Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-12-30
GUESTS WHO DON'T PAY.
A PROBLEM THAT HOTEL KEEPERS
HAVE NOT YET SOLVED.

HAVE NOT YET SOLVED.
Men who Make Free Ure of Some Of the
Conveniences, but who Never Register
and Never Ask for Their BIlls--Expert
Opinion ON the Subject.
| 1t has long been an unsolved problem
| among hotel keepers how to avoid being
Imposed upon by very large class OF per-
sons who habitually make use OF various
ronveniences of hotels without in any way
sompensating the proprietors. 1t is. for in
stance. a daily occurrence foe those who
are not guests to make use OF the parlors
OF hotels for places OF meeting, to 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 subject has been much talked
about among hotel proprietors, and many
expedients have been either proposed or
adopted ~ a remedy for this growing evil.
In a number of well known hotels In New
York the evil has grown to enormous pro-
portions. As far rs the toilet rooms are
concerned, 1t was at one time proposed to
and one Inventive genius even went SO far
az to propose a machine on the principle OF
Pat nickel in the slot"
CHECKING THE EVIL.
II Is, however, true that Rfter much
deliberation and consultation, and com
pairing notes and relating experiences,
hotel proprietors have generally come to
the conclusion that these evils must In
some measure be borne, although they
may be prevented In a degree by various
expedients II is, therefore, now the Gus
tom In the larger hotels to post various no
tees about tie public places indicating that
they are reserved for guests Of the house.
Such notices are posted in the toilet room
aud 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
| II IL also an essential part Of the equip
nent of all hotels to have one or more per-
sons constantly on the lookout to warn oil
these Improbable visitors. Such of these
unwelcome guests as are obviously un-
clean or crooked" are unceremoniously
bounced. There Is, however, very large
class of well dressed and gentlemanly ap-
pearing persons who do not scruple to thus
impose on hotel proprietors day after day.
With such persons Il 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 II he has any particular bust
ness in the house. 1t may be that note
will be slipped into his hand suggesting
that he has been accommodated for q sufii
cient time.
Speaking on this subject Nj E. l.. Mer
rifleld, president OF the Hotel Keepers as
ISOLATION, recently said: ITO certain ex
tent hotel keepers recognize that theii
houses are public. They are aware that
from many reasons persons who do moi
patronize their hotels may find occasion te
use these facilities. They know, for In
stance, that their own guests during theii
stay in the city may find occasion to visit
other hotels and use their conveniences
They are quite willing to permit fail
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.
A STRING TIED TO 1T.
ut Is surprising how some men will per
sist In little mean impostures of this kind
There was nice little well dressed ole
gentleman who some time ago, although
not guest at the Continental hotel, was
in the constant habit of spending portion
OF the morning In the sitting room. He
would seat himself in the most comfort
able chair and watch for any morning pa
per which might be left momentarily un
guarded by n guest. This thing went or
so long that it got to be matter Of merri
nient among the bell boys and walters t.
watch the old gentleman as he daily
pounced upon his free reading One
morning one of the bell boys laid traI
for the old gentleman, and baited 1t with
newspaper to which n string was invisibl,
attached, and when the old gentleman
stopped down to pick up the paper it wa
mysteriously whisked away. He saw a
once that he had been watched, and he i'm
mediutely picked up his hat and left tn,
hotel and We have never seen him since
San imposition Of a more serious kind 4
the use of the toilet rooms by strangers
The more commodious and comfortabl,
they are, the greater seems to be the rlisl
OF unauthorized strangers to use them. Ii
our own hotel this Is IA source Of inconve
ence to our guests, and notwithstanding.
our notices, and the fact that we station
servant in the toilet room to warn off un
authorized persons. the evil continues
But, SO far rs have known, no adequat,
remedy has yet been proposed by the mos
experienced hotel proprietor. or course il
would be impracticable to charge fee o
admission to the toilet room, because i
would be petty annoyance to the guests
Some hotel propriotors look upon thes,
public conveniences in the light of adver
tisements. They say it brings people t,
the hotel; that, although they may not b.
Fboarders they patronize the bar or thu
cafe or the billiard room, and that In on,
way or another the establishment will re
ceive compensation.
Mr., Charles Sprague, chairman of tn,
executive committee of the Hotel Keepers
association, said; ''Of course we are i'm
posed upon. 1t seems to be well settle,
opinion. however, among hotel proprietor
that the most that can be done is to checl
the evil, and that there is no possibility o
preventing it altogether. New York Sun
1 He Got "a Loan.
The other evening citizen who stood q
the corner OF Woodward and jefferson av,