The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-03


 number of employees who of their own motion sent word a few days ago to the company which employs them that they are willing to accept a reduction in wages was small. The railroad com pany for which they work operates small line in the vicinity of New York so that the number to which it pays wages is not large. But the example which was set by those who volun- tarily offered to take less money in their pay envelopes than they had been re- ceiving, may be followed by employees of other railway companies, and, by and by, perhaps by all who are thus em- pioyed. For the skilled workers upon one of the larger railway systems of the United States whose eastern terminal is at New York are now holding consulta- tions with the view of deciding whether they shall or shall not of their own free motion cause word to be sent to the railroad management that they are will ing to accept a reduction in pay The pay roll of this company numbers many thousands.
 This movement was begun by ntelli- gent men, some of them conductors and others engineers. They have been saying to their associates that they believe it would be of benefit to the country, to business and ultimately of benefit to the railway management that they real ize that the purchasing power of the dollar has increased, and that while they have been receiving wages or salaries es- tablished at the time of the war, new ertheless they feel that now it may be the better part for them to say that the time has come when it could not be said of railway employees that they alone continue to receive wartime pay
 These men look at the matter from two points of view. One refers to the advantage it would be to organized labor if it should now come forward and say that 1t is willing to accept reduced wages based probably upon the increased earn ing power of the dollar Action of that kind would do much probably to bring to the labor organizations the highly favorable consideration of the pubic
 ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW
 Another point of view refers to the re- lation of transportation to the indus trial and business situation. For if the r;troad companies are able chiefly through reduction of wages to over come the difficulties with which they are now embarrassed. they will in that way stimulate return to business pros perity. Up to this. however, suggestion is no more than a suggestion. But it is of interest to know that intelligent men who are now in the service or railroads are discussing one with an- other and with their associates the feas- ibility or advsbility of doing precisely what small number of railway em- plopes upon little railroad have re- gently done.
 NOT PAYING BILLS
 One of the evidences of the difficulties which the railway managers are now facing is furnished to industrial cor porations to which railroad companies are debtors. Some of these corporations report that they are meeting with diff ficulty in collecting their bills from the railroad companies One of the largest of the railroad companies of the United States is reported to be far behind in payment of some of it's bills. One large corporation is carrying an account with this railroad company which has been overdue for six months.
 It is recognized however, that this pro in the payment of bills is not due to indifference or purposed neglect. It is caused by the inability of the railroads to obtain sufficient in- come to meet all their imperative obliga- tions such as pay rolls; therefore, they have little or no money with which to pay their current bills In other words, some of our industries are carrying the railroads upon what may be called en- forced credits. It is known. however, that as soon as the endorsements are ended the railroad companies will be as prompt in the payment of their bills as they were before these troublesome times came.
 A FEELING OF CONFIDENCE
 Notwithstanding the sluggishness which characterizas some part of our business life there is no doubt that in these early spring weeks feeling of confidence is evident. There is little real pessimism Discussions center upon the time when it may be reported that American business has become normal. For everyone agrees that time is the chief factor in the recovery of prosper ity. as it is to be the chief factor in re- I storing health to the world.
 Some of the predictions fix the end of the present fiscal year as the date when it may be confidently reported that our business and industrial prosperity is ale most normal. Some of the industrial l leaders. especially those whose products