The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-21
TO TIP OR NOT TO TIP.

From the Syracuse Post.
Senator Penrose, of Pennsylvania, lives
at the Raleigh in Washington, and, like
the good American that he is, refuses to
tip the walters. The result has been sew
eral strikes in the establishment and sew
eral changes of walters. But the senator
still holds the fort and manages to live
comfortably, even though he be not popu-
lar with the walters fraternity. If Sen
ator Penrose will persist in the position
he has taken, he will perform a service
which his countrymen will all appreciate
and will do mucn toward breaking up this
un-American, uncalled for and obnoxious
system of tipping. AS Senator Penrose is
O. man of large wealth and liberality, he
can make the fight against tipping with
out being charged with penuriousness, and,
his example will make 1t much easier for
others with less means who want to be
independent.
The practice of tipping has grown in this
country enormously in the last few years.
In some localities it has almost reached
European proportions, but with the added
disadvantage that much larger tips are
expected and they are given without the
discrimination exercised in Europe. II
has come to pass that in many first class
hotels in the large cities guests are una
BILE to receive decent treatment unless
waiter to have decent service at the table;
they must fee the porter to have their
baggage handled promptly, they must fee
the servants to have their calls at the
room attended to, From the moment they
enter until the moment they leave the
hotel somebody is standing with an open
hand expecting a tip, and unless the tip
is given the guest Is made to feel uncom-
Portable and in many cases is put to great
inconvenience. On sleeping cars the trav-
eler is expected to pay part of the wages
of the Wagner or Pullman porters. 1t
matters not that he pays high price for
his berth or his seat in the drawing room
car and is entitled to efficient service from
the company's employees he must fee the
porter just the same II he expects good
treatment. 1t is an outrage that these
wealthy corporations, paying large diVi-
dends on their stock, charging large sums
for the service they afford, do not pay
their employees enough wages to enable
them to live without the assistance of tips.
Porters are not so much to be blamed, for
they receive but smali pay from their en-
ployers and they sre plainly told that they
| must make up the rest OF their compensa-
| tion from the travelling public.
E
An anti-tipping crusade would enlist the
hearty support of thousands OF Americans
| The class distinctions that have prevailed
| for centuries in the Old World have culti'
waited the obsequious spirit that takes a
| tip as a necessary gratuity, even where
no real service has been rendered. But
such conditions have not yet been estab'
| lished in this country. There Is no rca'
| son why Americans should be obliged tc
| pay twice for the service they receive ii
| hotels or on the cars. If there were more
| Americans with the independent spirit o.
| Senator Penrose, the tipping practice
would receive a setback. All that is need
ed is for travellers to assert their inde
| pendence ard, after having paid goot
price for hotel or railroad accommoda
| tions. insist upon receiving what they
have paid for and refuse to be held up TO
part of the employees wages, which stingI
corporations would make them pay.