The Washington times., 1917-09-29

inquiry into conditions raced py
the big moving firms OF the city to-
day revealed unprecedented condi-
tions.
1--WE are absolutely unable to take
care of half of our orders" said Of
ficials Of the Columbia Storage and
Transfer Company today, chiefly due
to shortage OF labor. We are pay
ing fancy prices for experienced mov-
ing helpers, but in spite of the fact,
we have vans in our stables which
we cannot man and put into service.
'Orders are pouring in at the rate
OF from seventy-fve to one hundred
day, whereas We are able to handle
but twelve to twenty loads a day,
due to this shortage. This demand
has made IL necessary to increase the
prices of moving. Where we former
ly charged $40 for q van load of
stun, we now are forced to charge as
high as $16 for the same load"
Men Not Steady.
THE price of labor is so high that
the men do not care for steady work."
said N. Clayton, manager Of the
Union Storage and Transfer Company.
Consequently we are by no means
able to serve even our regular Gus
toners. The laborers would rather
take odd jobs, from which they can
earn 20 to so cents an hour, than
to have steady employment at some
what lower wages.
twenty-five per cent OF our trucks
and wagons are useless because we
can get no men to handle them. do
not look forward to better conditions |
II anything, the situation will grow
worse as more and more men are
drafted. The laboring men are indie |
pendent, and seem to be thoroughly |
demoralized"
Men Unreasonable.
c. B. Buck, manager Of the Merchants |
Transfer and Storage Company. says
that his company finds 1t almost Impos-
sible to carry on their business on ac-
count Of the scarcity and inefficiency |
Of labor. He says that labor IS so de |
moralized on account OF the high prices |
that the men refuse to work unless /
they receive an extraordinary increase
In wages and other demands regard
ing Neir working conditions that are |
out OF all reason.
The men not only want high wages,
but they want to dictate exactly what |
class OF work they are to do" said Mr..
Buck today.
Men who work only two or three
days a week are now getting what men
who worked six days a week got in nor
NAL times. They are inefficient and
slovenly with their work. From 30 to 40
per cent Of our automobile and horse
trucks are standing idle.
with present conditions we are only
attempting to serve our regular Gus
toners. All our solicitors are OF the
streets. We are only able to book orders
one or two days in advance. whereas at
this season OF the year formerly we
booked orders from thirty to forty days
in advance. Horses are standing in
our stables eating feed that is, In some
cases, 800 per cent higher than 1t was
last year"
WeIIs-FarEo Swamped.
With the congestion in moving
facilities, the wells-Fargo Express
Company finds it impossible to handle
i:s business. In attempting to handle
its shipments, the campany has hired
all the trucks and wagons available
from hauling and transfer companies.
"Our trouble is due mainly to the
freight embargo" said Agent T. E.
Burgess today. "Of course the scarcity
of labor has its effect, but, as a rule,
our labor is more steady and perma-
nent than that employed by other
employed in hauling and
handling freight.
THE railroads will not accept ship
ments in less than carloads. As soon
as this embargo was passed the bust