Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-10
Stewards Never Shy in Re-
minding the ForgetfuI.
fleeing OFTEN is HARDSHIP
Gratuities Total About So for Each
Traveller.
PRACTICE is HALTED BY SUIT
Risky Hereafter to Sclicit-Poor
Wages Paid and Employees De-
pendent Upon Other Receipts.

NEW YORK. August 1o.-Hundreds OF
Americans who are in the habit of cross
| ing the Atlantic regularly are interested
| in a decision of the Liverpool courts in
| favor of the Cunard line.
The company was the defendant in an
action brought by Walter Roche. a former
steward. for blacklisting him with the
other lines for soliciting fees from a pas
| senger. an American named Parke. on
| the Carmania.
1t was alleged by the plaintiff that the
White Star line refused to give him en-
ployment on account of the warning re-
| ceived from the Cunard company. Roche
admitted that he had asked for a tip
from the passenger. and in his defense
said that fleeing was winked at by the
companies.
Protests Registered.
Americans have from time to time pro-
| tested against the recognized system OF
fleeing on Atlantic steamships after pay
ing high price for their accommodations
In many cases men with large families
cannot AFFORD to have about s. per head
clapped on to their expenses, and school
| teachers and others. who have saved up
| for their vacations for years. find the
| stewards fees going and returning q
| neaVy drain on their resources
| The usual fees of first-class passen-
ger are Sc to the table steward. the
same amount to the bedroom steward. 81
to the smoking room attendant, like
| amount to the bat broom steward. from 10
| cents to 81 to the deck steward. accord
ing to the attention received; 80 cents to
| the library steward similar amount to
the boots. and at least 81 TO the band SUBJ
scription list A woman gives a like
| amount, except that she skips the smok-
| h1 he hnS n fec ha CT rd-
| ess $3.50 and the bedroo n steward 81 D.
| Roche. the steward OF the Carmania,
WITS no. an exception in demanding a fee.
| 1t is done every liner coming into this
port on every voyage. / the passenger
| appears to be trying to erade fleeing the
stewards his bedroom steward waits until
the last minute and then goes to the
cabin and says. with ..snificant intona-
| ton. BEG pardon, sir. did you want to
see me?"
In all probability the man pays. and
| then the table and other stewards are
sent along In turn. If a passenger does
/ not pay the stewards will follow him
| to the dock and ask point blank IL he has
| forgotten his fees.
Lord Wolseley Paid Up.
| Lord Wolseley, the former commander
in chief of the British forces. who is
| famous being a gallant soldier but
somewhat penurious in his habits. once
quay and was about to enter the train.
when his bedroom steward approached
and asked If he had forgotten his bed
room steward
Lord Wolseley said not a word. but
drew out a well-worn purse and. with his
| fingers carefully incased in black cotton
| gloves. sighed as he took out an English
half sovereign-S2.5 Q-and handed the gold
piece to the man.
The only man allowed by the COM
| panies to ask for fees on liners is the
boots" who cleans all the shoes in the
| ship well as the knives, and in many
cases has to handle the baggage. He
| stands at the gangway and asks the
passengers to remember the boots" as
| they go ashore.
| His fee as a rule is 90 cents per head.
In many companies he has TO pay his own
| assistants. who are put on the articles at
| l shilling per month"; cents.
In the early days of ocean steamships
| the stewards fee was charged separately
| from the passage ticket. and many OF the
| lines still have the words Including
| stewards fees printed on the tickets
At that period the chief stewards did the
catering at much per head and paid
| their own help. After a -ew years al the
business they generally retired. owning
| rows of houses in the suburbs OF Liver
pool.
Stewards Side of It.
| There is much to be said for the over
worked and underpaid steward on the big
| Atlantic liners. who has to work from
| am. till II pm. with little rest. He
| has to devour his food in dark corners OF
the ship like mule in a mine, and sleeps
| in what is called the glory hole" which
| is down aft, right over the propellers.
where on the fast liners sleep is well nigh
| impossible The officers of the ship treat
| the steward inferior being. the pas
sengers run him off his feet. and the
sailors and firemen call him a ''fiunky."
The big companies count the stewards
tips in the wages. because they are well
aware that no man would go to sea for
the money they pay. The bedroom stew
ard or a saloon waiter gets from SIS to
$3.50 per month and his board while at
sea. Out of this he has to pay for his
uniform and washing and also for the
| loss of all silver and linen each voyage.
which is rarely les than 81 10 per head.
Passengers who have a mania for coll
| lecting silver teaspoons with the crest OF
| the company on are possibly not aware
of this fact.
about so per month. In port he has to
| carry stores. including meat and ice on
| board. and has TO work hard as long
| shcreman In spite of this the typical
Atlantic steward is known TO ocean trav-
elers as honest. sober. industrious
man. Women leave thousands of dollars
worth of jewelry lying loose in their
| cabins; thsfts are very rare on board
| ship.