Mexican finances have never been in such a disorganized condition, nor has the national credit ever been so utterly destroyed. For five years no attempt has been made to pay interest upon any financial obligations. The nation's industrial and financial institutions have been so completely wrecked and its income so recklessly and dishonestly administered, that during the last year the civilian employees of the government have been receiving only one half to three fourths of their nominal pay and many of the schools have been forced to close their doors for lack of funds to pay the teachers' salaries. The country, whose credit ten years ago was second to none, to-day cannot borrow a dollar in the money markets of the world.
At no period have the laws for the protection of persons and property been so poorly enforced as at the present time. Within the year, the newspapers of the capital city have reported that the streets were not safe for pedestrians after 8 o'clock at night, as numerous robberies were being committed, many of them by soldiers and officers in uniform. Never before has the government not only permitted, but encouraged and participated in, the lawless confiscation of private property to the extent that has characterized the course of the Carranza administration. Not for twenty-five years has employment been so uncertain and wages so low as at the present time. During the last
