The sun., 1903-03-08


threats or op preston.
-The cleaning Of public halls and stair
ways is never accomplished without trouble
for the janitor. Scrubwomen leave pool
OF water In the dark corners. In which
feminine garments soak as u ey swish alonl
the hall. That means trouble for the jani'
tor
Marble stall ways or light tiled noorings
show every spot and speck Of dirt. Ten
ants, many times themselves Responsible
for unnecessary muss and dirt. are quick
and loud In their complaints to the janitol
or to the agents.
1T is not OF record that any apartmen,
house halls weIe ever washed too often
but janitors believe that II thsy were cleaned
daily tenants would declare that malaria
rcsulted from the continual dampnese and
that trouble would result.
'Thc Fire Department keeps an eyo or
tho fire-eecaIes. Obstrlctions on the land
ings or. laddeB-favorite places for ser
wants TO put buckets and bo1es and waste
If oil kdnds-mean an offidd complaint
against tho janitor ard trouble sll around.
The Strte ct Cleaning Department calls
for the garbage and tie ashes. The jaDi-
tor must have them ready. The lucklesf
tenant who neplects the warning dumt
walters whistle must warehouse the day.
waste until the next call. He blames the
jaritor.
If for any reason the police have busi-
ness in the building the janiio- In called
on as the tir go-b<tween. That means more
enemies for him II he ofYends the tenants,
but " he ofends the police constant trouble
due to reports Of infrsctions Of obscure and
orgotten city ordinances and consequent
onplaints IL his lot.
The dumbwaiter and its travelling
shelves carry a good deal more than the
tangible packages that ride up and dow,
upon them. Most Of it ia trouble for the
janitor or the tenant.
.Groceries, meats. provisions OF all kinds
and most Of the household purchases
Gp TO the ap meEts, and all the waste nd
garbage 60 down, on the dumbwait.i
servants. the root of many troubles, row
with janitors through the shaft. De
livery boys whistle through TIE tube and
Dawl names through it. Heads OF families
struggle with the iceman through the same
medium
''Janitors generally are accused OF laying
toll or all goods that pass through their
lands to the waiter Tenants declare that
janitors get the cream of the milk. two
chops out ~ ak. quart in every peck OF
potatoes. ard three oggs out OF each dozen
hat are delivered. The janitors retaliate
oy declaring that the average fat dweller
has no conscience when II comes TO stealing
goods in transit. The thefts which are laid
~ the janitors door are really the acts OF
dishonest tenants.
"Janitorr are called on by tenants to do
I'll sort of odd jobs. They must mend the
g pipes and make the steam valves work
they are called on to repair broken windows,
10 an odd job OF painting. lay tile and
paper a room.
IF the perty'-'party' is the final insult
one Fat dweiler can put on another.oi
of the fourth, the janitor not only has I .
repair the damage, but he is usually called
on to prevent armed hostilities Between
Mr.. Fourth Floor and Mr.. Fifth Floor.
Usually the janitor isn't any hickier thar
peacemaken generally are, and both
II not q diplomat as well AZ d skilled artisan
ae is a failure.
"Janitors are recruited from oil occupa-
tions in life. Many houses are in charge
Of engineers and fremen regularly en-
ployed. who find time after their regular
duties To attend to the wants Of the build
ings in which they live. Many motormen
and guards on the elevated railroads and
motormen of the al rect railroads get their
rclt free by acting AZ janitors Of apartment
houses. their wives attending to tine light
work and the scrubbing and cleaning
while the husbands are away. The heavier
work il done by the husbands during theiI
hours at home.
sIn houses where such an Arrangement
obtains, the janitor receives very low pay
IL any. The larger and moro expensive
houses require the constant presence OF the
jani,or. These men receive their rent
free and wages running from Is q week
up. Many Janltors get 3lo week ana their
rent.
The superintcndent-j -janitors Of the grea,
apartment houses receive higher pay. In
many cases they are the renting agents OF
the building and have stalls under them
to do the actual manual labor.
a k<.,r L.
commissions from the tradespeople in the
neghborhood. or courre, the tenants pay
this in the end. Trsdespeople say that
the commission which they pay TO janitors
for turning trade their way IL the same
they paw 10 servants in private houses for
the same services.
"rhe inexperienced tenant who tries 20
buy his milk or newspaper from a dealer
lthcr then the ore recommended by thu
ianitor hes pretty rough experience.
The milk will be lost or delayed and III,
paper will disappear entirely or else arrivc
~ torn or soilcd as 20 ie unresdsblc. TiT
tenant tlnm's the ~ itor for this, but
are delivered irrgularly ard cant ge,
much care.
sEsIererced fst dvellers rruslly ssk
'he janitors sss >tsEos In rsrlerting iccmsn.
,nilkmen ard tie lilo and thus virtually
c.scnt to tho commission system, TLen
goods Csp-t bo more '"nn they would "
b-ught irpn another sou-c> and arp of ~
yood quality. don't .ss any harm In this
system.
u, IL tte opini,h - rial estate men thai
the u.,sv vfiths e Nov York o'ty haw
pruduc,d a letter lot Of jsnitors than tho
community has ever known l&fore. Tia
lis real 'rtsts trns ~h6 - business con
sls,s priIriT'slly ." renting spsuren's
nn ~. up'.T West n 10 say that The jsni.
'nIs a." improving h character AID ability
eV's', b.sF.
.r-, srJ-s ihsi si.n tho sitra,ioh
p,,.die'ed hy al warns 6on~- 10 l,ssz
.bd Mspilsitah Island " inl shit~d oLly
bs nallloBaifes and lsrho's, ii~ yAnitor.
sill 10 nusA ns,"isfs ~ Tho oonn uriiy
~. ,aniior risisf sLd seni hsrb a.
~ nl. the fm A. tie n'srNiss sr,.d. .
ianant sho had h,t.fed Ia ~. enJ ~ its
"a, , .f.atlsn sslksd swAs
AL-..l- al IL NM l--aIl.aE he Mann IA q