Show STA STATE IE IN AUSTRIA FIFTH OF TION r I With Six Million Inhabitants 1 tA r Taxpayers Support i 1 1 y 1 IENNA May ra 4 One fifth of ot the he hep p population of ot Au Austria mem members mem- mem b bers rs of ot families are supported by the to the the- paper New Now Eight gh o'clock Clock in an article ques question question question- nf n f inga g a statement by the Finance Minis Minis- Minister ter ReIsch 1 ter In In n negotiations recently con con- I d' d between the cabinet council and e ot the central government for tor fora a a. g general increase in salaries and al all allowances allowances al- al l wa c s the top heaviness the of-the Austrian Aus Aus- Austrian I trian government machine was re re- re Foreign observers and Investigators Investigators gators having to do With the peace I 8 settlement have repeatedly commented o oh on extravagant number of ot civil servants employed in all departments FIGURES DISPUTED Dr R Isch admitted In fn the he discussions discussions discus discus- that the civil list numbered persons The New Eight oC o'Clock ock however r challenged that figure as too low and declared that if it the various liquidation commissions and other positions po positions po- po I I lons cr created crated ted under att after r war condItions conditions conditions condi condI- were taken into consideration it would be shown that there ar are not tar fax from government Austria has only population and It is ia estimated that each government government government govern govern- ment salary supports a a. family of four The Tile newspapers generally are uniting Ina in ina a a. demand that the civil list be reduced by the Immediate dismissal of ten per percent cent STILL DEFICIT GROWS The The adjustment reached about March 15 16 adds a round crowns crowns' to the already appalling deficit that confronts confronts confronts con- con fronts the government It is to be met b by another Increase in the price of to ta tobacco tobacco to- to bacco products and in public utility rates such as railway freight and passenger passenger pas pas- tariffs and possibly postage and telegraphs About the only concession the government govern govern- ment won was an Increase in hours of from six to seven a a. day with the understanding understanding understanding un un- that a possible extension tain to ta toan toan an in hour eight day would be the subject of sf further negotiation COMBINATION THAT FAILED of or the national states or orr provinces apart from fram those thase of the cen cen- central central government are also alsa demanding a heavy increase in salaries and allow allow- allowances ances y At first they made an effort t tC to join forces farces with the latter but this became became be be- came complicated and was defeated by bythe bythe bythe the demand of the municipal employee Of r f Vienna to tobe be admitted t to the combination combi- combi nation favored by the new government scale Cale Government government servants in Austria enJoy en- en enJoy eni i 10 Joy p special low law railway rate but am among n the demands they made wh which ch was re refused re- re fused fused- was fused was free transportation Figures Just compiled complied show shaw that in 1913 att average family of f four persons 1 J 1 jn ahe hg most modest d t tf manner and eliminating all aU luxuries urles spent u a year while now the same ne- ne if available a would cost cast crowns VICIOUS CIRCLE PERSISTS The The more th thoughtful newspapers p point out out that the increased wage waCe scale is only another step in the vicious circle and that the uncontrolled merchandiser will m put up prices correspondingly On On every svery ery hand the question Is asked When will will- the end come And what then Meanwhile the government says It can can- not decrease the civil list and dismiss eo large a number of men when there is no employment open to them and em ration t is practically prohibited It would they say bring about a crisis In In- some same quarters it Is asserted the government is powerless to break down the old bureaucracy It is a a. firmly In ln trenched relic of the empire it is said and to touch it would mean political death for Zor the government brave enough h to attempt it |