Chicago eagle., 1893-05-13
HOTEL EXTORTIONS.
The Chicago Tribune Speaks O1t on the
Subject.

The Chicago Tribune Speaks Out on the
Subject.
From the Chicago Tribune.l
1t is time to talk plainly about the
question of hotel extortion. Else
where in this issue the Tribune prints
the results of its Investigations.
They are not of character which is
creditable to the proprietors of GER
tain hotels or to the city. They |
show general advance Of prices and |
determination to make still
further advance later on in the sea-
son, disposition to ignore and drive
out their regular guests, and TO prac-
tice extortion upon transientS. 1t
does not occur to them that by this
policy they are injuring the good
name of the city, imperiling the sue
cess of the Fair, and sacrificing
eventually their own advantages.
Probably they do not care for any of
these results, as their only motive is
one of greed.
Commissioner Calhoun, of Wash
ington, has warned his friends at
home against these eXtortiOns, and
Mr.. Frank Virgins, of California,
has sent letter home in which he
says:
We are being bled in every quarter
for board and lodging, and are lit
tie bit doubtful whether the treas
uries of the California counties will
be able to foot the bills when we
get through. | have no idea what
will become of us after the lst OF
May as every contract ends then,
even to the newsbOys. No matter
what you do or what you undertake 1t
has to terminate here the 1st of May.
| look for the cows to go dry that
day, and / think the fish will all
leave these shores and start in an
other direction. If the people of
Chicago have not killed the goose
that laid the golden egg l am much
mistaken. They are OVERRIDING the
matter in every direction. OF course
there will never be another Worlds
Fair here, and they think this is
their opportunity, and we poor devils
have to submit to every manner of
imposition. | hope we will live
through it and come out on top.
1t is possible, Of course, that Mr..
Virgins has exaggerated the situa-
tion somewhat. 1t is to be hoped at
least that he has. 1t is also certain
that not all the hotel proprietors are
engaged in this extortion. Some of
them have kept to the pledges which
all of them long ago made, that they
would not depart from their regular
rates, but there are too many of them,
both down town and around the Fair
grounds, who have violated them
grossly and who are prepared t. go
still further unless some influence is
brought to bear to stop it. The in
vestigations made by the Trib-
une's reporters show that there
is no occasion for any ad-
vance The hotels in the city and
at the park are more than sufficient
in capacity to accommodate crowd
even bigger than that which was here
at the oIening of the Fair. The ad-
vance which has been made therefore
is simply robbery Fortunately the
offense carries its own remedy. AS
the supply is larger than any possible
demand, the greedy crowd will only
kill the goose that lays the golden
eggs This is already manifest The
hotels which are charging reasonable
rates and not driving away their
regular guests are the only ones which
are full aud making money. Those,
on the other hand which are over
charging are losing money and Il u
hoped they will continue % lose "a
the end.
hut whatever may happen 60 these
extortlouists dues not redeem the na.
ture of their conduct No. ls vicious
infamous, and dlsgracefaL 10 onll
encrt can he o. hurt the goad Ham'
of chs "ltf aad aHsct the mecsss oI
che talt n fpeuste1 la It wlIl ieat,
thh elIf iu the mme ilssrage'u' oau
aiHH .n uh.eh NeHus Hant Htalf
tn lhH mallsr tha f.IeNae loet aal
I.W "a aH.t haf tNe Hf
tmtsf elt
IL ---- ------ III III