The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-23
PAYING THE CHAUFFEUR.
IT'S Expensive I'm the End, Says One En-
ployer, TO Hire . Cheap Man.

The chauffeur who receives the highest
wages is in the opinion Of experienced mo-
florists the cheapest in the long run.
Il nave a good man-or at least q man
that is going to be good very soon," said
one OF a party Of men In the lobby at the
Metropolitan last night. He used to drive
my electric in town and I have had him
trained to be my chauffeur for the new
country machine. Idont mean to say that
he yet drives the car as il should be driven.
He 10 going to learn, however. He's the
man for me. pay him t76 a month and he
is much more polite and capable than one
OF those French chaufeurs who get three
TIMES as much"
That's just exactly the wrong point OF
view to take said another, and it is
usually the point Of We've Of q very youthful
owner Of a car. Experience has shown
in every case I ! know OF that the man who
pays his chauffeur the highest price gets
the best service and in the end has less
expense.
III you have a good car pay the man
what he asks, give him a washer and let
him do what he wants with the car. know
a man who had an 500 car who put il into
the hands OF a man he had formerly had
as a groom. He had been through a certain
amount Of training at the factory.
He had not been at the job long before
the car had been shaken all TO pieces, and
the firm that provided IL refused to oon-
tinue the years guarantee IL the machine
was driven as It had been. Il was then
that the owner was obliged TO part I'M
willingly from his own homemade chauffeur.
He found, however, that the change from
$50 to $3.50 a month was an economical one
for him. His expenses for repairs were
reduce d to almost nothing. INC the wear
and tear on his car was also proportionately
diminished.
"A friend OF mine who needed a. driver
took a man who was highly recommended.
The Frenchman wanted a monthly wage OF
$3.50, but the owner was unwilling to give
him that. He insisted that the man should
accept $500 a month.
81 give you $50 more than you ask he
Raid, a i hold you absolutely responsible
for everything that happens to my car. l
do not Of course suppose that you will be
able to keep the tires from bursting. l
want my machine ready. however, when
ever / send for il, and | will expect to get
IL at that time. And it IL up to you to nave
THAT increase OF pay worked like a
charm. The motor was always ready. It
was always in good running order and
there were absolutely no grounds for com
plant. Moreover. there were no expenses
for repairs"
1t costs, according to the eetimate Of one
manager OF a garage, "a, 900 a year to keep
up a machine in this city In the best style.
or that two-thirds ought 20 20 to the chauf-
feur II n Ia TO get the best use out OF a
motor. There is one luxury about which
one must not to try 70 economi1e, and that
Is the automobile. It's intended for those
who have plenty OF money for their pleas
ures, n h anluoky man who tries to run
amotor cheap is going TO md out very soon
the error OF his way.
The experience Of every man who tries
TO turn into an experienced chauffeur a
servant OF whom he Ia fond Ia very much
the same in every case. These men rarely
turn out as expert as those trained for
years In the factories, and IL often happens
that they leave the person who has spent
so much time n patience in having them
trained. 1t often happens, however, that
the same objection Is made against the
high priosd men.
u notice" said an employer, chat these
owners OF motors who are always boast
fng that they find II best to pay the men
what they ask are Just as often out OF a
chauffeur az I am. IT usual desire OF an
expensive chauffeur Ia to get into a position
where he has a chance to be more sporty.
II he has ar opportunity to get with some
body who also owns a racing car, he will
leave his employer and go to him. One man
who pay his chauffeur and gives him a
washer had, to my knowledge, five men
last summer. II happened that he in every
case had to let the men go because they had
an opportunity to go with another EN-
ployer who wanted to make a long tour,
or wanted them to race OF wanted to make
a trip TO Europe. As to the ~permanency OF
the employment being assured by the high
wages. l cannot pee IT,