The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-02-20

n - - - ~ 1AOO - v
the Governor and how to enforce it is
the problem that is puzzling the au-
,thorities who are supposed to exercise
more or less vigilance in seeing to it
that the written statutes are carried
into effect.
Thus far no tipsters, tippers or tip
PEGS have been placed under arrest,
and, so far can be observed, nobody
is paying any attention to the meas
ure. 1t will therefore probably be
some time before the legality of the
statute will be brought to a cold-blood-
ed test in the courts.
The point has been raised, of course,
that the law is unconstitutional, for
the simple and very matter-of-fact
reason that it seeks to prevent a per-
son from doing whatsoever he will
with his own personal property; that
it is mans privilege, if not his
bounden duty, to keep his purse
strings open, and that there is an es-
tablished affinity between liberality
and charity.
However, the author of the anti-tip-
ping law is closely related to the law
itself. The bill was introduced by
Representative John B. Mayes, of Co
piah county, who is a brother of Chief
Justice Robert B. Mayes, of the SUI
preme court, and it is being gently
bruited about that the states leading
legal luminary had something to do
with drafting the BILL and that he
drew his inspiration from sad per-
sonal experience with His Imperial
Highness, the Pullman porter, and
lesser serving satellites, during a trip
through the west last summer.
Whether that be fact or fancy, and
regardless of whether the anticipating
bill is unconstitutional, it is undenia-
bly, true that thousands of Mississip-
plans are going to find it a good ex-
cuse for not wasting their substance
on public and quasi-public servants.
Already the Mississippi Travellers, an
Organization of over 1900 members,
and composed of practically all of the
knights of the grip who travel in this
territory, have entered into an iron
clad agreement to strictly observe the
law, and they will not, under any cir
cumstances whatsoever, give largesses
to train employees, baggagemen, bell
hops, Pullman porters, liverymen, or
any other servitors who have hereto.
fore figured on getting their tips with
as much certainty as drawing their
meagre salaries.
The penalty clause of the new
statute is drastic. It makes any en-
ployer who permits an employee to
take a tip subject to a fine of 800.
Any employee who takes a tip is sub
ject to a fine of $50, and the person
who gives the tip must also pay fine
Of $50. The statute is so framed as
W hSlOh Oih SOlnlllS anu SOllS'
Furthermore, no class distinctions
are made. The statute is absolutely
democratic. There is no difference
between. the plain, ordinary tip on the
one hand, and the gratuity, the pour
boir, the refresher, ETC., on the other
All look alike to Mississippi's new law,
and they are equally under the ban
as contributing toward the general
elevation of prices, the high cost of
living, and the general Generalization
of labor.
OF course, If the Mayes statute ever
gets into the courts it will present
one large question involving the in
alienable rights of free-born American
citizens, but so long as it is not
brought to a test in he lighao shrni
brought to test in the light of calm
and logical reasoning by the wearers
Of the ermine, it is certainly going to
affect mighty good excuse for not
giving tips.