Show I STREETCAR TICKETS USED USE AS CHANGE IN MEXICO Dearth of Coin in i Mexican Capital Forces General Use of Substitute By Ralph H. H Turner United Press Staff Correspondent CITY OF MEXICO May 25 By 2 By mall Having Having Having made a a 1 cent l cent purchase purchase pur pur- chase chae the resident of Mexico City extends extends ex ex- tends the storekeeper a centavo 50 50 or 1 peso bill bl He waits walt for tor change The clerk fumbling In his pocket or the cash drawer a a. stack atack of nf street I car tickets The proper change Is counted out out In tickets the te customer pockets them and the transaction Is complete Such Is tho the situation In Mexico exco to today today today to- to day dayas as regards small change Time was vas a few tew weeks ago when the customer would grumble at the sight of tram tickets given in On exchange for reaL real money and money and tickets for tor which he had no earthly use But one must learn lea to expect anything In Mexico and having learned leared to expect It it become reconciled to it It MADE LEGAL TENDER The Te situation Is Is Improving however Not that there is any prospect of an increase In Inthe the amount of small smal change cange The outlook In that respect is as gloomy aa as a ever but the tradesmen have agreed to accept the tickets as a legal tender When Wen everyone everone In town tow had acquired so much muc change that there was wa no need of walking even for a block the rest of ones one's natural life Ue de decided it i was only fair that they take some of it i back So now the senor about town pays for tor his cocktails in tram ducats and the woman in the market place lays down the same currency In pa payment ment for tor her vegetables COINAGE DISAPPEARS Just why this change shortage should exist exit nobody seems to know The people people peo peo- pIe blame it on the government just as everything Is i blamed on governments the world over but the ministry of ot otI the treasury treasur declares it i has been ben Is Issuing issuing issuing is- is suing small smal bronze pieces In increasing amounts The fact remains whatever the cause that almost every ever ever variety of ot in Mexico is sold at a premium premium prem prem- ium lum ranging from JT 5 6 to 15 1 per cent Government au authorities hortes blame speculators speculators speculators specula specula- tors for this condition They have been hoarding the coins coins it i is declared so as Os to exact exacta a premium on their sale after they have cornered the market NO SIGN OF RELIEF The shortage is greatest and most annoying In the case of 5 5 10 and 20 cent rent bronze pieces there were silver pieces but these have disappeared disappeared dis dOs appeared altogether just as the tho cent 50 silver coins disappeared when the government began to issue paper bills Never sever was there a better illustration of t the economic theory that cheap money always crowds high priced money out of circulation Just no now the situation shows no sign of If relief The he bootblack when you hand him 50 cents continues to give you a a slip which is good for another shine de declaring declaring de de- claring he has no change While the beggar woman when you brush her aside Iside on the plea that you have no change appeals to you irresistibly 1 Then give me ne a streetcar ticket |