The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-24

question or fight it out to a clean finish. Dodging the question has no virtue. Passing the buck has none. karennial procrastination has none.
 Discusses General Matters
 Now let us go to more general matters.
 The 5-cent fare was far and away the big factor in forcing the cor poration into receivership. As above stated. the receiver struggled with the problem about sevent months be- fore any relief whatever was grant cd. The relief then granted was in the face of a threatened strike. and expressly limited by the city com mission, as stated in it's. letter. to that emergency.
 An agreement was reached with the men, the cost of which was somewhat less than the revenue to be derived from the increase of a penny ride. But when all the ln- creases were made to the employees of all departments which were eound to be underpaid, the total substan- tielly exceeded the increase result ing from an additional penny ride The increased cost of material. in- creased taxes and higher mainte- nance, together with increased wages totalled an enormous amount.
 And the facts were wholly known to the city, yet it took no further action until the receiver was forced to go to the public service commis- sion for an additional fare, and then the city fought that.
 The question I want to ask now is who has profited by this settled course of strangulation and parsi- mony? The investors have, of course lost heavily, but I will put their case to one side. The question l want to press is-what profit has resulted to the public from this course of action?
 Public Has Paid Dearly
 "As I see if, the public has paid n even greater price than the investors. The public suffered during the win ter of 1918 perhaps the worst service that any community of it's size ever suffered. It is not possible to esti- mate in money the cost of the pub lic's inconvenience and suffering. Has the time not now so far passed as that the question cannot be soberly asked whether there was not a great mi mistal5e on the part of the city com mission in the first instance, and on the part of the public in the second in permitting the utility to go over the precipice in order to save penny a ride, or even two pennies, or even, as I see it, nickel a ride?
 q am not going to urge that there was a mistake. but I am going to press that it was costly venture. There may be good reason for think ing even now that it was necessary for matters to grow worse before they could get better. but the point do urge is that 1t would be the ut most folly to turn definitely back ward toward that same condition Tn order to save penny ride and two pennies for transfer.
 "I believe in the motto that the man who never makes mistakes never makes anything, but I also be- lieve it is folly to make same mis- take twice. or to go into all eXpen- sive venture the second time without necessity. The hair of the dog may he good for the bite, but tn. second bite of the dog is certainly not good for the wound"
 Expenscs Reduced
 Despite the fact that the receiver made a record of reducing the oper- ating expenses of the properties of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company more than $2.050 per day within five months, the revenue and income of the properties showed decrase of more than S2,S50 per day in the same time,, said the re- ceiver in a statement issued yester- day.
 This statement of Lee c. Bradley was made in reply to the charge of Forney Johnston attorney for the city, that the receiver should econo- mize in his operations. In his reply Mir. Bradley took up each phase of the expenses of the properties and submitted facts to show that no fur ther economies could be made with out depriving the public of the ser vice to which 1t was entitled.
 In regard to cutting the wages of employees as suggested by MT. John ston, MT. Bradley cited the fact that trainmen by working eight hours daily every day in the month, includ- ing Sundays, made from Sl00 per month for a new man to $125 for the oldest man in the service. The same pay was received by the man who worked 10, hours daily but who took one day off each week. Inasmuch as these men had worked for the even smaller pay during the years from 1915 to 1919. ard since their present pay was lower than that of other men, the receiver thought it unfair to suggest that they be cut.
 Skilled Workers
 The same situation exists, he de- clared. regarding, carpenters, paint CTS and other skilled men working for the car company These men now receive an average of 20 cents per hour less than others get for the nt The difference was even greater during the war period. As to the claim of the attorney for the city that railroad workers had been cut along with steel workers, Mir. Brad lev replied that even after their cuts their pay was still far in excess of that received by the employees on the street railway properties.
 Comparing Birmingham rates with other southern cities, he stated that where cuts had been made elsewhere the pay for street railway men was still higher than that paid here As to common labor. the receiver pays 17sa cents per hour. compared with a5 cents for labor by the city
 Light and Gas Rates
 Inasmuch as light and gas rates have been lowered over pre-war prices. the increase in car fares ap- plies to only the railway income which is only half the total, said MT Bradley. He quotes from the public service commission to show that the two increases in car fare had operated to increase the rev. enue of the company only Is per cent. When this is compared with the increases in other commodities during the war and it is also con- sidered that the company went five years under high prices without any increase, present requests fer an in- crease which will make the total P csr cent do not seem Unreasonable. ! accnrdinE 10 Mr Bradley