The sun., 1903-11-26
LIKELY TO Be A CAB FAMINE.
ESQ CABBIES ON STRIKE; BOSSES
THREATEN TO CLOSE rP.
If the Men Don't Surrender BY Tomorrow
There'll He No Hotel cabs in Town
--"Floaters" Still for Hire. but the
Waldorf and other Hotels Are Tied Up.

The cab strike threatened for several
| weeks by the drivers who serve the hotels
and clubs was begun yesterday, when $50
men employed at the stables owned by
| William B. Seaioh, Cruise 4 Keelan and
A. ID. Moulton refused to take out their
horses. The cabbies who went on strike
belong to what are known az contract
stables, that is, 10 owners who contract
to do the cab work OF the clubs and hotels.
The three stables 10 far affected supply
cabs to the Waldorf-Astoria, the Holland
House, Hoffman House, New York Athletic
Club, Union Club and Cafe Martin
The drivers struck for shorter hours.
They belong to the Liberty Dawn Associa-
ton, a branch of the International
Teamsters' Union, and William Ashley,
their walking delegate, said last night that
unless the demands of the strikers are
satisfied, every union cabby in the city
| will be called out within week
The employers are equally firm, A
meeting last night of the Livery Stable
Keepers Association, the employers Or
ganization, adopted this resolution:
That the drivers at each and every stable
at Seaichs, Cruise 4 Keelan's and Mouton's 3
stables return 10 work on Friday. Nov, 81
all the members Of this association will close
their stables.
So far as could be learned last night
there are about forty stable owners in the
organization and they employ 900 drivers
Should the threat be enforced there will be
few cabs in the streets at the end OF the
week
The cabbies wanted to begin the strike
last week while the Horse Show was in full
swing, but the officers OF the union advised
against it, because public opinion might
| construe this action as an effort of the men
to take advantage Of what for the cab bus-
ness Is the busiest week in the city.
So the first batch OF strikers went out
yesterday. Comparatively small as was
the mum Der the patrons Of the hotels and
the hotel and theatrical district generally
were badly inconvenienced.
The mems complaint is that they work
too long They want ten hours a day of,
| and TWO hours allowed for meals. This
would give them a twelve-hour day. They
now have aine hours of. with one and Il
| they rarely have so long off the box be-
cause they are frequently kept out of the
stables after the time they are due back.
The men say they are satisfied with their
wages of Sl4 week. Another of the reasons
for the strike heard last night was that the
stable owners have ordered their men to
appear hereafter with clean-shaven faces
and wearing highstanding collar and
fiat white crevat, after the style Of t he better
class London cabbes. The strikers spokes-
mel said that no such order had been given.
The only point OF contention was the hour
question.
The worst effects Of the strike were seen
at the Waldorf-A oria. The lines OF cabs
which usually stand at the entrances Of the
hotel were missing, but the opposite curbs
In Thirty-third and Thirty-fouTth streets
and in Fifth avenue were crowded with
the cabmen known as -foaters." They
not allnvyod n annr0aCh tho h0fR
until there was call, but when the call
came a dozen or more drivers would make
a dash for the fare. In consequence there
were frequent mixups and collisions which
not only damaged the cabs, but held up
the car service in Thiry- fourth street.
There was an extra staff OF police on duty
at he hot telt keep he foaters' in order.
Seaich las ie ccntreo' tor the Waldorf
from 90 10 100 hacks. Not one of them
was a. the hotel yesterday. All three OF
the stables where tie men were on strike
we're closed all day,
The strikers had numerous pickets around
the hotels ard the three stables, but there
IVES little for them to do because the owners
Of the stables made no attempt to send out
their vehicles in charge Of strange drivers,
The strikers held meeting last night
at Teouu.sell Hall in Thirty-third street
Eight hundred members Of the Teausters
Union were present, The meeting simply
heard reports Of walking delegates who
described the reasons for the strike. Fur
ther action was postponed until it was seen
whether the employers would carry
out their threat to close their stables.
Speaking for the employers, Mr.. Cruise
said last night:
THE men went out without good reason,
They demand ten hours a day of. but It is
not always easy TO let them have that num-
Der of hours on
DRIVERS don't work steadily and livery
stable keepers have TO take calls when We
can get them. We have always treated our
men well in the matter of giving them time
off. We have about thirty-five men out
II they don't come back by Friday morning
we will probably close up for time. II
the man ran stand ID we can