Twin City Review

Low Rent In Germany
Doesn't Help Labor

Washington, July 13.—Low rents in Germany have not benefited workers, as the employer takes into account these rents when wages are set, says the United States bureau of labor statistics in its study of labor conditions in Germany since the war.

It is stated that the general standard of living among German workers after the war "was very low." Food, fuel and clothes were very scarce at first. When imports began after the blockade ceased the low level of real wages prevented much improvement.

The increasingly high cost of building and of wages, due to the depreciation of the currency, coupled with low rents, have resulted in almost no new houses being built.

The working class also paid more in taxes in proportion to their income than the wealthy class, contributing in 1923 and 1924 between 45 and 95 per cent of the income tax, as taxes on their wages were levied before the workers received them, thereby depriving the workers of the advantage of the depreciation of the currency which other taxpayers had.

While nominal wages increased rapidly, real wages were much lower than before the war. The wages of bricklayers, for example, which before the war had been 45 per cent higher than the minimum cost of subsistence, were lower than the minimum cost of existence in 28 of the 60 months from January, 1920, to December, 1924.

In August, 1921, employers, especially in the heavy industries, began a movement against the eight-hour day, and on December 21, 1923, the government issued a decree which while it maintained the principle of the eight-hour day, permitted certain exemptions by collective agreement and by official permit.