The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-03-25
REDUCTION IN WAGES

Recently an article appeared in the
News and Courier written by Mr.. A.
H. Ninestein of Barnwell, in which
the writer stated that the trucking
business in Barnwell County has been
discontinued for all practical pur-
poses on account of high transporta-
ton rates. Formerly several thousand
acres were planted in vegetables OF
one kind and another, and the early
vegetables from the truck farms were
shipped to Northern cities where they
commanded good prices and were a
source of profit to the raisers. These
vegetables, it is stated, may be sold
at good prices still, but the express
and freight charges, on account OF
increased rates in recent years, are
50 high as to take up the entire pro-
fits of the business, making it not
worth pursuing.
Like complaints come from Flori-
da and from other points where crops
of this kind are grown.
In this connection it is interesting
to note that the railroads are de-
manding that they be allowed to de-
crease the wages paid to their en-
ployees, whose wages reached peak
prices in war times, where they still
are, in order that freight rates may
be decreased. 1t is stated that by re-
ducing wages as proposed a saving of
some six hundred millions of dollars
is to be made in a stated period, q
year we believe it is, and that this
saving is to be passed on to the peo-
pie who pay the freight.
In making this request and in prom
ising to reduce freight charges to the
extent of the reduction in wages,
the railroads are not contending that
they will be doing any charity busi-
ness. On the other hand, they ac-
knowledge that it will pay them to do
so, because they say that it will pro-
mote business. The Pennsylvania rail-
road says that it now has eighty-five
thousand freight cars standing idle
for the reason that business is at a
standstill because shippers cannot
pay the freight charges now demand
ed and live. A great mahy former
shippers are in the same condition as
the shippers of truck from this Sec
tion,-the charges are so heavy that
they consume the entire selling price,
and there is, therefore, no incentive
to produce and ship these articles
which formerly made up the loads Of
he carriers.
That such is the case, we may we'll
believe. The carrying charges on all
commodities are far higher than in
the pre-war period. The freight rate
on coal into Abbeville from the
Clinchfield mines is now S3.19 as a.
gainst $2.05 before the war period.
The difference in this freight rate is
largely paid to the same laborers who
before the war were paid from $2.05
per ton charged for hauling coal.
Coal is a necessity and must be haul
ed, but it will be evident from these
figures that no more will be hauled
than is absolutely necessary.
Under these circumstances, we are
of the opinion that there must be a
revision in the prices paid labor on
the railroads. There may be some
men who are not overpaid in the en-
ploy of the railroads. We think there
are good many men in the employ
of the railroads, who on account of
the skill required and the hazards. of
their. employment, are entitled to
the interest of the public. And the
present wages, perhaps to more than
they now receive. But everybody VINO
has made the slightest inquiry into
such matters knows that there is
much labor employed by the railroads
which is said a great deal more than
the same kind of labor is paid in 9TH
er employment. There is an artificial
standard Of pay on the railroads