New-York tribune., 1905-02-12
DR.. TUBBS AND TIPS.
Missouri Bill to Remedy So-Calle9
PerniciOus Practice.

One OF the missouri SOlOns. Or- Aionzo TubbS
by name. would legislate the practice OF tipping
OF existence In the state.
One OF the first bills introduced IN the love-
house OF the Missouri Legislature this year was
his anti-tippng bill. The legislature was only
three days old when he introduced this act for
the benefit OF the travelling part Of humanity
From the moment that Dr. Tubbs presented his
little bill In the House he was a marked man
The Tubbs bill has brought considerable
satisfaction to any one. save It's author In his
contemplation OF a good deed. Although u IA
aimed at the employers OF the beneficiaries- OF
tips, it has excited the ire Of the employees to a
greater extent than that Of the employers 0.
course, the employers, at whom It IL almsd ara
not enthusiastic about it, The general public
when it does not sneer scOf. wakes indignant
at an attempt to restrict personal liberty and a
paternaI regulation of the outlay OF money
The Tubbs anti-tipping bill makes 1t a mis-.
demeanOr punishable by fine. for any pro-
prletOr TO allow any Of his employees In res
taurants or hotels to accept tips from patrons
There were two classes who took the measure
seriously One was DR.. Tubbs himself and tia
other was the walters. porters. beIlboys cham
bermaids. pages. cabmen and all who expect aaa
generally receive gratuity over and above ina
price of their services. No sooner had the
tidings Of the measure spread from the star,
House than a lobby Of pOrters and walters IN
jefferson City was formed against it. They
hope to fight IL to its ultimate death.
In ST. Louis the Walters Club met 70 discus.
the peruicious bill. They found nothing good in
It nor in It's author They predicted its dessat
as measure that aimed at the liberty OF tia
individual who had every right to do with his
money as he chose. They pictured the couss-
quences to the patron OF hotel and restaurans
should the measure become law.
The picture of Dr. Tubbs was passed abou.
and each waiter adjured to look long and ear
uestly upon it, that his features might be reneH-
bered by those whom he sought TO destroy. arI
threats were made that the advent OF Tubbs ar
a hotel or restaurant would mean a sudden
paralysis OF activities the part OF those VII,
should serve him.
1t looked bad for DR.. Tubbs should he appear
in St. Louis and be recognized by waiter. porter.
bellboy or chambermaid-
But in due time DR.. Tubbs did appear In St
Louis He did not herald his coming He had
achieved all the notoriety he cared for. anf
wished to make his advent at a hotel where IA
would not be known. He chose one Of tha
! smaller hotels. which had the reputation OF dis
cOuraging tips to its employees
When he entered the lobby OF the St James
carrying his suit case. the night porter gave one
look at his features and stepped back Before
he had advanced TO the desk the single word
''Tubbs' had been passed around 70 al ths
bellbOys. The ready smile on the countsnazes
of the hotel clerk faded when he glanced at the
name "AIonzo Tubbs. Gasconade. No." and &
was with frosty infection that he said:
Front show the gentleman to his room" Bu:
DR.. Tubbs stuck to his guns. He distributed no
| largesse and met stony looks with an untrou-
| bled face
The next day, however. only short wees
| from the date Of the introdUctiOn OF his famous
| bill, the community was electrified and bis ad-
mirers cast down by the report that hs had
fallen from grace and had given 1O-cent tip
| to a bellbOy Of the st. James
In vain DR.. Tubbs protested publicly and ve-
| hemently that it was base SANDER; that hs
| had never retrenched even q dimes worth from
! his stand for humanity; that neither bellboy,
waiter porter. chambermaid cabman nor any
| other of those who look for tips had proh1ed at
his hands beyond the amount Of the regular
/ fee. With the veheInence of injured innocence.
Dr. Tubbs asserted that a mistake had been
made; that in all probability the bellbOy who
claimed TO have received benehce at his hands
| had in reality been rewarded by an unresen-
crate friend of his. one Alonzo Prather by name.
| who had the same given name the same kind
and color Of chin whiskers and who Oeeupisa
the room adjoining his.
But the bellbOy chung 20 his story, and ms
| incident remains an issue OF veracity between
| Joe Housky. fourteen years old DO know
| Tubbsr' repeated the boy. when asked II hs
/ could be sure of the identity OF the foe to ups
| and tipping. Well guess yes l had nm
spotted for fair before ever 1 seen him"
| According to the boys story Tubbs tossed
| quarter and a penny his tray and bsde him
| bring him cocktail and a morning paper As
he was about to depart his mission. the BOY
asserts he was halted at the door by Dr. Tuo0s
| who, after an apprehensive look W and down
the corridor, said to him:
| And boy you may keep the change.
Did the boy fall In his tracks from heart fall
ure? He did not. but sped down the stairs
three steps at a time and stood before ths
| clerks desk
wat did yer get from him?'' asked a dsrisivs
| chorus.
| He give me dime; that's wat got. an
swered Housky, with triumph In his tones
| 1t was a long time before his story was be-
lleved by his fellows. but when they finally gave
/ 1t credence the glad tidings spread through uS
! house. and there hope
| When DR.. Tubbs strOHed into the dining room
| for his breakfast he was greeted with sWee'
smiles from all the mattresses within ssnS
| There was Il silent struggle 10 win him 10 tAsL
| respective tables. DE- TubbS never breakfSstsa
| nor dined anywhere in all his travels with as
| much attention from those who served him a.
he did that morning His every want was an
/ tlcipated. Did he chance to lift his eyes from
| the Immediate business OF the moment tnsfs
were at least three alert Mattresses AT his sius'
| eager to satisfy his wants Princes or po'sh7
I tates could not have had more instant attehuO'-
When he arose, waitress. busy at other Jaws
paused for the moment and craned their necAs-