The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-06
SHERIFF
 HOTEL BILL OF SUPT. SLAWS0N
Proprietor of Hotel Berk- shire Wants to Collect $16
 From School Official.
HE BALKS AT RATE
 OF $4 PER DAY
Says He Understood It Was To Be $4 For the Entire
 Party.

Superintendent Samuel s. S1awson of the Bridgeport public schools finds himself today in the unenviable posi- ton of a person who has jumped a hotel bill.
 Deputy Sheriff Thomas J. Cunning ham received, yesterday, from Henry Platt,, proprietor of the Hotel Berk- shire, a fashionable resort in the his toric and picturesque town of Litch- field, a bill for $16 against Slawson. He asked the sheriff to collect it.
 Cunningham has sent the bill to Slawson for the latter's attention.
 Slawson says the trouble arises from a misunderstanding over the rate which his party was to be charged. Whether the rate was to be $4 for his party of four, overnight, or s4 each, is the question in dispute. Henry Platt says the rate was to be $4 each, while Slawson says it was to be $4 for the party, or, if the party had breakfast, $2 each.
 Slawson is wroth at the develop ments. He declares he won't stand for the charge, and adds that he isn't the first one to object. Platt, equally tnsistent, says Slawson must pay or else talk it over with the sheriff.
 "I understand Dr. Slawson is a re- sponsible man in your city and that he will pay" said Manager Platt to- day. ''I have no desire to embarrass him or injure his credit and I would rather say nothing about the matter, but my rates are fixed, and I cannot deviate from them. would like to have the matter settled.
 Slawson and his party droNs up to the hotel about 10 o'clock two weeks ago Sunday evf fning. They wanted accommodations but as the hotel was full I told them I would get them rooms in the cottage. told them distinctly the rate woulo be $4 eacn for lodging and breakfast, as have to pay extra for rooms in cottages. They were satisfied. Next morning, however, MT. Slawson disputed the bill. He got excited finally and drove off without paying. He did want 10 pay me $2 each for his party. but as my rates are $4. $5 and $6-per day. and I had told him his rate would be $4 each, I could not accept his offer.
 While he was disputing about his bill another party came to settle and they started dispute, too, taking the cue from the doctor. But this party finally settled with me. r made the rate to Dr. Slawson in the presence of witnesses and he ought to pay the bill.
 When asked about the matter, to- day, Supt. Slawson admitted there had been a dispute with the manager of the Hotel Berkshire over the rates and that he had left without paying his bill
 T offered to settle with him. said Supt. Slawson today, "but he wouldn't accept my offer. considered his charges exorbitant. am still ready to settle for what is the proper amount. It was merely misunder- tsanding as to the rates. We were on an automobile trip. There were four in my party. We stopped for the night and had lodging in a cottage and breakfast in the hotel in the morning.
 We understood the rate for the lodging was to be s4 for the party or $2 each, including breakfast. Instead of that the management tried to charge us A each. I objected and of fered to settle at the rate at which we accepted accommodations, but the manager wouldn't take the money. We then left the hotel. Today I have received a bill charging me at the s4 rate. I have not decided what course l shall now take.
 Those in my party were not the only parties who had similar experi encss and disputes over the rates. A wealthy haberdasher of Fifth avenue, New York city, also claimed that he was being overcharged and he had a dispute oyer the amount of his bill. These things all happened while we were in the hotel waiting to settle our