Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-10
THE @. a. Il. ENcAMPMENr.
An Unfounded Charge Against tho Hotel
Keeper of This City.
CIRCULAR ISSUED By THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPART
MENT ooMMANDER-cHArRMAN rpsoS SHOWS
now UNJUST AND USFoUSDEp ARE rHt NLs-
oArroSs-wHAr HAS BEEN AND rs BEING DONE

NENT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES tDsON SHOWS
now UNJUST AND USFouSDEp ARK rHt AlIx-
oArroSs-wHAr HAS BEEN AND rs BRING DONE.
1t is going to be very difficult, II not impossi-
BILE. to please every one OF the hundred thou
sand Grand Army men who will be here at the
national encampment next September. Some
Of the visitors unless all the signs go wrong
or human nature is marvelously amended
within the intervening months, must grumbie.
Up to the past two or three days there has
been no official growl At the manner in which
things were moving, but there has Just
been published a circular relative TO the en-
campment which has IN it several statements
calculated TO mislead. The document comes
from headquarters, department OF New Hamp-
shire, and is signed by Department Commander
Daniel Hall Paragraph L. which treats Of &C
commodations, is as follows:
CHARGE AGAINST HOTEL KEEPERS.
THE commander regrets to have found Q
graspIng spirit on the part OF most OF the hotel
keepers OF Washington, which threatens TO in
terfere with the success of the eucampment
This is. as he understands it. in express viola
non OF the promises made and inducements
Washington in the contest at Detroit
FOR the location Of the next encamp-
p'ent. The rates demanded for hotel ac-
commodations are excessive, and in many
cases extortionate: ana If the national council
of administration we're OF the same views as
the commander and senior vice commander Of
this department., who have investigated this
subject in person, he would avail himself Of
the right expressly given him by the Detroit
encampment and change the location of the
next encampment unless these abuses we're
remedied and the citizens of Washington made
to conform to the assurances and agreements
which enabled them to secure the sncampment
at the national capital
There seems at present. however. no alter
native to a compliance with the eKactions Of
inSton. Accordingly the headquarters OF our
department have been fked At the Riggs
House during the encampment, on tolerable
II not satisfactory terms, and limited accom-
modations secured for a few comrades and
their wives. This is an excellent house, located
on Pennsylvania avenue to command
full view of the great parade and the presi-
DENTAL grounds, but hospitality can only be
secured here now at SIS per day. with a stipu-
lation to remain four DAYS. Other hotels of
this class, and some ranking far below il. exact
the same terms, and good house offers bet
ter terms than "a per day, with, we presume an
agreement for the same time of stay. What
accommodations will be available If left to
chance at the time Of the encampment must
be left to conjecture"
Inc next paragraph IN part SAWS: AS TO the
convenlcnces for large bodies of men at Wash
ington nothing very definite can now be said.
They will, however, probably be ample. though
not. In all cases, SO economical to the comrades
as they should be-"
WHAT CHAIRMAN EDISON SAYS
The attention of Chairman John Joy Edison
OF the citizens executive committee was di-
rected by STAR reporter to the foregoing
official utterances
These statements and criticisms are the
first of their kind" said Mr.. Edison, land were
they founded on facts of any magnitude we
should probably have nothing to say in
reply, but inssmuch as we know the sit
well to talk little Commander
Hall says he found on the par,
of most of the hotel keepers in this city grasp.
success OF the encampment. IL he had said
that one or two proprieto were out for all they
can get he would have been correct. but when
he accuses the majority of greediness he has done
Washington great injustice-serious injustice
because of Commander Halls official position
From the first we promised-and the promise
will be made good-that all or nearly all the
principal hotels would be accessible to the ex-
tent Of reasonable capacity at regular
rates; there is to be no overcharging.
think the idea that So or sc a day hotel
charges is exorbitant has its origin in the fact
country hotel bills rarely run over -. 80 per
day. We have many such hotels here, bu,
they are not being sought for occupancy
by department officers. When the best ID
demanded it naturally follows that the best
prices ensue. We still have room for thou
sands who desire reasonable, yet satisfactory
accommodations, but those who come to Q big
city and want all the luxuries cannot reason
ably complain il they have to pay the price
willingly disbursed by the travelling public
every day in the year.
NO FOUNDATION FOR THE CHARGE.
There is absolutely no foundation for an in.
definite and sweeping statement that the rates
demanded for hotel accommodations are exces
sive or extcrtionate. People who think "a OF
SIS day too much should stay away from hotel.
of the first class and be content with quarter
necessarily trihe less desirable.
I'VE have quartered nearly Is, 900 veterans
most OF whom have been represented By com.
mittees, and in every instance the locating and
| the terms have been satisfactory to the soldiers
Fifty-three New England posts have been pro-
yided for and every one is pleased. We will
difficulty.
MAI. coRwIN's TESTIMONY.
"Maj. Corwin of Brooklyn. who commands
the largest post in the state of New York, hal
just gone home. He has made arrangement,
at the Arlington for the post and its guests
He assured me that the agreement he entered
into with the hotel management is in every
respect mos. satisfactory. In response to a
question he told me that not one of the hoteli
! visited by him had attempted to make any ad
vance on their regular rates. incidentally be
said the attendance would be larger than a,
any previous encampment and larger than ii
ever would be again.
Something OF crush is expected and every.
thing possible will be done to relieve the pres
sure, but no reasonable being supposes that 300,
000 visitors can be in the city without causing q
slight congestion and perhaps some occasional
cases Of discomfort Our plans are in
very good shape now and have
no hesitation in saying that the
Grand Army will have a more enjoyable
and more comfortable time here than it ever
had in any other city. Our magnificent streets,
the neighboring and easily reached battle
fields, the grand review on the avenue and q
pleasing variety of hospitable efforts will make
the 80 ehcampment the most memorable event
in the history Of the Grand Army"
BROOKLAND AND vICINITY.