Connecticut western news., 1875-01-08
EASTERN HOTEL EXTORTIONs.
Ivh", the People of the West think of 1t.

What the People of inc West think of It.
 The Now Workers for some time past. have been iudulging in lamentations over the dull times, says the Chicago Tribune. Business is slack Entertainments don't pay. Few strangers are arriving in the city. Those who come get away as soon ns they can. Country merchants give the city wide berth. Even the opera has already lost SEQ, 1000 or $40,OOO. Worllmon arc striking. Rogucs are in creasing, So runs tho dismal song which the Now York papers arc singing in differ cut keys. It is little remnrk$ "l> that, in tue search for the causes of th1s lament able condition of things, tho papers and the people of that city have not hit upon one of tue most radical, namely, the ex- tortions of the New York hotel keepers.
 Before tho war, the average per diem prices of the New York hotels wns S2. &C., During the WAT, when rents went up and prices of living advanced by reason of the depreciation of the currency, the hotel keepers put up their rates to $3. 50. Tlis whom gold yibratcd between 125 and 150. When it went up to 175 and 200, the hotcl-keepcrs added on another dol lar, and when 1t went kiting up to Ss250 and S280 they put up their per diem to $5, which, with greenbacks worth only 40 cents, was cheap enough. Since that time the prices of living have been great ly reduced. Provisions are much cheap CT. Labor is abundant at very low rates Rents havo fallen off greatly. Green backs, worth then 40 and 90, ro now worth 90. Notwithstanding this, tho hotel-kecpcrs havo maintained the war standard of imitation, and keep their prices at Ss5 per day at respectable housos To this must be added extras. Baths, fires, extra servant hire, md meals iA rooms mako all average of sf6 per day, or $2, 190 per annlun for the privilege of oc- cupying Il 10x12 room, furnished in an ordinary manner, and eating at a table no better, and iu many cases not so well set, as can ho found in the restaurants at much less price. This is simple cxtor- tion, for which there is no justification ill reason It is deliberate robbery, and so long as it is practiccd, New York must lose it's travelling custom. As matters now stand, the country newhult who goes to Now York usually wishes to mako a little visit after ho has made his pur- chascs, and sec the sights of tho metroPo- lis. He is first blcd by tho hackmon and baggage hnndlors. He makes his pllr~ chasoa, and then tho hotel landlord gri,bs and blceds him, and unless he has brought wad of bills a9 big as his hat, he very likely has to write home for TO- mittanco with which to get ont of the city. The result of all this iH, that the merchant goes to New York no oftencr than is absolutely necessary, makes his stay as brief as possible, makes no ar rangc'nent for social plca@lros, usually arrives in tho morning, finishes up his business as quickly as possible, and gets away at night. II ho docs not, then his personal expenses make q very serious hole in his margin of profits. If the merchant wants to takc his wife to New York it will probably cost him $100 or $125 per week for his hotel board alone, not to mention other necessary expenses Under such circumstances how can Now Workers expect any other than a dull con- dition Of things: Do they imagine peo- pie can stand this hotel swindling week after week and month after mouth! Do they fancy that business men will not pro test against it, and ut last go elsewhere, where they can board moro chcap]y and escape from this constant cXtortisn What is true of New York is equally true of Philadelphia, and Boston charges high prices because New York docs.