The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-23

ly, and, therefore, operating costs may be further reduced.
 We have no Jurisdiction over wags controversies, but we may take note of the admission of the carriers ani require them to find out whether tht wage scales are too high and to lower them if they can.
 Summarizing the situation befora us," the commissioner said. the pc. titioners speak for q basic industry (agricuiture). which the evidences shows is In a stats of financial pros. ration, receiving for its products prices which approach and in some cases have fallen below prewar lev- els, but paying transportation costs many of which are still at the war time peak. On the other hand, the evidence shows with equal clarity that the respondents (the railroadsl are likewise suffering from financial depression, and that their net earn inss have been far below the stand ard which has been fixed by the law although the tendency Is now up- ward.
 savtnRz Pointed Out
 Dealing with the road financial sit- uation, the commission pointed to the railroad labor boards decision of last July TAkGS AOOuh 10 RCt cent and h. certain changes in labor rules and brking conditions accom- plished b Re labor board which have lessened Expense to the carriers. These, the commission estimated, will produce a saving of about s426. 000, ,o0O per year.
 the cost of important commodities x.~hi Yn~ tVtn expenses account of the carriers had as completely in operating expendi- tures as must occur because term contracts for supplies entering Into at high price levels still are holding expenses to levels which must be accepted as abnormal. The commits sion said there also was every indi- cation that the volume of traffic was on an increasing curve.
 "The facts that many railroad charges are still levied at the war time peak" the commission declared, are cause of Encouragement to the producer who has been unable to maintain his prices and to the em- ploye who has experienced a reduc- ton of wages" The really vital con- cern of the carriers in this situation is to promote the return of what may be deemed normal traffic and any thing which will help toward this end Is greatly to their benefit. So far as tendency downward in their rates can be induced. and So far as the reductions in- wages and prices which have already been made effec- tive can be converted into rate re- auctions, we are assured that the full return of prosperity will be hastened for both labor and industry. The carriers have, we feel themseIyes s manifested a realization of this fact in the substantial reductions in rates which they have voluntarily made"
 he commission noted that rates in |, eastern district would be affect ed and that further proceedings and orders would be necessary to con- trol these. The membership of the commission was unanimous as to the action taken. though three did no; join In the majority opinion.
 The American Wholesale Coal
 association announced tonight
 that it had filed with the inter-
 state commerce commission An
 formal petition aclxing for . re-
 auction of all rates on coal and
 coke and of charges for the re-
 consixnment and diversion of coal
 ears and for their detention dur
 she crisis developed by the strike
 order of the railway unions.~