The San Francisco call., 1913-12-01
HOTELS PLAN NO 1915
"G0UGE' SAYS WOOD


James Wood, manager Of the =
Francis hotel, has addressed the 1oi
lowing communication to The cali
reply to statements made by world
fair officials in the Inside Inn con
troversy:
Editor of The Call: A prominent
official of the Panama Pacific ex-
position company recently insinu-
ated that the hotel men of San
Francisco are preparing ito pill
: lage" visitors to the Panama
Pacific exposition. The same Of
fetal inferentially stated that the
hotel men talk of 200 or 300
per cent increase in prices
While this criticism is nnde-
served and unmerited. the Official
character of the critic insures its
worldwide publicity. to the last
ing and permanent detriment to
San Francisco and the hotel bust
ness. The extent of the damage
that may follow a thoughtless
criticism of this character may be
surmised when the hotel situation
in this city is considered.
TRAVELLERS LAUD HOTEL CITY
Travellers refer to San Fran
cisco as the most wonderful hotel
city in the world. Counting all
hotels, apartment houses and
rooming houses of 25 rooms or
more, there are 2,097 now in oper-
alton in a city of a little more
than 100000 Inhabitants, or one
for every $50 persons.
They represent in ground, build
ing and equipment about 35 per
cent of the assessed valuation of
operative property in San Fran
cisco; in round figures about $780,
100000. The real commercial value
is nearer S300,000.000,
A daily average of close to 200,-
600 persons live in these hotels
and apartment houses, There is
accommodation for $4,000 visitors
upon a days notice. There are
close to $4,000 employees and at
taches who receive a monthly
compensation of $1,000, 900.
More than s17.000.000 are invest
ed in the Palace. Fairmont and ST.
Francis hotels.
Fore more than 40 years the
Palace hotel has been one of the
citys landmarks and for more
than 25 years under its present
efficient management it has estab-
lished an enviabie reputation for
absolute fairness in its dealings
with all people.
NO GOUGE DURING PORTOLA
have been intimately ac-
quainted with the affairs of the
st. Francis hotel for more than
eight years and have yet to hear
the first criticism of unfairness.
The other large hotels are also
free from any charge Of attempt
ed pillage or gouge. Through the
Portola and other celebrations the
rates were never increased.
Shall these investments and
business regulations be shattered
by thoughtless statements which
may be taken as granted on ac-
count of the official position OF
the author? Have the hotel men
merited such caustic criticisms?
All hotel men of San Francisco
were members of the San Fran
cisco Hotel Mems associa tion.
Some time go the purposes of the
organization Were broadened and
the name changed to the North
ern California Hotel Mems asso-
citation. Originally this assoeia-
tion opposed the building of the
Inside Inn.' But after a confer
ence with the exposition officials
this opposition was Withdrawn.
NOT PROTESTING "INN"
1T was made evident to us that
the building of the INN" was
necessary to insure the success of
the effort to make this the con-
vention city for the year 1915.
When this opposition was with
drawn some hotel men organized
another association and filed OBJ
jections to the inside inn."
do not think any representative
of any large hotel is a member
of this organization, and there
fore should not be held respen-
sible for its actions.
The exposition officials re-
quested the Hotel Mems assoeia-
tion of Northern California to an
nounGe the rates that would be
charged during the year 1915.
The officials were assured that
the rates would be reasonable.
but that it vas impossible to fix
the rates until all conditions un-
der which the hotels were to be
operated were known. Our rates
necessarily depend on the cost of
labor and supplies. If the hours
of labor are to be shortened and
it's price increased, the rates
would have to be increased ac-
cordingly. Guests always desire
to know the cafe and restaurant
charges. 1t is impossible to de-
termine these charges so far in
advance. But the hotel men have
assured and do now assure them