The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 4/Month in Czechoslovakia (12)

Month in Czechoslovakia

Minister of Finance, Dr. Karel Engliš, resigned his portfolio in the Černy Cabinet. This was brought about by a defeat of a government bill which provided for certain additions to State employees to help them to meet the housing situation and living costs. This bill provided that it was to take effect November 1st and the amount carried was 300,000,000 Crowns. The bill which was passed by the House of Deputies carried an amount far in excess of the government’s provisions and as a result Dr. Engliš resigned, giving as his reason, that it is impossible to secure the amounts necessary to meet the sum appropriated in the opposition bill.

The Senate, the upper house of the Czechoslovak National Assembly, refused to sanction the bill passed by the House of Deputies which increased, above government estimates, allowances to state employees. It is assumed that the bill is dead. The resignation of Dr. Engliš has not yet been accepted and it is reasonable to assume that he will continue in his present office.

 

Dr. Eduard Beneš, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is the Czechoslovak delegate to the initial meeting of the League of Nations now in session at Geneva. He was elected one of the six vice-presidents of the organization. This automatically places him on the executive committee.

 

Twenty-three former members of the Social Democratic Party, who adhere to the so-called “Left Wing’, have organized the “Social Democratic Labor Party”. The representation of the parent party is thus reduced and a new factor enters the legislative arena. One of its members was responsible for the resignation of Dr. Engliš through fathering the bill increasing the allowances of State employees.

 

On October 26th the second session of the National Assembly opened. Premier Cerny laid before it the program of his Cabinet, which does not differ materially from that of its immediate predecesssor. The annual budget for 1921 was introduced. Thereupon an adjournment was immediately taken until early in November to enable the various committees to thoroughly study the proposals before them.

 

Rumor is current that an “All National” Cabinet is to be constructed. This will enable the Germans and Magyars to participate in the government on a footing equal with the Czechs and Slovaks. This plan has a two-fold advantage. It would necessarily mean a recognition of the authority of the State by the malcontents, and, an assumption of administrative responsibilities. This would also bring about a better insight and mutual understanding, and should create more congenial relations among the inhabitants.

 

In France, at Chartres, an exhibition and contest of motorized plows was held. Forty-six firms represented by 116 units took part. The purpose was to determine which machine plowed the greatest portion of a field during 48 hours of continuous operation. French, English, American, Italian and Czechoslovak manufacturers competed. Due to prolonged drought the ground was hard. This proved a distinct disadvantage to many of the entries.

“Praga”, a Czechoslovak product was the winner. During the period alloted for the contest it plowed a field of 23.10 hectars at a depth of 23 centimeters, or, it “turned” 53,130 cubic meters of soil. An American entry was second with a record of 27 hectars plowed at a depth of 15 centimeters, or, 40,500 cubic meters overturn.

 

Germany will shortly surrender to Czechoslovakia sixty boats and three hundred barges for use in freight transportation on the River Elbe (Labe) in acordance with the Peace Treaty.

 

“In Russia many socialistic theories failed when put to practical tests and their effect was entirely different from anticipated purposes. Therefore, it is not possible for us (Czechoslovakia) to dabble in experiments but we must proceed scientifically. Socialism should be founded on science, not on religion, provocation or hazardous experiment,” says Josef Hudec in “28 Říjen” (October 28th).

RAILWAY STATISTICS Trackage
	Main Line		Feeders
District	State	Private	State	Private	Foreign
Bohemia	2,158	316	347	1,172	66
Moravia	776		210	328
Silesia	116	39	142	50
Slovakia	970	265	230	859	7
Totals	4,020	620	929	2,409	73
SUMMARY			ROLLING STOCK
Miles
Main Line Trackage		4,640	Locomotives		4,049
Feeder (Local)kage“		3,338	Day Coaches		10,790
Foreign(Local)kage“		73	Freight Cars		80,250
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		8,051

PERSONNEL

Total number of employees, about 160,000.

To an efficient operation of the railroads at least 500 locomotives, 6,000 passenger coaches and 60,000 freight cars in addition to the present equipment are necessary.

 

Profiteers do not fare well. From the middle of July until September 15th last, 950 persons were found guilty of profiteering. Sentences ranging from fourteen days to one year in jail were imposed, and in addition, fines as high as 50,000 Cs. crowns exacted. In some instances voting rights were taken away.

 

General St. Čeček, accompanied by his staff, and Dr. Václav Girsa have arrived in Prague. The people welcomed them at the Wilson Station. General Čeček was with the Siberian troops and Dr. Girsa was in charge of diplomatic relations of the Siberian Army.

 

During the months of April, May and June, Czechoslovakia exported 78,281 metric tons of refined sugar and 4,605 metric tons of raw sugar. This was shipped to all parts of Europe and some of it found its way to the United States.

 

Vlastimil Tusar, the former premier, has been named as Minister to Germany.

 

Recently a committee representing German students of Czechoslovakia appeared before President Masaryk and laid before him a memorial touching upon student housing conditions and social welfare. The spokesman emphasized the penury of the students and begged for help from the President. The President immediately placed at the disposal of the German student body 2,000,000 Cs. crowns from the Masaryk Memorial Fund and further assured them that he would exert his influence with the government to set aside a site for the erection of suitable college dormitories. He further assured them that larger allotments of coal would be at their disposal as well as oil for lighting purposes.

 

One of the serious problems confronting Czechoslovak industry is to assure the seller of raw materials that on due day his bills will be paid. In many instances these were sold with the understanding that the title remains in the seller until the purchaser sold the finished product and then turned the proceeds of the sale over to his creditor. This naturally restricted the market within which Czechoslovak merchants could operate and to overcome this condition commercial bodies are engaged in drawing up a proposed bill to be placed before the National Assembly to assure foreign creditors the amount of the purchase price for raw materials. This will give a wider field in which to market Czechoslovak wares.

 

At a meeting of the Prague State Council held on October 1st a resolution was passed asking the government to introduce a bill in Parliament to prohibit the manufacture and sale of whiskey.

 

A new barter treaty between Czechoslovakia and Poland has been signed and effects principally the exchange of coal for gasolene. Czechoslovakia is to furnish 37,500 tons of coal and 15,000 tons of coke per month. In return, Poland agrees to furnish 7,083 tons of gasolene and 1,250 tons of petroleum products. This is a distinct advantage to Czechoslovakia for she will receive a much needed help in the way of motive power essentials.

 

A Czech edition of the Talmud will appear very shortly. Those now in use are translations either from the jargon, English or German, and have led to many misunderstandings. The Bohemian Jewry will undoubtedly gratefully welcome this new departure.

 

“The Jihočeské Elektrárny”, (South Czech Electrical Undertakings) have just been incorporated with 10,000,000 Cs. crowns, of which merely 40% is private capital. They will erect generating stations near the lignite beds at Mytlobar, which will generate 20,000 KWH. and furnish electrical energy for Táborsko, Písecko, Něm.-Brodsko and České-Budějovicko. The beds are estimated to contain 20,000,000 tons of lignite, sufficient to furnish fuel for a period of at least eighty years. Preliminary work has been finished and the erection of buildings will begin with the new year.

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