Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-27
HOTEL men TELL
WHY RATES co UP
Say Extra Expenses at Inaug-
uration Make Extra Charges
Necessary.
NO ExTORTION ATTEMPTED

AS the result of the greatly increased
cost of operation. visitors to this city
for the Inauguration may expect to
find rates in the best hotels higher
than what they were four years ago.
but they will be fair rates and not Eek
tortionate charges" as mentioned by
Senator McCumber of North Dakota
yesterday in the Senate in an attack
on the hotels of Washington. Such
was the statement made today by the
managers of several of the larger ho-
tells of the city. They declared that the
attack made by the senator was unjust
and that his statements were without
foundation.
The increased cost of living has hit
us just as it has the housekeeper," said
Mr. weston. manager of the Raleigh
stuffs. materials OF various kinds and
wages than ever before, and it is only
natural that our rates during the in
ausural period will be higher than
four years ago.
Extra Help Is Required.
Rates during any inaugural period
necessarily are somewhat higher than
they are at other times during the
year. but there is a reason for this.
During the Inauguration period the
guests of a hotel expect just as good
service as they get at other times. not
outstanding every room in the house
is filled. This means that the hotel
proprietor must employ extra help and
make arrangements to accommodate
the rush. Extra help must be paid more
than regular employees, and all arrange
ments for extra accommodations in
r. rot hi
er there Is a sound basis for any adj
vances which any intelligent person
will appreciate"
Robert Downs, manager of the Shore
ham Hotel, stated that misunder-
standing on the part of persons en-
deavoring to make reservations for the
inaugural period often are the cause
of statements that the hotels charge
extortionate rates at such times.
Demand the Best Rooms.
mo hotel manager can afford to rent
his best rooms to persons for one or
two days during the inaugural period.
when he knows that there will be
demand for them from persons who
wish to remain a week in the city. He
figures that a room or suite of rooms
should produce an income of so much
during the inaugural period, which
=
mands the best accommodations for one
or two days, the manager is entirely
justified in charging a price which will
compensate for the loss of income dur
ing the remainder of the inaugural
period. The use Of the rooms for one
or two days means that the manager
loses the opportunity to rent them to a
person who desires to stay here a week
or more. Naturally if a person in
sists on having the best accommoda-
lions for a short period the manager
makes a charge that is higher than
what usually would be the case"
Lul1 Just Before Inauguration.
One of the managers interviewed call
ed attention to the fact that while the
hotels are crowded during the inaugu-
raj week. the patronage during the
weeks just previous to the inaugura-
ton usually is less than what other
wise would be the case
Persons having business to attend to
here and sightseers contemplating a
visit to the city naturally wait until
the Inauguration so that they can kill
two birds with one stone" This means
that Just previous to the inauguration
the hotels lose the business they would
receive under other circumstances. This
IL q phase of the hotel business which
II overlooked. however. when persons
direct attacks at u.s."