Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-08-08
THE TIPPING EVIL.

THE TIPPING EVIL.
Why Walters should Not Be Paid Extra
by Customers.
It is to the selishness and thought
lessness of the rich that the growth of
tipping is mainly due. But, while
the result is not oppressive to them, it
has become serious tax on persons of
moderate incomes who travel much or
take their meals in restaurants. The
man who can afford to pay anywhere
rom 81 to IS for his dinner does not
miss the quarter, which is the lowest
that he will give uthe waiter. To the
man or woman Of moderate means who
takes three meals day at restaurant
where the service is sufficiently good to
be agreeable the necessity Of paying
thirty cents a day for ''tips'' is a serious
addition to the expense of living. II
his three meals cost from $3.50 to 81
the increase is from 16 to 20 per cent.
Over 500 q year compulsorily spent In
''tips" is sum which, If saved, would
make to many people the difference BE-
tween continual pinching and q fair de-
gree of comfort. Ten cents is the low
est Tip" that can be given in good
second-class restaurant. Now, if
man has a chop and a glass of beer or
cup of tea or coffee for lunch at the
cost of thirty-tive or forty cents he is
paying twenty-five per cent. additional
for the privilege of giving the restau-
rant-keeper large profit, as the cost
of the meal, with all expenses added, is
at the highest not more than two
thirds of the amount charged.
: The necessity for ''tipping" is ever
on the increase. Even at the lunch
counter downtown where the hurried
eater sits upon a swinging stool, it is
customary to Tip" the waiter, and
some patrons also ''tip" the carver.
In the cafes of the large hotels, where
an abnormally high charge is made for
liquid refreshment, the waiter who
carries an order from the bar to table
now expects a tip. If the system ex.
tends much further the bartender who
draws a glass of beer will want ten
cents instead of five.
The public has become so accustomed
to the necessity of tripping" that
while there is much private grumbling
there is no organized public opposition.
Persons who really can not afford to
Tip" either do so and stint themselves
in other directions, or patronize cheap
and uncomfortable restaurants where
''tips' are not expected. There will be
no public move against this practice,
because people who banded themselves
in opposition to it would foolishly fear
to be called mean. Hotel and restaur-
ant keepers claim it is impossible to
stop the system, because some selfish
people would always try to get the bet
ter service by continuing the Tip" and
therefore they (the proprietary are
only acting wisely in taking advantage
of the public's weakness. This is .
worthless argument, for the experience
of nearly all the best clubs where
''gratuities to servants are absolutely
forbidden is that equally good atten-
ton is paid to all members. Selfish
people would be the first to cease giving
''tips'' when they found that so doing
did not bring any advantage.
Reform is only to be hoped for
through the action of hotel and restau.
rant keepers who will possess enough
intelligence to see that larger profits
can be made by Kidding the public Of
this, to many, almost intolerable bur-
den. Any man who will start a good
restaurant or hotel in which there shall
be strict and ridgidly enforced rule
against "tips'' will almost assuredly
have more patronage than he can 40.
commodate. It would need only few
such entering wedges to generally re-
lieve the public Of this irksome and un-
necessary tax.-Epoch.