New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-21
TRICKS OF THE WATERS.
THEY GET SMALL WAGES. BUT MAKE IT
UP IN TIPS AND BY STANDING IN
WITH THE CASHIER"

characteristics of the real German "bierlokal
have seen great change in the manner of
conducting them in the last few years There
are stiu some places where the regular Gus
toner, the -Stamm CAST" makes his own score
and tells the waiter how much he owes when
he leaves the place, and there are many places
whore the walters call for what they want for
their patrons and make a lump settlement be-
fore going home But those are the small places
and even in these there are cash registers as
checks on the person who finally handles the
money But in the larger establishments there
many elaborate systems by which the
waiter is held in check and compelled to curb
his inclination to tip himself 4 system which
vas introduced by one Of the largest resorts OF
this kind is known the metal check system
When the waiter goes to work he buys SO worth
Of metal checks. and with these he pays for
what he takes from the bar. At the end of the
day or night he receives cash from the cashier
Tor the checks still in his possession.
That system worked splendidly,' said an old
waiter, as long as the cashier was honest, but
when he formed a combination with a waiter
OF with several it became an easy matter to
make a nice bit every day. waiter would
throw down dollar check and receive twice as |
much in change, and at the end Of the day or
week there would be a division. Could this last?
Vel I should think so. I have been here for
rNr-- years anu II lIldi tllllr NSLd4 GlO d
week cashiers have opened places of their own
Some Of the best places in town belong to men
who were walters and cashiers. and when they
become proprietors their help does them just
they did their former bosses But the /
metal checks were not enough for the new sa-
lion people, and they put in new thing in !
which many slips. rubber stamps, cash registers
and spoilers were employed to keep the cash
out OF the walters pockets.
@'Wel, that was the worst Of all. Combina- |
lions can be made in that game just well as
II the old one, and at place the walters ran /
things so high that the smart ones cleared as
much as SO night Wait till I get this order,
and he halted in his German discourse.
Yes" he resumed, its pretty hard for an
honest man, because he gets no credit for being
honest the boss knows that he's being swim
died, but be makes money just the same. and if
he got al he made he would be able TO ride |
about in a carriage on his day of the same as
the cashier does. Low wages does it all
cashier gets from SO to S15 a week and handles
al he cash. and he naturally pays himself a
little every day on account He usually swears
al the walters and puts a stern front, but
those who know all about the business will tell
you that the walters at whom he yels the most
are the ones who are his secret partners
waiter at a bier kneipe' gets the princely pay
Of II TO 81 a week In some Of the best places
there are old hands who get as much as IS, but
they are few. They go on duty at o'clock in
the evening and remain until I o'clock in the
morning and in those places where there are
dancing halls in connection with the regular .
business the walters often have to remain until
3 o'clock and later Many Of these walters have
downtown jobs during the day, where they /
work from 10 O'Clock in the morning until in
the afternoon for 81 a week What do you
think Of that?" And after propounding that
question the waiter hurried off 10 fill an order.
But the waiter doesn't get left he resumed, |
r-aking marks on the pad which he car
ried and tips make the jobs worth holding
In places like this walters make good pay
even when they don't stand in with the
cashier Men give big tips to show of be |
fore the women, and at times when there's a
fight at a table as to who shall pay, when every |
one insists that he should foot the bill the fell
lows no get of free usually tip the waiter |
literally but IN such way that every one at the /
table sees lust how much they give. Cases Of |
that kind make up for those where man gets |
eveD with the house for serving beer with too |
much or too little collar or a poor sandwich, |
or 2 fat syphon Of water. or mustard with fly |
In IL by refusing TO give the waiter a tip Max
ing q mistake in addition is a fine way to make
al extra dollar in those places where the check
is not made out at the desk, but, taking it all in
with he cashier Is the best