counting, with some security at last,
on reparationS returns under the
Dawes plan, and this is a great
help. Already the prospect has
brought confidence.
The index figure for the cost of
living in Paris, in comparison with
100, which is taken to represent the
same prices in 1914, is now $50. 1t
is true this is the lowest figure since
November, 1928, but only because
of the low price of vegetables dur
( ing the summer. Meat, sugar, eggs
and other ordinary articles of food
. are as dear as before, and many
of them more so. Bread particular
ly has been increasing in price.
Bread at four times the pre-war
price is a serious blow to the
French. Heavy rains have greatly
DANA ged the wheat crop and little
relief is in sight.
T. present index figure on liv-
Inc cost is not much Improvement
on the record mark, 426 at the end
of 1920. At the end Of 1922 it was
down to sos, and the present up
ward movement began the middle
of last year. In general, it has cor
/ responded fairly closely with the ex-
change quotation.
Educational Reforms
Another expense to the state is
the proposed educational reform
promised by Herriot. He wants ev-
cry French child to have a free
elementary and secondary education,
with opportunities for manual and
professional training such as exist
jim the United States. The premier
has assumed personal direction of
budget reform to make this effec-
tive. He plans to increase the edu-
cation budget considerably, and 9TH
err department, chiefly the ministry
of war and that Of the navy, will
have to stand cuts.
The educational reform is a popu
lar measure. Herriot wants educa-
tional experts to visit America next
year to study methods and intro
duce them to France. The Social
lists intend as soon as possible to
ask that universities be transformed
into state institutions.
To effect socialist reforms and at
&he same time relieve pressure
by the last government is
4 occupying the complete attention of
An,aisters