Evening star., 1913-02-24
Increases at Hotels at lnaugu-
ration Period Forbidden.
HOUSE. IMPOSES PENALTY
Passes Bill Which Also Applies to
Merchants and Liverymen.
CRITICISM OF THE MEASURE
Representative Mann Declares the
District Commissioners Will Be
the Principal Offenders.

The House today passed a bill aimed
at merchants, hotel keepers and livery
men who increase their prices at inaugu-
ration time. The bill directs that the
District Commissioners shall revoke the
licenses Of those making increases. and
also provides a fine of $25 for each Of
fense. The final vote on the bill was 113
to 65.
This was the last District day in the
House this session. One hour and three
quarters We're consumed in the passage
of the bill mentioned. That was the only
measure relating to the District that was
reached. for following its passage Chair
man Padgett OF the naval committee
moved that the naval appropriation bill
be taken UP, and this the House agreed
to by a large majority, over the protest
Of Chairman Ben Johnson OF the House
District committee.
Before the bill relating to prices at in
auguration time was passed the House
managed to get good deal Of fun out
Of it.
Minority Leaders Criticism.
Minority Leader Mann called attention
to the fact that while the bill as reported
and amended directed the District Com
missioners to revoke the licenses of hotel
keepers, boarding house keepers and
operators Of public vehicles if it was
shown that they had raised their prices
for the inaugural crowds, 1t did not pro-
hibit the raising OF prices. Under the
bill. as reported, he said, the only persons
who could be convicted of wrongdoing
were the District Commissioners them
selves, who are directed to revoke IL
censes and il they. failed to do SO might
be found guilty.
Mr.. Mann also declared that the pro-
posed amendment to the bill submitted by
the committee which would allow persons
who have been overcharged in hotel TO
remain free of charge in the hotel until
the persons guilty Of infringing the law
have been fined, would merely permit
these persons to live free of charge IN
the hotel until the District Commissioners
had been fined for not revoking the IL
cense Of the hOtelkeeper. since it would
be impossible to bring a case against any
person except the Commissioners.
On the motion that this amendment be
adopted Mr.. Mann made point that no
quorum was present and a roll call was
ordered
The vote was along party lines for the
most part, and resulted a. follows: Ayes,
1863: noes. 100: present. IL, and the amend
ment Was agreed to.
Mr.. Prouty's Amendment.
Representative Prouty. member Of the
District committee, offered an amendment
to make an increase Of prices by hotel
keepers. etc. misdemeanor. Mr.. Mann
offered his congratulations to the men,
bers for finally realizing that their bill.
as reported. did not make any onesre-
sponsible for increasing prices. He then
pointed out that the language of the bill
made it obligatory upon hotel men not
to increase their charges over those
charged at the time of the presidential
Inauguration four years ago.
Mr.. Mann called attention to the fact
that few days ago the House had pass
ed bill placing the rates for public
vehicles under supervision of the District
Commissioners during the inaugural pe-
riod, and that the Commissioners should
fix the rates
land now said Mr.. Mann, 1--WE are
about to pass a bill making it misde-
meanor to obey the rates fixed by the
Commissioners.
Former Speakers View.
Former Speaker Cannon took a fling at
the measure, saying that it was along the
line OF legislation which was becoming
more and more the fashion to make
everything under the sun misdeneanor.
Pretty soon,' said Mr.. Cannon. you
Will make IL a InlSueIllednOT ICi' d yOun,
man to smile at his sweetheart
Representative Burke offered an amend
ment to the bill which should exempt all
contracts made up to this time with
hotels for rooms and board. He declared
that thousands OF persons had already
engaged rooms and made contracts which
would be void If this bill became law.
His amendment vas defeated.
Representative Ben johnson took up the
cUdgels for the bill He said a man who
came here for the Inauguration and was
robbed" by the hotel keepers was en-
titled to redress.
Reads Letter on the Subject.
Mr.. Johnson read the following letter,
which he said showed the reason for this
legislation.
LOUISVILLE, Ky, February IA, 1913.
Dear Ben: Referring to news item in
the Courier Journal of today regarding
your bill introduced in Congress to regu-
late hotel charges in Washington
1T was my expectation a few weeks
ago to attend the inauguration and i'm
mediately wired the Hotel Raleigh asking
what would be their rates for q nice room
with bath. They wired back that a room
on 18th street would cost me $120 and
room facing Pennsylvania avenue $780,
and as 1t has been my custom to stop at
the Raleigh. am very familiar with their
rates. only few weeks ago having their
room, No. 11O5. right on the corner, pay
ing s. per day for same. AS three days
would be ample to see the Inauguration.
instead Of having to pay 50 they attempted
to charge me $50. The rates at the Willard
are not SO bad. an inside room facing west
being so and one facing 14th street $751;
Have attended conventions and gather
ings everywhere In this country and
Europe, and am accustomed to pay two
or three times the regular rates, but the
Washington figures are the worst in my
experience.
There is no more excuse for this ad-
vance than there would be for an advance
In freight and passenger rates during the
busy season. and 1t is equivalent to Uncle
Sam charging 10 cents for a 3-cent post
age stamp at Christmas time
"Yours, very truly,
''P. II. CALLAHAN
Instances of Former Charges.
Mr.. Johnson called upon Mr. Hum
phreys OF Washington to tell the House