Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-17
U.S. HOTELS RAISE:
MONTHLY RATES
Increase Of $3.50 a Month
Brings Protest From a
War Worker.

Beginning October /. rates at the
government hotels. which house hun
dreds Of workers in the various gov
ternnent departments In this city,
will be Increased from s45 to 5000
q month.
Guests Of the hotels, upon their
return from work last night. were
surprised when they received this
notice. sent out by Robert Watson.
president Of the United States Hous-
ing Corporation.
In letter to the guests Of the
hotels. Mr.. Watson made 1t plain
that the hotels were losing money as
a result Of the s45-a-month rate
charged. and that in order to make
the receipts equal the expenditures
the increase was authorized.
Increase in wages for chamber
ployes of the hotels, it was stated.
had a great deal to do with the in
crease.
Guests Hold Meeting.
Immediately after receiving the no.
! tice there was an impromptu meeting
CT guests in TU building. Discussing
this meeting Miss Mary Teresa Nc
| Kenna, a guest. today said:
The question arose why the man
dSeT Ol luc lOlCi oy oSCil choOA1 ~
such an excessive salary. which
brought forth the answer that the
manager of these hotels might be paid
on par with managers of other large
hotels. Very good. keep up with the
STANDARD, but why must there be
managers. A little economy along
these lines would materially decrease
the $3.50 extra we are called on to
ray; we, employees OF our national
government, who have received no in
crease this year.
How Will Workers Existf
"In the name of common sense, how
eminent exist. hundreds Of whom at
the hotels are making only $3.50 plus
the $240 bonus (and l wonder If the
staff of said hotels is aware of this).
with a monthly expense account as
follows:
Pension deduction. .1....-............. lW
Lunches Observation-Disclosures. 500
Car fare. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1.80
Laundry .,..,.....,,, 400
Tuition Observation-Disclosures. 1000
Church OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 200
Fixed expense monthly. ................ $500
Salary OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 10000
THE whole argument SINNERS down
to this. that the mattresses are max
ing more than those they serve; they
are protected by our federal govern
ment, and for US. it's skilled workers,
who were sent for as the result of
open competitive examinations, for
US who do not live at home. for us
there is no open door against this
political aggression.
Protests Made In Vain.
And yet, to those who have so
faithfully horne the heat Of the day
and remained in Washington through
out the war, our philantropic govern
ment allows to protest in vain against
an unlawful increase.
rs it any wonder then we hear of
dependency and even suicide among
the guests at the hotels, when they
are forced through perjury to spend
their spare time in running down their
vitality by washing, ironing and
pressing. thereby lowering their EN-
cheney for governmental service, and
what Is often their reward, a days
notice of an honorable discharge"
Mr. Watson's Letter.
MI: Watson's 1etter announcing the
increase follows: =
:'It has been q source of satisfaction
! that during the fiscal year from June
80. 1918, to June 80, 1920. it was pos
sible to make the $45 a month paid
by the guests of the Government Ho-
tells cover all expenditures with a
small marein of safety. 1t is with
great regret that the United States
Housing Corporation now finds itself
confronted with conditions which
make it impossible to produce the
same service for the same money.
Under the minimum wage act pass
ed by Congress. the minimum wage
board of the District of Columbia has
set $71-60 a month as the minimum
for Mattresses and housemaids. This
has meant that the pay roll in July,
including scaling and substitutes,
was increased over the monthly rate
last year by nearly $1,000, or some
$4,000 year. Last year a large list
of provisions could be bought under
the contracts made by the general
supply committee for all government
departments This year. owing to I'M
certainties in the market. many arti-
cles are not on contract, and bills for
provisions in July exceeded June bills
by over $4,000. Other supplies, includ-
ing coal, have, increased under the