The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-09-28
THE TIPPING evIL-.
why walters should Not he Paid Extra
by Customers.


why walters should Not ne Paid Extra
by Customers.
1t is to the selfshness 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
from 81 to s. for his dinner does not
miss the quarter, which is the lowest
that no will give uthe waiter. To the
man or woman Of moderate means who
takes three meals a 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 800 year compulsorily spent in
tips is a sum which, if saved, would
make to many people the difference be-
tween continual pinching and fair de-
gree of comfort. Ten cents is the low
est tip that can be given in a good
second-class restaurant. Now, If a
man has chop and glass OF beer or
n cup Of tea or coffee for lunch Mt the
cost of thirty-five 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 foi
liquid refreshment, the waiter who
carries an order from the bar TO table
now expects tip. Ii the system ex
tends much further the bartender who
draws a glass of beer will want ter
cents instead OF five.
The public has become so accustomed
to the necessity of dipping tina
while there is much private grumblins
lAACLC - AAN VI sltAANG0 HAARAAA ONl'bSANANAA
| Persons who really can not afford Il
''tip" either do so and stint themselve
in other directions, or patronize cheaI
and uncomfortable restaurants wheIr
tips" are not expected There will b.
no public move against this practice
because people who banded themselve
| in opposition to it would foolishly fea
/ to be called mean. Hotel and restaur
ant keepers claim it is impossible q
stop the system, because some selfisl
people would always try TO get the bet
ter service by continuing the tip ant
| therefore they (the proprietors) ar
only acting wisely in taking advantag
/ of the public's weakness. This is
worthless argument. for the experienc
of nearly all the best clubs wher
''gratuities to servants are absOlutel
forbidden is that equally good atten
tion is paid to all members. Selfsl
people would be the first to cease givinI
tips" when they found that so doinl
did not bring any advantage.
Reform is only to be hoped 70
/ through the action Of hotel and restau
rant keepers who viii possess enougl
intelligence TO see that larger profit
can be made by ridding the public c
/ this, TO many, almost intolerable bur
den. Any man who will start goo
restaurant or hotel in which there shal
be a strict and ridgidly enforced rul
against tips win almost assured
have more patronage than he can az
commodate. 1t would need only fe'
such entering wedges to generally n
lieve the public of this irksome and ur
necessary tax.-Epoch.