The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-06
AT THE MERCY OF WATERS.
IL You Do Not Tip Them You are
Usually Neglected.
From the Philadelphia Times.


Usually Neglected.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Washington.-"If it wasn't for the tips
1 couldn't make a living" says head
waiter in a prominent hotel Besides, the
head walters get less extra money than
the regular walters. OF course, my salary
is larger than the salary of one of the
men on a table. but It is not enough to
live on. There are only two head walters
In all this town who get decent salaries.
The rest of us all look out for tips just
as common sleeping car porters do.
Right? OF course II amt right but
what can we do about II. White men can
stand together, but my race is treacher-
Gus as Indians. l guess there must be
five or six good men who would make
competent head walters standing around
and trying to get into the places held by
us tip-getters. Moreover, they will offer
to work for nearly nothing, and in these
hard times some of the hotel proprietors
are willing to take cheap men because
they are all losing money just now.
''How do | know they are losing money?
Why, by keeping my eyes open. Since con-
gress adjourned there have not been more
than two guests a day registered here
and at other hotels, and they are going
is an awful hotel town except when con-
gress Is in session. Very few of the con-
gressmen give tips to the boys, but the
presence of congress brings lots of good
men here, and they give tips to help the
boys out.
'Srhere was Coils p. Huntington at the
Normandie last winter. He spent over
$1,000. while he was there. He gave his
bell boy $50 and his walters received from
S. TO $40 each week. Head walters usually
get their tips from the ladies. You know
women are all cranky They must have
breakfasts, lunches and late snaclSs served
in their rooms. They know that all orders
came to the head waiter and that the SER
vice is prompt or otherwise according to
the disposition of the head waiter. Unless
have some inducement / am not likely
to take a waiter from a table where peo-
pie are waiting for their order and send
him to the kitchen and then up stairs. 1t
stands to reason that a lady with a little
bit of sense will see that without any les
son; but when a woman needs lesson
about tipping she can get II easy enough
/ took particular pains to walt on
wealthy lady several times last winter
and took one Of my best walters TO send
to her room, but she never showed up a
nickel One morning she sent down an ur-
gent order for a cup of tea right away
because she had terrible headache Wen,
she suffered with that headache for more
than half an hour before she got her tea.
When she came down to dinner she slipp-
ed a five dollar bill into my hand and ask
ed me to always look after her special or
ders for her, and promised TO do so. She
gave me s. every week after that.
Does the proprietor know OF such
transactions? Well / should say not, for
there is no transaction In II. The head
waiter makes no demand and makes no
bargains. / am not expected by the pro-
prietor or by the manager to take any OF
my walters from their regular duties. II
do so, II is because am bribed 20 do It,
and the lady who does the bribing has
nothing to complain Of. II she volun-
tarily hands me a tip, that is her bust
ness and / am not required TO reject It.
or course the lady feels that she Is com
PEELED to do IT, but she cannot prove It.
II she wants special favors she must pay
for them, and she finds II out by experi-
encc.
Eyes, there are some men who give tips
to the head walters and they are wise to
do so. The regular walters soon know
which OF the guests are special favorites
OF the head waiter and they eau act ac-