The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-09
MASS MEETINGS
 IN GERMANY ARE
 PUT UNDER BAN
They Must Not Be Held Until After Jan } to Pre- vent All BlOOdShed
By HAROLD A. PETERS United Press Staff COrresDOndent

NOhtcu FTeSS stan COrreSpOndent)
 Berlin. Dec 9.-(UP) - Mass meetings were banned in Germany from to-day to January 8 to avoid violence and possible bloodshed re- sulting from the latest and most drastic of the governments emer- gency decrees.
 The decree, the fourth issued by President Paul Won Hindenburg, affected the countrys social and economic life to a greater extent than the three previous emergency measures. It lowered prices, wages, rents, and interest rates; 1t created a "price dicta- tor; 1t established a heavy levy against property of Germans who left the country to dodge taxes; and 1t warned fascists and other rolitical organizations that the government will employ every means to maintain constitutional order.
 The decree had three general aims; to restore equilibrium to the budget, to lover production costs With the view of increasing exports and protecting currency, and to maintain the workers standard of living.
 The government realized such restrictions would strengthen the cause of the fascists and commun- ists and might lead to further clashes. Mass meetings therefore were prohibited.
 Chancellor Heinrich Bruening explained the decree in a nation- wide radio address. "The government will not toler- ate any power in Germany except constitutional power" Bruening said. "The government is deter mined to employ every means, even state of siege, against anybody attempting to hinder constitutional organs in the fulfllment of their functions"
 The chancellor attacked the fas- cists, led by Adolph Hitler. al- though he did not mention Hitler by name.
 The chancellor explained that the emergency decree was painful measure necessitated for three req sons; first. the world economic crisis; second, the "enormous bur dens" imposed upon Germany: third. Germany's own mistake as evidenced by the refusal of the people to recognize the country's distress as Q. hard reality.
 The decree was in nine parts. It was based on the idea that Ger many could be saved from eco- homie collapse only by the simul- taneous reduction of prices, wages, rents and interests.
 Prices were lowered in four groups; cartel prices. such as coal and iron. were reduced 10 per cent compared with July levels; public utilities and railway freight rates were cut 2b per cent; rents were reduced from 10 to 15 per cent: all other retail prices will be low cred by the reich commissioner. or ''price dictator.' to which office Karl Goebler. mayor of Leipzig. was appointed.
 Rates of interest on public and private loans, bonds and mortgages will be lowered 9 per cent to per cent. Rates above per cent and below 12 per cent will be reduced by one-fourth. and those above 12 per cent by one-half.
 Cancellation of rent contracts was facilitated by the decree. All wages and salaries were reduced to the level of January. 1927.
 Wage salary cuts will not exceed 10 per cent except in cases where there has been no reduction since July 1. These wages will be re- duced 15 per cent.
 Salaries of civil servants of the reich and the states will be reduced 10 per cent, beginning February l.