The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-25
WILL STOP EXODUS Of
lABORtRs FROM STATE
Board OF Aldermen Meets Tomorrow
Night to Consider Resolution
Placing Tax of $1,000 on EN-
ployment Agencies.
PROHIBITIVE TAX WILL
SAVE LABOR TO STATE
Chamber of Commerce Is Back OF
Movement In Efrort to Render All
Possible Aid to Fa1ncrs-Chartcr
Change Committee Tonight.

In order that something may be
done quickly to stem the exodus OF
laborers from Richmond to other
states, a special session of the board
OF aldermen has been called for to-
morrow night to consider a resolu-
fion placing the license tax on emf
grant employment agencies at $4,000
year. William H. Adams. chairman
of the board. it is understood. will
be sponsor for the resolution. Late
yesterday afternoon he issued a hurry
call for the extra meeting of the up
per branch of the council.
This $1,000 tax on employment bu-
reaus will. of course. be prohibitive.
and will serve to stop the increasing
number of cases of laborers being
hired out 10 industries in other states,
II Is thought This migration of men
from Virginia to other states, espe
cially to the Northern cities. has re-
Gently become menacing to business
and industry here, and the cry has
gone up from the farmers that they
cannot secure men to work their
crops.
Sentiment OF members of the coun-
ell on the proposed legislation could
not be sounded last night. II Is un-
derstood that the measure Is heartily
endorsed by the chamber of commerce
NHltH4 through ltS GUM
mittee Is anxious to secure some leg
islation of this nature and TO give re-
lief in every way TO the farmer in
these days of threatened shortage of
crops and a food strlngency.
Urged by Chamber of Commerce.
The paper to be offered by Mr..
Adams is thought to be an echo OF
. meeting of the chambers agricul-
tural committee held at the Jefferson
hotel last week. when the matter OF
. preventive city ordinance in this
regard was brought up and discussed.
Mr.. Adams was present on that oc-
casion and it is understood members
of the chamber of commerce urged
him TO take whatever steps were in
his power TO prevent the rapidly in
creasing flow Of laborers from Rich
Tnond and from the state at large.
The ordinance will not hinder the
hiring OF men in Richmond for worE
In other cities of this state or on
Virginia farms il is said. but has been
proposed merely TO relieve the serious
condition OF labor famine" through
out the state due 10 the fattering
wages ard other advantages being of
fered in Northern markets to lure
men there 10 work. As result or
this condition. farmers all over the
state are complaining that they can
not secure men to put In crops, ana
for this reason the food supply in
local districts is in danger of being
shortened. bringing the consequent
high prices Of foodstuffs
This meeting OF the board will pre-
cede the called meeting of the char
ter change committee, which VIII
again consider the propositions Of
fered by the New York bureau OF
municipal research and the Public
Service institute. bidding for the work
of a municipal survey of Richmond
Representatives of these two organi-
cations appeared before the commit
tee last Thursday night and argued
at length the merits of their respec-
tive concerns The committee asked
that they prepare specific PROPOSE
tons. setting out the work that each
of shem could do for the city. ana
lay this report before the committee
AT the meeting which will he held
at s O'Clock tomorrow night.