The Washington times., 1905-03-08
HOTEL MEN DECLARE
THEY MADE No MONEY
proprietors Say They Did Rot Raise
Prices and Rooms Were Not
Overcrowded.
Perish the thought.

Perish the thought.
If any person thinks the h tel propTie-
tors made any profit during the inaugu-
ration let him ask the proprietor.
Not q cent of profit wandered into the
till of the cashier Of any of the hotels.
This is the official statement of the
hotel clerks. Of course, the houses were
crowded with guests. but additional help
was needed, and this additional help
had to be fed. That was a considerable
item of expense. But TO think of in
creasing the price OF the room-horrors!
Not one hotel in the city raised the
price of accommodation. That is the
statement made at each one of the no.
teIs this morning Why, the proprietors,
or managers would not think of such
thing No. They had their regular
guests to look after. and they eouidn
afford 20 offend this trade
Accused Competitors.
But when the interviewer went from
one hotel to another. there were differ
ent stories to be told OF course, that
particular hotel did not raise it's prices,
but the one down the street, or on
tpe next ccrner, was reported as having
asked exorbitant prices fer rooms, alone
or for rooms and board, depending en-
tirely upon whether the guest was
border on the American or European
plan
they made a profit, or lost out on the
deal, the managers of the different
hotels would not be interviewed on the
subject. They did not want 20 dis-
eiss private business matters II they
made a profit, that Was their business;
if they lost money, that was their bust
ness, but there We're very few doWncsast
looks when the managers contemplated
the rush Of business within the past
week.
The smaller hotels, however. did not
stand on the matter of clubbing. The
managers admitted raising their prices
Some of them sustained their position BY
| Saying that as inauguration comes orfy
once IN fnllr years, 1t was their opporz
tunity to reap a harvest. and they did
/ not intend to let that golden opportunity
| slip. They maintained that their losses
| during the summer months, When ousl-
ness was dull fully justified them in try
/ ing to make hay while the sun shone-
! But if the proprietors of the uptown
hotels did not raise their prices, they
took precious good care to protect their
own interests No room in any one of
| the hotels could be had for less than
/ four days, and these rooms had to be
| reserved weeks IN advance
Cgawded the Rooms.
In addition, it mace no difference
whether one or two persons occupied
! a room The persons to whom II was
LET was made TO pay the full price for
| TIE room. This may not have seemed
right to the occupant, il he came alone,
/ but ii made no difference. 1t was up 20
| him to pay the full. price for the room
| or look elsewhere, for accommodations.
| And the hotels did not lack for guests.
Each day at the New Willard the regis
! ter showed total of about 500 guests;
| at tie Raleigh. about 600, at the Ebbitt,
| about $50: at the Riggs, about 500: at
the Shoreham, about 800; AT the Airing
| ton, about 500.
The houses were crowded to their ut
| most capacity. But the proprietors
! made no money
| Perish the thought!