Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-25
SAYS THEY ARE JUST
Hotel Manager Defends His
Inaugural Week Prices.
RESPONSE TO KENTUCKIAN
Increased Charge Made Only for
Rooms Where Guests May View
the Parade.

That p. II. Callahan Of Louisville, Ky.
in his letter to Chairman Ben johnson of
the House District committee regarding
hotel rates in Washington during the
coming Inauguration. has done a great
injustice was a declaration made today
by T.. l.. Weston. manager of the Raleigh
Mr.. Callahan referred in his letter par
ticularly to rates which, he alleged the
mana cement of the Raleigh had quoted
him for room for the inaugural week.
Mr.. Weston says that Mr.. Callahan
made it seem that excessive rates are
to be charged by the hotels of Washing
ton for all rooms during the week of
March 1 to Z. He declared such is not
the case. Rooms which are on the lower
floors, facing Pennsylvania avenue, and
those commanding a view of the parade,
although they face on other streets, are
the only ones for which increased rates
are being charged, said Mr.. Weston.
The charges made for all other hotel
rooms for the week compare favorably
with those quoted at any other time dur
ing the year, he declared.
Ia his telegram to the management
of the Raleigh Hotel. Mr.. Callahan
merely asked for good room and
bath for the Inauguration said Mr..
Weston. The following telegram was
sent in reply:
Large room and bath, facing Penn
sylvania avenue, commanding good view
of the parade, $50; large room and
bath, facing 18th street, s125.'
Both on Second Floor.
Both rooms referred to in our tele-
gram are located on the second floor of
the hotel" said Mr.. Weston today.
They command an excellent view of
the parade, being at just the proper
elevation. The Pennsylvania avenue
room referred to has two windows and
a balcony of sufficient size to accom-
modate from ten to fifteen persons. For
this room we made a charge of $3.50
for inaugural week.
The increased price for the room is
due to the fact that it commands
view Of the parade. We believe we are
therefore justified in asking more for 1t
during that week than We do at any
other time. The person having that
room March 4 can entertain from ten
to fifteen guests. Chairs are furnished
free of charge
SHOULD a person rent window space
anywhere along the Avenue for that num-
Der of persons it could not be secured
for less than So per person. In otner
about $50 to $75 worth of privilege
March A.
THE 10Th street room referred to by
[iMr. Callahan is cOse to the corner OF
a good view OF the parade. This room
also has a balcony and two large VIM
dows. BY reason of its desirabll1ty Tor
viewing the parade, we feel we are ]ust-
fled in asking S125 for it for the maug-
ural week Prices charged for other
rooms commanding a view of the parade
decrease according to the floor on which
they are located. The higher the moor.
the lower the price. Prices for rooms n
the hotel not commanding view of the
n n ,-;y,0 i'm
favorably with those asked at any other
time of the year. Notwithstanding the
fact that during that week the hotel is
under an expense that is far greater than
at any other time.
Privileges Extended.
I'm renting front rooms we give our
guests the privilege of entertaining as
many guests as they choose in their
rooms. In order to accommodate guests
whose rooms do not view the parade we
make it point to place as many chairs
as possible before the windows in the
halls facing the Avenue. We have also
given the privilege of the roof garden for
the parade and fireworks and all windows
in the public parlors commanding view
of the parade.
"Jn view of the fact that we have to
make a great many preparations for the
Inauguration period. neceSSitatlng the
emptying of the house of our regular
guests three or four days prior to March
/ in order that we may take care of our
reservations for the inaugural week. and
since after this period it takes from four
to five days for our regular trade to re-
turn and the hotel to assume it's normal
business conditions, we think our prices
are fair and just.
Mr. Weston said that the attitude taken
by the Raleigh management also pertains
to the management of the other large
PENNSYLVANIA avenue hotels. Greatly i'll
creased prices are only charged where
the rooms command view of the parade,