New-York tribune., 1907-01-29
LEASED FOR TEN YEARS
a. ". Eager to Keep Martha Wash
ingtOn a WomGn's Hotel.

After months OF rumor and uncertainty the
fate OF the Hotel Martha Washington has been
definitely settled for ten years. and for the first
time since the company was organized diVid-
end Of 6 per cent, together with surplus OF
$4,000 year is assured. 1t was all settled at
meeting of the stockholders yesterday after
noon. when they voted to lease the property for
the period mentioned 10 Arthur w. Eager, OF
the Hotel Westminster. Mr.. Eager will pay
rental OF $4,000 for the first year and $4,000
for the nine succeeding years, and bear all ex-
penses Of taxes. insurance. repairs. etc. This
VIII provide the dividend and surplus mentioned.
The terms Of The lease provide that the property
must be used as a hotel for women. and that
not less than twenty-five rooms shall be rented
Tor not more than 81 a day.
The lease,Was negotiated by a committee COM
posed Of Lawrence 3. Gilman. Arthur Koppell
and Mrs Frederick Nathan, and the matter was
hroached TO the lessee by them. Mr.. Eager at
first refused 10 consider the proposition. but on
thinking it over decided that there was a great
field for a woman's hotel. When seen at the
Hotel Westminster after the meeting he said:
u always had an idea that the Martha Wash
1ngtcn was a semi-chaTitable institution and
didn't want TO anything Of that kind
Neither did want 10 be associated with a
public Joke. the Hotel Martha Washington
seems TO be considered But 1 came to the con-
clusion afteTward that the thing was good busl-
ness. / am unable to see aDvthing ridiculous
about woman's hotel and there is a really
great field for it. with practically no competi-
non II a woman arrives in the city alone at
night the chances are she won't be received at
an ordinary hotel She needs one OF her own
run on a first class plan just like mans hotel
Ihat Is the way purpose 10 run the Martha
Washington, and the rates will be as reasons bic
rs is consistent with first class service.
! have thought, though my ideas are still
rather nebulous on that point of making il
ne2QuuarferS CluhWomRD
haps there might be some sort of Organization
Martina washington Club, for instance-the
members Of which would have club privileges IN
the hotel The place is also well suited for club
meetings"
The leasing of the hotel to Mr Eager is re-
garded as triumph Of the anti-K Kellogg faction
IN the company. as bid had also been put in
by Miss Lucy kellogg, daughter of Charles ..
Kellogg. secretary of the hotel and the hotel
company. and was strongly favored by a par
among the stockholders headed by The Rev Dr.
William r. Huntington. rector of Grace Church
The strength Of this factional feeling was indi-
Gated by some remarks of DR.. Huntington-s at
{esteroays meeting. He recommended that Mr..
Kellogg be retained for at least two years as
secretary OF the company and added
There has been rumOr that Mr.. kellogg is
20 be dropped from his present Office somewhat
abruptly. l want TO say that this would be q
gross injustice for il II had not been for him
there would have been no Martha Washington
Dr Huntington said he was sure a new and
brighter day was dawning for the hotel and
that the surplus could be put 10 no better use
than IN building other hotels Of a type that
pany, that OF providing no, les for women OF
moderate means.
Mrs. Richard Irwin expressed herself similarly
but Morris x. Jesup entered a protest against
the lease. He was unable to attend, but wrote
10 say that he thought the property should be
sold. ana the money used TO establish a hotel
more suitable 70 the means Of self-supportinp
women such being the purpose for which the
company was organized.
The financial statement showed that the ayross
earnings OF the year just closed were the largest
tn the history Of the company. S26552 a. an
increase OF about $1,000 over last year The
operating expenses were s217 $50 81, an increase
ot nearly $4,000. The profit OF the year was
about $4,000. Considerable criticism was called
forth by tn fact that the cost of food for the
help was 81, 90. while the food supplies Tor the
patrons cost only about twice as much, namely
The viee-president. Mr. KoppelI presided IN
the absence of the president, Lucien Warner
who is travelling in Europe with an invalid
WIFE, and who resigned by cable a day or SO
ago.
Although there is much strong feeling and
diHerence OF opinion among the stockholders
The meeting Went off with great apparent har-
inony. Only at the beginning was there a uttla
ripple OF excitement Mrs Richard irwin m
preached the reporters table and protested
against The treatment the hotel had received al
me hands of the newspapers.
Don't listen 10 what the inmates tell you ("
she urged. S0'
Here one OF the inmates" rose lIp IN the hack
al the room and declared that the true story
ilad not been told. Great excitement ens,led
lut The subject was allowed TO drop