Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-16
ANTI-TIPPING BILL
PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE DIS
TRIcT COMMISSIONERS.

Representative Murphys anti-tipping bin,
which has been referred to the Commits
sioners of the District for a report, called
for an avalanche of protests from hotel
managers and walters at a public hearing
before the board of Commissioners at the
District building today. More than fifty
persons were at the hearing, but not a
voice was raised in advocacy of the meas
ure However, some interesting sidelights
were thrown upon the way the waiting
service is rendered in hotels
The hotel managers contended that bill
which would prohibit tipping would have
bad effect upon the hotels in Washing
ton in that good walters would go to some
| other city. and those who remained would
give horrible service. which would reflect
upon the management of the hotel. Man
ager Hite of the Willard declared that to
do away with tipping would have dis
aStrouS effect upon the hotels and the
patrons would likewise suffer
Should Be Universal.
IF the anti-tipping bill is made uni
versal.' Mr.. Hite said. "then it might be
practical and some good might possibly
result; but if it is only to be inflicted upon
Washington its effects will be harmful
Tipping is condition that has existed
from time immemorial. and do not think
washington should be singled out to be
disseminated against, when the conditions
cities
SIS 1t necessary" Commissioners Mac
farland, who presided at the hearing.
asked. that patrons should give tips in
order to receive proper attention and to
receive courteous treatment"
Hite answered. '.The mana cement may
try every possible means, but it cannot
get the same service out of a waiter un-
less the latter has some anticipation of re-
ceiving tip
Must Make a Howl.
Unless patrons give tips they have to
make a howl for everything they want,
and there is not much pleasure in their
eating" was the amusing statement made
by j. L. Dickinson. head waiter at Har-
vey's His information was not only anus
ing and interesting, but it depicted the
scenes behind the curtains of a dining
room In illustrating the bad effects the
proposed legislation would have he said:
Two men enter hotel for dinner One
OF them Is known to be a free Upper and
the other. one of those who don't believe in
the first one has his meal served I'D to
him nice and steaming long before the
other man. The latter has to ask to have
his glass rehlled with water; he has to ask
for everything, while the first man does
not
Then, unless a patron pays this compul-
sorry tip" Commissioner mcfarland inter-
rupted. The doesn't get the service?'
regret to say he does not the head
waiter replied.
The Commissioners then asked If the
multiplying movement could not be sue
cessfully worked if the wages of the walters
were doubled.
Views of Head Waiter.
Head Waiter Dickinson said the average
wage of waiter in Washington Is from
$50 to $50 month. and If the wages should
be doubled or increased to an amount that
would equal the monthly average of their
tips the service would not be any better
than If the wages had not been raised.
THE walters will loaf around and take
twice as long to serve a patron If he knows
he is going to get paid for 1t just the same,
and there will not be a chance of getting
tip for his palms, he said. NO gentle
men, you might triple their wages but you
won't get the proper service out of walters,
They like to hustle for tips and 1t Is only
by their hustling that the proper service is
obtained
George w. Drew. an attorney, the next
speaker, stated that he represented several
large hotels and walters associations. He
said the proposed legislation is covert at
tack upon the fundamental rights of the
American citizen. He contended that a
man had a perfect right to do what he
wished with his own money and II he sees
fit to use that money in securing good sery-
Ice at hotels in the form Of tips he did not
think the laws could prevent him.