Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-17
DRINKS BEHIND THE BAR.
The Pleasanx Practices BY whIch Bareena-
ers Manage - Make = Liviaz.


From the New York SUM-
ga bartender is more important per
sonage than is generally supposed, said
q detective in an uptown wine room the
other day, as he tossed off a well-mixed
cocktail II have been detailed to look
out for excise violations a number of
times, and have learned considerable
about the liquor business. A bartend-
er's salary ranges from $50 to $3.50 per
month. That is his nominal salary
But all saloon keepers reckon that q man
viii knock down from $50 to SIS mere.
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 acknowledge that it is taken. The
bartender steals in proportion to the re-
ceipts, and if he is good one, he will
never exceed a certain percentage. IF
the proprietor understands his business
he can tell ifthe bartenders 90 to excess,
because he knows Just about what money
should be returned for the amount of
liquor he has to sell.
THE Windsor Hotel is notable in
stance of this. The bartenders there
each get 500 per month and board.
Their liquors are all measured out. The
proprietors know what the liquors cost,
and what the profit should be. If the
bartenders can make anything on that,
why, they are welcome to it.
Where the check system is used,
either the bartenders and cashier hang
in together or else when the former sells
q drink worth twenty cents he asks for
ten-cent check and pockets a dime. If
he gets the correct change from the pur-
chaser, he hands in just what he pleases.
But they always find some way to work
things.
eff there is more than one bartender
and no cashier, the proprietor makes the
most trustworthy act in that capacity,
and he has to go shares with the others.
''The principal reason why this under
hand business is allowed to go on is that
the bartender is, in nearly every case, a
most important factor in the success of a
1aloon keeper. With so many saloons
in every block, the purchaser is very par
ticular. If things do not suit in one
place, if the bar is not clean, or the
liquors are not well served, he won't 90
there again. Consequently, a successful
bartender is a model of neatness. He
takes pride in keeping his bar and
glasses bright, has a pleasant word for
everybody, will not allow himself to be
drawn into any disputes, and strives to
please. Such a man quickly makes
friends who will take his part in quar-
rel. If the proprietor attempts to dis
miss him, they soon let him know that
their trade depends on the retention of
the bartender. A friend of mine who
has several large saloons, told me the
other day that he knew that his bar
tenders knocked down, but that he
would not dare say anything for fear
they would leave him. He said he
realized 500 day out of his saloons.
He has four bartenders, who receive a
salary of $50 a month each. Besides
that he calculates that their stealings
amount to as much more.
"Some bartendels make money with
out robbing their employers. If any of
their numerous friends ask them to take
drinks they excuse themselves and take
cigars. Afterward they return the cigars
and put the money that they cost in
their pockets.
II have known cases, however, where
bartender, knowing that he was 9
necessity, imposed on his employer to a
terrible extent. There was q saloon on
Broadway, which brought in q very
handsome profit. The bartender was a
model, and had hosts of friends. He
used to take 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
assured me that he often saw him stick
the money he received into his pocket,
without any pretence of putting it in the
drawer. AT last the bartender was dis
charged. My friend told me that in
three months the bartender took 81, 800
above his salary.
"a very peculiar instance that / re-
member was the case of bartender in a
fancy saloon up town. He used to
wear fancy shirt, the sleeves of which
were full of folds and creases. The pro-
prietors found their income falling off
very fast and set a detective to watch
him. One Saturday night the detective
saw him finger So bill, which disap-
peared mysteriously. He arrested and
searched him, and found bill hid away
in every one of those creases. Yet, with
all these stealings, the saloon keeper
grows rich. From 100 to 100 per cent.
profit is about what they make, even
with dishonest bartenders."