The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-27

GUESTS WHO DON'T PAY.
A PROBLEM THAT HOTEL KEEPERS
HAVE NOT YET SOLVED.

Men Whs Make Free Use of Some of the
conveniences. bot Who Never Register
and Never Ask for Their BiIls-EIpert
Opinion on the Subject
II has long been an unsolved problem
among hotel keepers how TO avoid being
imposed upon by a very large class of per
sons who habitually make use Of various
convenienees of hotels without in any way
compromising the proprietors- 1t is, for in
stance, daily occurrence for those who
are not guests TO make use of the parlors
Of hotels fer places of meeting, 10 use the
toilet rooms, to lounge about the smoking
rooms, to use the hotel stationery, and in
other ways TO appropriate to their own
use, without payment, facilities which are
intended for the accommodation OF hotel
guests. The su5jecs has been much talked
about among hotel proprietors, and many
expedients have been either proposed or
adopted as a remedy for this growing evil.
In Q number of well known hotels in New
York the evil has grown to enormous pro-
portions. As far a. the toilet rooms are
concerned, it was &C one time proposed TO
adopt a scheme OF charge for admission,
and one inventive genius even went so fa-
as 70 propose machine on the principle OF
Put nickel in the slot"
CHECKING THE EVIL
1t Is, however, true that, after much
elaboration and consultation, and com
pairing notes and relating experiences,
hotel proprietors have generally come 20
the conclusion that these evils must in
some measure be borne, although they
may be prevented in a degree by various
expedients. 1t is, therefore, now the Gus
tom in the larger hotels to post various no
tees about The public places indicating that
they are reserved for guests of the house.
Such notices are posted in the toilet room
and IN the smoking room, and over the
chairs in the billiard rooms. and even the
seats that are placed near the hotel Offices
for the accommodation Of the bell boys
awaiting the summons OF the hotel clerk
TO answer the call of guests.
1t is also an essential part of the equip
nlent Of all hotels to have one or more per
sons constantly on the lookout to warn of
these Improbable visitors. Such of these
unwelcome guests as are obviously IN
clean or Crooked" are unceremoniously
bounced. There is, however, a very large
class of well dressed and gentlemanly sp-
pearin9 persons who do not scruple TO thus
impose on hotel proprietors day after day
With such persons gentler, but quite as
effective, method Of warning off is adopted
Sometimes the gentleman will receive a
delicate intimation by word of mouth that
his presence is not desired. Sometimes he
will be asked if he has any particular bust
ness in the house. II may be that q note
will be slipped into his hand suggesting
that he has been accommodated for a sufii-
cieut time.
Speaking on this subject Mr. Z. l.. Mer-
rifield, president of the Hotel Keepers a.
ISOLATION, recently said: "To a certain ex-
tent hotel keepers recognize that their
houses are public They are aware that
from many reasons persons who do not
patronize their hotels may find occasion TO
use these facilities. They know. for in
stance, that their own guests during their
stay in the city may find occasion TO visit
other hotels and use their conveniences.
They are quite willing to permit fair
share OF their own conveniences TO be used
by the guests of other hotels, but they
have found it absolutely necessary TO pro-
tect themselves by constant watching and
by the prompt election Of habitual offend
ers.
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