Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-31
REASONS ASSIGNED
BARRIERS EXPLAIN ADVANCE IN
PRICE OF SHAVE.

Taking umbrage at what they character
ize as statement unwarranted by the
facts, the Master BARRIERS Association,
through Acting President E. F. Doyle and
Secretary ]. F. Gerhold, today issued a
formal letter defining the real reasons for
the increase in prices for shaving in the
leading shops in the downtown section OF
the city. There is as much difference be-
tween barber shops as there is In establish
ments in other lines Of business the 6ys
ISOLATION AYERS. land we believe that the
people Of Washington desire the best serv-
, ice We can give, and further that they will
pay for such attention as readily as will
people in other cities. A good thrifty bar
Der will keep his shop up to the times and
comparison In point may best serve to
illustrate what this means-for instance
shop will pay from SIS to $50 apiece for
chairs. and $500 to 81 600 for a case of five
chairs while the rule in cheap1y fitted
shop Is to pay S25 to $50 per chair, or $500
to $500 for a case of chairs.
This difference in equipment probably
spells more accurately than can anything
else the opposite characters of the two,
and the up-to-date shop naturally draws
the better BARRIERS and the better class of
customers. Then why should not the bar
Der who best looks after the comfort of
his customers be entitled to an income from
his investment greater than the proprietor
ton secondary to the pursuit of the al
mighty dollar, and an income such as would
be expected as interest upon a proportion
ate investment in any other line of bust
ness"
1T will be found the rule" the letter
continues, that many men willingly pay
the 10 cents exacted in a good shop for a
shave because they want the best service.
There are BARRIERS in the street shops just
as good as can be found in the hotels, and
improvements made in the higher class
Of street shops mean that the service there
will be second to that rendered in no other
shops in the capital"
To Meet New Conditions.
Further than this the master BARRIERS de-
clare that their observance of all the re-
quirements of sanitation specified in the
new barber shop regulations promulgated
by the District health department has
made 1t a practical impossibility for their
shops to be conducted at a profit unless
charge of more than 10 cents is made
for each shave, and the associations open
letter then deals in detail with the alleged
unfair analysis of the financial side of their
the first place." the letter reads, 1.-The
journeymen BARRIERS are percentage work.
ers and in the f1rst-class shops they draw
from to cents as their share on each
1O-cent shave. When shop rent, the cost
of furnishing the multiplicity of brushes,
combs. towels leach towel freshly clean,
and each brush and comb disinfected after
use upon customer), and other expenses
are deducted from the master BARRIERS re-
naming small percentage, any fair-minded
person can see that the margin of profit
is practically nil. The increase in price to
Is cents per shave, which goes into effect
September l. means that the journeymen
will receive no less percentage, for their
share will be from to cents out of each
Is, but the balance which remains for the
bosses will suffice to meet the expenses
vxuhf ~, how h0oY nd will
leave a fair margin of profit
The letter then concludes as follows:
I'VE propose, under the additional charge
Of 8 cents, to give better service. and good
service will never drive people to shave
themselves. Many of those who have quit
on account of cheap shops and poor service
will return for the good service. Every
thing else has materially advanced in
prices axcept the barber business