Busy Signal

One of the few certainties in Wall Street's uncertain world is that American Telephone & Telegraph Co., the "widows' & orphans' stock," will always pay its $9 yearly dividend. A.T.&T., which has not missed a dividend in 50 years, has been paying $9 since 1922 when the rate was upped from $8.50. But last week Wall Street's faith in "Telephone" trembled for a moment. When A.T.&T.'s President Leroy A. Wilson asked his stockholders to okay a 10,000,000-share increase in stock (to 45,000,000 shares), traders began to wonder if Telephone could pay that...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!