The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-23
THEY LIKE TIPS.
Walters and BARRIERS Must
Have Them.
1T IS A NECESSARY EVIL
That Is What ProprietorS of Tonso-
rial Parlors and Restaurants
Say on the Subject.

Il lie actlOn Oh tue management OF the
Grand Hotel barber-shop in attempting to
discourage il not abolish the practice of
tipping BARRIERS has called forth much COM
ment, favorable and otherwise. among
restaurant-keepers as well as BARRIERS. In
order TO get at the popular feeling of those
most concerned. CALL reporter inter-
viewed number of the principal caterers
and tonserial artists on the subject
Mr.. Ladagnoys of the Maison Richie was
the first TO be questioned:
"rhe custom of tipping here. as compared
to Eastern and European cities. is not ex-
tensiye," he said.
SIN some of the European cities walters
pay for the privilege OF serving and in one
of the principal cafes Of Vienna the head
waiter pays the nice little sum of 5000 per
year for the position.
Here the conditions are altogether diff
ferent.. For instance, in this establishment
we pay our walters from S45 20 $50 and even
$50 month, besides board. Consequently
there is no occasion for their depending on
tips.
mo. do not think there is any harm in
the practice. but on the contrary, it Is TO a
certain extent conducive to good service.
Yes. without doubt, the custom is grow
ing, and in time will become general, but
when IL does the usual amount of tips will
DC flucn Smaller lna0 DIT present.
Marchand'S was next visited, but the
manager declined to express his views on
the subject beyond SAYING that so far as he
knew the practice was not detrimental to
good service to all.
A like answer was all that could be gained
at either Delmouico's or Campi's.
Visits to some of the cheaper restaurants,
however, met with more success. Mr.
Ferguson of the Popular said:
I'm my opinion tipping is decidedly bad
practice, Tor which the public is responsible.
1t Is bad practice Tor many reasons.
The principal ones are that it Is calculated
to lead 70 dishonesty among the walters,
places the proprietorS at a disadvantage,
and in many instances deprives the pa
irons who cannot afford it-or do not see fit
to tip the waterS-of the service they are
clearly entitled to.
''It tempts walters to be dishonest, be-
cause there are people who would willingly
pay the waiter to give them check for less
than their bill.
lit places the proprietor at dsadyan-
tage, because 1t sometimes drives patrons
away who when they find that tips are ex-
pected conclude that to get proper service
they will have 10 pay twice.
And as natural consequence it follows
that the man who tips the waiter gets bet
ter service than the man who does not,
though the service should clearly be the
same. Yes. 1t is bad practice. but / see
no way of getting rid of it,"
w llSon VI TIE Ntll-knOWO restaurant
bearing ms name was OF the opinion that
tipping as general thing was rather con-
oucive 10 good service than otherwise.
The only trouble with the custom here"
said Mr.. Wilson. lis that it is not general
enough. and perhaps for that reason people
make theiT tips too large.
In Europe the average amount Of tip Is
from 2R cents TO 5. and certainly that
should be enough in this country where
liberal salaries are paid.
"Of course the man who tips the waiter
is likely to receive the best service. but on
the other hand, we do all we can TO avoid
this by hiring none but frst-class walters
and giving them to understand that The de-
lection of any such conduct will lead to
their immediate discharge.
Yes, / know there are places here where
one can scarcely receive service at all with
out tipping the waiter, but also know that
IN such places 1t is cheaper TO tip the
walters literally. There is not the re-
motest possibility OF the practice dying
out"
The foregoing opinions are samples of
those met with elsewhere among men of
experience as caterers, In whose Judgment
the practice Of tipping is In many respects
bad one, but one for which there seems To
be no remedy. The general opinion as ex-
pressed by the BARRIERS is much the same.
only varying as the details OF the business
differ.
The popular opinion of the action of the
management of the Grand Hotel barber
shop was quite clearly expressed by the
proprietor of wellknown shop, who de-
ciined 10 give his name for publication. He
said
81 have been barber since was Is years
Of age, and while / have always seen the
evil tendencies of this practice | have never
been able to discover any means or abolish
ing 1t. The hanging up of a placard stating
that the management is not in favor of tip
ping will have no effect on the custom, be-
cause II a customer desires 20 give the bar
Der anything he is az liberty 10 do so, and IL
the proprietor objects he will in nine cases
out OF ten offend the customer, who will
afterward patroniZe another shop.
There are two sides to this question, ana
the wOrklngD.en's side of 10 should not be
overlooked. They would naturally like TO
receive whatever perquisites the customer
feels disposed to bestow. and i see no rea-
son. so long as they are fair in their treat
ment Of the proprietor. for depriyng them
Of what may fall to them in this way.
Nv hen customer does not tip the barber
L always hnd it out and il that customer Is
treated any differently from the man who
does give tips, L discharge the offender on
the SPOT.
The custom Is growing, and, while l
would give much to see il abolished, | can
see no way OF accomplishing that end, and
until do prefer TO make the best of bad
bargain and accept 1t as a necessary evil"