Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-11
TREASURY PAYS THESE TIPS
PULLMAN PORTERS AND SHIP STEW
ARDS IN A FAVORED CLASS.
Controller Tracewell Decides Fees
Paid to Them Are Necessary
Travelling Expenses.

The government, through a decision OF
the controller Of the treasury, again recog-
nizes the existence and necessity of the
tipping evil by authorizing the payment
of fees to stewards of steamship vessels by
officers and employees of the United States.
For many years the controller of the treas
ury has practically put a premium on the
demands of sleeping car porters by direct
ing the payment of reasonable tips to them.
There Is no longer question about the eX-
pense account of a government employe
when it includes tips to porters unless the
amount paid is considered unreasonable.
Exactly what is reasonable has not been
decided, except, possibly, the experience
of the auditing officer or the custom of mis-
office tells him. Some government employ
eS are more liberal than others in their eX-
penditure of government money when they
come in contact with porters, but unless
the amount paid appears eXorbitant it Is
generally allowed
In the decision Just rendered the control
ler decides that army officer travelling
between here and Porto Rico or return is
justified in paying fees to the steward of
the vessel In the case considered Captain
Irvine paid So to the steward of a vessel
when he was coming from San Juan to New
York. Col. G. w. Baird of the War De
partment inquired whether he was author
lied to pay this. The controller says he is,
part of the actual expenses of a person.
The only exception was made in a recent
decision. An officer Of the navy on his way
to the Philippines in a government trans
port charged the government with IS in
fees to stewards and others. The con-
troller held that this was unauthorized.
He decides that on vessel owned, off,
cered and controlled by the United States
all the employees are in the pay of the
United States government. To authorize
the tipping Of stewards and others on such
vessels would be equivalent to an increase
IN salary at the expense Of the govern
ment. That will not be allowed.
Hotel Walters Not Included.
Commenting on the decision in the case
of Capt. Irvine, Controller Tracewell said
I'm this instance the vessel was a COM
mercial one. The real truth Is that tipping
Is part of the legitimate expenses Of an Of
f1cer o. empoye Of the government If he
didn't do this on the big steamship lines he
wouldn't get any attention or hardly any
thing 10 eat. 1t is absolutely q part of a
mans expenses, just the same as a fare
on sleeping car or a fee to porter"
Although the government has recognized
the payment of fees to porters and stew
ards, 1t steadfasty holds out against hotel
walters, restaurant walters and the many
other classes that have open palms for the
reception of small change An officer Of
the army or navy stopping over in a city
on business is not authorized to paw a tip
to the waiter at his dining table, to the
bell boy or other attendant at any point of
his travels. but when he gets on a palace
car he can tickle the orter just as much
rs he desires at the expense of the govern
ment pocket book. The same is the case
on steamboat, as just stated.