Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-03-30
Reduction in Wages.

II. Ninestein of Barnwall, 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.
>trion 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
so 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
ITO 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-
sducing wages as proposed saving of
some six hundred millions of dollars
Is to be made in a stated period, a
year we believe it is, and that this
saving is to be passed on the people
who pay the freight.
In making this request and in prom
Using 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-fve
thousand freight cars standing idle
for the reason that business is at a
standstill because shippers can not
pay the freight charges now demand
ed and live. A great many 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
the carriers.
That such is the case, we may well
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
Clinchfeld mines is now S3.19 as
against $2.O5 before the war period.
The difference in this freight rate is
largely paid to the same laborers who
before the war were paid from S2.C5
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
sof 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-
p1oy of the railroads. We think there
are a 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 pres
ent wages, perhaps to more than they
now receive. But everybody who has
made the slightest inquiry into such
matters knows that there is much la
lbor employed by the railroads which
lis paid a great deal more than the
same kind of labor is paid in other
employment. There is an artificial
standard of pay on the railroads
which is not justified, and the stand
ard must be revised. On the other
hand it is charged that there is waste
by the officers and owners of the rail
roads, that high and unnecessary sal
aries are paid to certain officers, and
other moneys paid out which should
not be paid out. We are prepared to
believe that in many cases this is
true.
All of these overcharges, if we may
call them such must be wiped out and
public should learn that this eternal
contest alleged to be between capital
and labor is not in fact contest be-
III I,,+