GERMAN TRADE CRISIS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 49, 30 November 1909, Page 3

GERMAN TRADE CRISIS.

HIGH RENTS AND EMPTY

HOUSES IN BERLIN. Berlin is suffering from a trade crisis. The beautiful shops in the J.eipzigerilracse and Friednchstrasse cannot disguise it, the coffcc-houscs and theatres ;:;>.nnot mask it. There arc over 1000 ■mpty shops waiting for their counters to be cleared; in every street the telltale "sofort zu vermeithen" (to be let immediately) points back to yesterday's over-development and to-day's reaction. Rents have risen enormously, in some cases as much as 25 per cent, within the past few years, and living is becoming exorbitantly dear. Excessive building and the impossibility of many business concerns to clear a profit ought to induce landlords to bring down tho rents. But they refuse to do so, preferring to wait. In addition to the shops there are already 18,000 unoccupied dwellings. The Reichstag will open during the last week in November, and the Budget for 1910 will be presented before Christmas. An enormous deficiwill have to bo covered by hook or by crook. HowP It is difficult to say. The Germans themselves do not know. Taxation will have to bo increased, duties surcharging the ordinary means of living will have to be increased. But the groat trusts, for whom, Germany is a paradise, and the landlords, whose domains are as heaven upon earth, will thrive in prosperit yand peace. For the former the Customs duties have been expressly erected; to favor tho latter there will be no increase in legacy dues, But eGrmany needs money. Where is it coming from? ' From the middle classes, from tho smaller tradespeople, whose existence is already precarious, and from indirect taxes. The Chamber of Commerce is <vfi;>nising a prize contest for the best decorated and arranged sTiop window. P. must be admitted that the decorations of the show windows a. Ie man; rases both charming and artist'e. There is little overcrowding and clashing of colors. Crowds wairier up and down, gaping and stariir., and the "sofort zu vermeithen," tin ommrsrciil depression, the finaiicul 'swamp," m forgotten.