The morning call., 1891-01-16
FIVE-CENT BATHS.
No Prospect of the Lick Estab-
lishment Being Free.
Conference of the Trustees and Delegates From
the Federated Trades-No Revenue to
Meet Current Expenses.


Nils Farland, a committee representing the
Federated Trades were promptly on hand
at o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Lick
Free Baths on Tenth and Howard streets to
meet the Trustees of the donor of the LAYING
institution. While waiting for the appear
auce of Trustees Ira p. Rankin and John
Earl, Superintendent Merritt showed the
visiting committee all over the building, and
explained the workings of each department.
When the Trustees appeared an adjourn
ment was taken to the cosy, comfortable
paror of the Superintendent on the upper
floor. Here Trustee Rankin eyed the COM
mittee rather critically, and interposed
mild objection to the presence of the repre-
sentative OF the press.
81 did not know we were to have any
newspaper men with us" he said. 81 had
thought we were to have met the committee
so that we could have free and nnre-
strained conversation. Things get SO
twisted. you know"
The visiting committee insisted on the
conference being strictly public in its char
acter.
THE TWO MAIN QUESTIONS.
Charles Grambarth acted as spokesman of
the Federated Trades, and stated that a
resolution had been adopted by that body
that an investigation be had OF the recent
action of the Trustees in charging the sum
OF cents for baths, when the donor stipu-
lated that they should be free, and secondly.
that inquiry be made why the baths were
closed so early, thereby depriving working
men Of an opportunity to enjoy the pleasure
OF good wash in the porcelain tubs after
working hours. The OBJECT of the commit
tee was simply one of inquiry.
Trustee Rankin replied that he was most
happy to meet the committee and talk with
them about the matter. He did not think
that the action taken regarding the charging
of > cents or the hours OF closing was IRE
yocable and 1t would probably be changed
If better plans were offered. Still, in both
cases the new rules were what the Trustees
thought was best and would suit the conve-
nience OF the largest number. The TruS-
tees, however, would make any change that
seemed desirable.
DIFFICULTIES PRESENTED.
Tne Trustee continued that there were
several important difficulties in the way of
change at present He devoted himself
at first 10 the rule Of closing at O'Clock.
lie SAID that owing to the limited revenue
the force Of help employed was not large
enough. Every evening at O'Clock the
rooms were full OF people waiting. The
mems room accommodated forty. 1t was
80 o'clock and sometimes 10 O'Clock before
| all these got out. If the doors were not
| closed at o'clock the workmen would be
kept there all night. As it was they
worked each twelve hours day. After 10
! O'Clock they had TO stay till II o'clock to
| clean up for the next day.
MI Grambartn suggested that the baths
| be opened earlier in the morning.
Superintendent Merritt stated that they
were opened ut o'clock ON Sundays, but
nobody showed up until S 80 O'Clock.
Delegate Grambarth remarked that he
meant earlier on week days, so that work
men could take bath before going TO work.
don't believe, myself, in Sunday
work" said Trustee Rankin. think all
| employees should be given time to 20 to
| who cannot come at any other time, and we
| keep open from to 10 o'clock on that day."
OPEN EVENINGS
Delegate Grambarth asked if the baths
| could not be kept open in the afternoon
| and evenings. In that case those who now
| come in the morning ana have leisure could
| just as we'll come in the afternoon and even
| ing, at which latter time the wOrkmen
would have a show. The hours should be
SO arranged that people who need il Can get
| a bath
" 1t will be too expensive to do so,'' con-
tinued Trustee Rankin. Fuel is too dear.
That brings me to your second proposition
about the cents charge. When the baths
are open at their full capacity we use 10000
gallons of water day. That viii aceummo-
date 800 people. AT - cents per 1000 gallons
that means $50 day. said from the be-
| ginning, before the building was built, that
w
baths on, and that we would have to make
! the laundry pay part of the expenses. Our
| available Income now Is only SO month
from sum of $4,000 invested. The re-
malnder OF our money is tied up in the real
estate we own next to the baths, which is
| worth $4,000 The land would not give
enough from any rental or lease, nor could
We by the interest we would get from the
! proceeds OF sale obtain enough revenue
without charging small sum. Our eXpen-
| a n month. |
| for coal alone. The proceeds from the
charge on towels to each bather was $500 a
| month. That still left drain ON the funds,
| q continual monthly minus sign against the
endowment Tell US how we can change
our plans, OF act in more sensible manner,
and we will be glad both to have and take
your advice"
THE REMUNERATIvE PROPERTY.
Gould you not sell the property for
$4,000 and put it at interest" said Mr..
Gram barth.
"Our expenses are $500 year." returned
Mr.. Rankin, land we could not possibly
raise more than 5000 revenue on the
$4,000 That would still leave deficit"
| GU state" continued GTambarth, that
you said in the beginning when You were
building, even before that, that there would
not be enough money left TO conduct the
baths free. Why VII did did oy you spend SO much
"No, did not, was Mr.. Raukin's answer
Il always thought of a revenue from the
laundry. That's what l meant. l saw we
could not put up a building that would be
creditable TO Mr.. Lick and the people, aud
have enough left Lick did not leave enough
| money"
Delegate Grambar;h stated that the idea
prevailed that ii the property of the trust
were mortgaged aud improved, the rentals
would make a sufficient revenue to run the
baths without charge, and as the donor in
tended. He wasitold the Trustees could not
do this.
Trustee Earl had not spoken until this
time, when lie stated that Lick had not let
half enough money. What Lick intended
was a place where poor man could go and
wash himself If the bath had been estab-
lished on the beach, as it was suggested, it
would have cost the poor man car-fare both
ways and he would not go as often. Mr..
LICK dld not say warm water should be pro-
vided. The Trustees had not been obliged
to furnish this comfortable adjunct,
FINE BATHS.
This is fine BATH, said Mr.. Earl, ener-
getically. 1T is good enough for anybody,
Tor you or me. IL is intended for poor peO-
pie. But it is not intended for tramps. At
first there were boys and hoodlums who
threw soap and acted like wild Indians, and
men who slept in tho tubs aud drtied things
In way 1t would offend you TO describe
That had to be changed. 1t was dsreputa-
bic. his bath had TO be run respectfully or
1t would be failure The trouble all came
from those who, since cents are charged,
90 not come any more. Although charge
is made, nobody who is respecta ble and de-
cent and who cannot afford it, is refused
bath. The charge has kept the place decent.
We furnish towels, soap, combs, brushes,
anything you can get at the Palace Hotel
Practically the bather does not pay for the
bath. He pays for the soap and towel The
bath has to be run under regulations, and
we have done our best without making the
bath absolutely free"
Delegate White-Did you originally have
money enough to do that?
No. We could do SO much and no more.
We could not Tor instance provide for wash
ing the whole town. Some have stated that
there was favoritsm In the baths, whereby
some were smuggled INTO rooms without
waiting like the others. This is all false, as
the baths have been watched. All must
take turns. Our position is that the bath is
! iren and 81. M