Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-23
THE CUSTOMER PAYS FOR LII.

THE CUSTOMER PAYS FOR LII.
The Pleasant Practices by WI ich
| Rarsenders Manage to Make LtV-
| ing.
| Baltimore Sun.
GA bartender is more important
parsonage than is generally suppos~
3D." said detective in All up town
wine rooa the other day, as ne tossed
off a well-mlxed cocktail. II have
been detailed to look out for excise
violations a number ST times, and [
have learned considerable about the
| liquor business. A bartender's salary
ranges from $50 to $3.50 per month.
That is the nominal salary. But I'll
saloon keepers reckon that man will
knock down from $50 to SIS more In
fact, neither the proprietor nor the
bartender looks upon this as stealing.
1t is considered by both parties to be
a legitimate percentage, although
neither will adm that it is taken.
The bartender steals in proportion to
the receipts, and if he is a good one,
he will never exceed a certain percent
age. II the proprietor understands
his business he can tell # the bartend-
ers 90 to excess, because he knows
| just about what money should be re-
turned for the amount of liquor he has
to sell
The Windsor hotel is notable in
stance of this. The bartenders there
each get 800 per month and board.
Their liquors are all measured out.
The propr1etors know what the profit
should be. II the bartenders can make
anything on that, they are welcome
to it.
"Where the check system is used,
either the bartenders and the cashier
hang In together or else when the
former sells drink worth 30 cents ne
asks for 0cent check and pockets
dime. If he gets the correct
change from the purchaser, he hands
in just what he pleases. But they
always find some way to work these
things.
eff there is more than one bartender
and no cashier, the proprietor makes
the most trustworthy act in that cas-
pacity, and he has to go shares with
the others.
1.-The principal reason why this un~
derhand business is allowed to go on
is that the bartender is, IN nearly
every case, most important factor in
the success of a saloon keeper. With
so many saloons in every block, the
purchaser is very particular. If things
do not suit IN one place, if the bar is
not clean, Or the liquors are not we'll
served he will not go there again.
Consequently, successful bartender
Is a model of neatness. He takes q
pride in keeping his bar and glasses
bright, has pleasant word fer everyS
body, will not allow himself to be
drawn into any disputes, and strives
to please. Such man quickly makes
friends who will take his part IN
quarrel. If the proprietor attempts
to dismiss him, they soon let him
know that their trade depends on the
retention of the bartender. A friend
of mine, who has several large sa~
looms, told me the other day that he
knew his bartenders knocked down,
but that he would dare say anything
for fear they would leave him. He
said he realized 800 day out of his
| saloons. He has four bartenders, who
receive a salary of $50 month each.
Besides that he calculates their steal
lngs amount to as much more.
Some bartenders make money
without robblng their employers. If
any of their numerous friends ask
them to take drinks they excuse them
selves and take cigars. Afterward
they return the cigars and put the
money that they cost In their pOck-
cts.
II have known cases, however,
where q bartender, knowing that he
was necessity, imposed on his en-
Ployer 10 a terrible extent. There
was saloon on Broadway which
brought IN very handsome profit.
The bartender was model, and had
hosts of friends He used to take a
certain young woman out for drive
every Sunday, and always took her
to supper, where bottle Of fine wine
was on the table. He took the money
almost openly, and the proprietor as
sured ME that he often saw him stick
the money he received into his peck
ct, without any pretense of putting it
in the drawer, At last the bartender
was discharged. Ny friend told me
| that IN three months the bartender
took 81, SOC above his salary.
"A very peculiar instance that l
remember was the case of bartender
IN fancy saloon uptown. He used
to wear fancy shirt, the sleeves of
which were full of folds and creases.
The prosrietors found their income
falling off very fast and set detect-
i've to watch him. One Saturday
night the detective saw him finger
SIS bill. which disappeared mysterious
~. He arrested and searched him
and found bill hid away in every
one Of those creases. Yet, with all
these stealings, the saloon-keeper