New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30
SOME HOTEL ANNOYANCES.
PETTY ovERcHARoEs AND UNJUsTI-
FABLE D1CTATION.
TRAVELLERS RESENT BEING TOLD WHAT ihi-h
GRAPH COMPANY TO PATRONIzE AND WHAT
TABLE WATER TO DRINK-soME
pRoPRlEroRs GU1LTLEss OF

PROPRIETORS Gu1LTLEsS OF
SUCH ExAcTIoNs.
rr,vs,,ars and guests In American hotels are
subjected tn many fmpositions which would be re-
scented with much force and vlgor II attempted III
England or any foreign countries IL Is ho' III
tended for one moment TO compare INC ",e
European hotel In equipment ana CUM 49,,
with the American hotel erected WITHIN 'he '''
Ave wears. Expensive adornment. furnishings ana
Fittings art, galleries in which gems Oh '''e ~
,,os.ars ro nlsccd do not compensate the weary
traveller for the petty annoyances and mposi,'o"S
he or she IL subjected 20 in the modern hote mere
| may be some exceptions to the ruie' pu' ',e
! writer has not seen them. When the traVe"e' al
rives especially II he is from Europe, he peg'hs
his sojourn with acrimonious debate VIII" INV
cabman who has driven him from the per al
which he landed, unless he has been fortunate
enough 10 make definite arrangement VIII" '"o
starter or with the official of the CAP company d.
the pier.
So far as the cab imposition is concerned. the
travellers troubles have only begun. FOR ne VIII
find whether his stay is long or short, II he uses
cabs or carriages that he will have many ds-
putes on account OF what he considers oVerc"a's
ing To be sure. cab hire Is much cheaper III
| London than in Ncw-York or the other ieau"s
cities in this country The same can be SAID OF
Paris. Vienna. Berlin and other European capi-
tails where the ordinances and regulations amply
protect the traveller whether he engages his car
riage at the hotel or at a cabstand. Inc as
putes in regard 10 cab hire outnumber all others.
no matter from what source they originate al the
hotels IN this and other leading cities OF America
| When the traveller reaches his room his hrst
! desire Is to read the news. and he sends for a
| newspaper. Naturally, he looks for the price OF
the paper. and. although American newspapers
are cheaper than the papers published abroad, the
traveller objects from principle to paying a cent
more than the regular price Of the paper simply
| hnc, he hot lkeen lptS
at a high rental to men who have become million
| aires by penny impositions upon the travelling
| public and the residents in hotels.
When the traveller has sufficiently cooled off
from his anger at the bellboy. who. he firmly be-
leves is trying to swindle him out of cent in
buying him a newspaper, the chances are that
| he will 20 downstairs into the corridor or cafe.
| Perhaps he may smoke cigar. II he does. in many
hotels he will pay high price for what Is ostensi-
| bly, delicious Havana but when he lights II the
| bitter taste OF the Sumatra wrapper convinces
him at once that the quality Of the tobacco in
! cigars sold in America importations from IIa-
vana is vastly inferior to that of the cigars he
smoked In Europe. Likely not he asks the man
at the cigar case If he hasn't n cigar OF better
quality. OF course. he is told yes. but after
trial OF every brand OF cigar In the case. the
traveller usually gives up in despair and takes to
smoking pipe.
BY this time he is thoroughly disguised and
noys his friends by odious comparison Of the hotels
in this country with those he frequented abroad His
| friends chat with him and ask: VIVA, do you know
about hotels in this country You have been here only
| three days" or 'twenty-fon= hours" for tina. mat
ter The traveller retorts Il not here five min
utes before an attempt was made 10 exort money
| from me. beginning with the cabmar who drove me
| up from the pier. down to one Of the belboys who
tried to cheat me Of penny in buying newspaper"
| His friends tell him he should not mind little things
| like that. but should get used 10 them pos
ell they ry1a in Amor
The unfortunate traveller does know that in the
majority of the leading hotels in this country the
stand. cigar stand and cab stand privileges rented
out by the hotel proprietor the highes bidder and
that in addition to the rent he receives percentage
besides If the traveller Is an Englishman he does
not hesitate tell his grievances even II he is
| laughed at for his pains. The Briton probably de-
| clares that he will not submit TO such petty annoy
ances. and that he will not employ cabs purchase
cigars or newspapers in the hotel.
Perhaps he wants 10 send a telegram or a cable
message, and believes he has the right select the
company by which the message shall go. but he finds
out that he is mistaken when ne IL told ha: the hotel
proprietor has made contract with certain com
pany and that he mus, send his message over that
Of the COMPANY by which he desires to send his
snd on that very night the unfortunate traveller may
raj into me hands OF nighhawk cabman and
| dependence; or strike his colors and humby accept
Owing 10 the extensive travel by Americans in
Europe many of them have taken up arms in the
Known men publicly declare that they viii not e be
dictated 10 by hotekeepers and that the present sue
objection the yrannIcal dlctation Of certain hotel
keepers increases steadily. That the encroachmen,
every day IS plainly apparent TO the freqHeners and
The a T s e56as n9ie IN this city,
every commodity likely TO be demanded by his guests
mi Is gn ny recently ha have been adj
iious stock in certain companies In the hope that the
panies on their guests Everybody who has travelled
abroad and at home. FOR that matter. is aware that
in small hameis. towns and villages as well a. in the
chief cities OF the civilized world the leading mineral
water may be secured wiihou, the slightest trouble
American to be tod what he mus ca, or drink. IN
Apollnaris The only satisfaction that is given TO
the guest Is that he cant have IT, that's ali. but he
and that is kept In stock in large quantities If the
EGt mb h 1ecsT1'on Of ndependnce to the
which states moro plainly than words: II would be
gag 10 serve YOU put my superiors object"
thus. the guests learn that the proprietor is in
ter.sted IN certain mineral springs mineral
they desire but must take an inferior and cheaper
p pIT because the G proprs OF Superior sim
IN a mineral water company. Now. it would
chase pond and raise oT noe to
guests ordered brook trout he Uhe proprietor could
force him TO eat carp The item Of Apoinars is
are tabooed by graspin9 hotelkcepers who believe
that the public must patronize their hotels Apo-
linsris is known the world over and very popuar
hence that item alone will very likely arouse in
dignaton Sufficient TO force hotelkecpers TO realize
! mat the public has some rights and will not be
dictated 10 as 10 what 1t shall eat or drink even II
compelled 10 pay eXorbitant for cab hire and
/ 30 per cent advance on the cost Of newsuaD.rs
magazines and literature in general
II is not in this city alone that this state Of A.
fairs exists. In Philadelphia and Chicago much
dissatisfaction has been expressed at the auda-
cious attempts to coerce the public into accepting
what the lordy hotelkeepcr may see fit to grant
There are some hotelkeepers of broad and liberal
ideas VINO refuse TO be party 10 any arrange
ment which will deprive their grcsts OF what thev
desire. Many OF them wiz tell you that the cab
stand arrangement OF hotels Is an evil bur is tho
best OF many evils. consequently II is tolerated
Hotel men OF this stamp vigorously protest against
the actions OF a few innkeepe~s who have formed a
combination syndicate to force the public to ac-
cept what they sec Mt 10 give: 1t is small affairs
that decide great battles. and IL may prove thai
such attempts will bring about the downfall OF n
/ combination OF avaricfous. graspfng men. infated
-, ~ ~ eNtcI1 lIat tnev