Since the stock-market crash of early 1970, the biggest noise in the brokerage community has been the sound of the falling ax. On Wall Street, some 35% of the work force has been let go since the market turned bearish. Simply through attrition, Shearson, Hammill & Co. reduced its rolls from 3,300 last spring to 2,800 today. A few firms sliced away a little muscle along with much fat. Some firms fired so many clerks that when trading volume picked up in November, the staff could not process orders on time.
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