The New York herald., 1922-06-12
In Bavaria Foreigners Are
Often Charged Double
the Price to Germans.
DISCRIMINATION PROOFS
Result Of Investigation by
'The New York Herald
of Paris

Speciof Cable to THE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1893, by THE NEW YolK HrRALp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Paris. June IL.
There is now very little IL any dis
elimination against American tourists
as a>class in Europe. compared with
other foreigners, in the matter of
prices. hotel rates and other living
costs. There is very much, and, fla
grant, discrimination, however, in such
matters. going on now against all for
eign tourists, of whom Americans nat
urally form the larger part, in Ger
many. especially In Bavaria, and cer-
tain parts of Italy. but not in other
countries much frequented by tourists.
In Germany the discrimination Is
widespread. Apparently it is counte-
nanced by the authorities and based
upon the assumption that what Is a
mark to the natives, represents very
little to Americans or English, whose
money buys many times the number
Of marks it did in prewar days.
Law Against the Tourist.
Unprotected by law, and sometimes,
as in Bavaria, now actually within
the law. Americans and apparently ali
foreigners Of prosperous countries are
frequently charged double or more the
price to Germans for hotel rooms and
in the shops. These conditions have
been disclosed by an investigation
made by The Neto York Herald OF
Ports. which recently published con-
spicuous notice asking for the facts.
to show whether or not Americans
were being victimized any more than
the citizens of other countries.
Letters received In response to this
notice have been supplemented by in
formation from callers at the bureau
OF THE NEW YORK HERALD and by the
investigations Of THE HERALD's own
correspondents. Many complaints
coming from American tourists, it
should be said. are not cases of actual
discrimination, but due to ignorance
of passport and police regulations. and
the amount of mercy which can be
carried in and out of country. Ac-
tual cases of discrimination as be-
tween American and German travel
srs were reported not only in Ba-
varian cities. but in Berlin and other
German cities.
Cases of Determination.
For example. Frederick Wose of AL
bany, ". Y, reported to THE NEW YORK
HERALD that he had been charged 500
marks in a hotel at Ulm for room
which he saw a German get for 800
marks and at the Espianade In Ber-
lin he had to pay 1900 marks. or twice
the German price. In many towns vis-
tied by Wose and other complainants.
there appeared to be no uniformity on
the part of the hotels, the maximum
increase being more than so per cent.
In Italy and Bavaria there now exist
special taxes for foreigners as con-
trasted with local tourists. which are
resented by the Americans who form
the bulk of Europes tourist traffic.
Bavaria has carried II so far as to ap-
ply 1t to the admission fees of theaters
and museums--even to the Passion Play
at Oberammergau-and in every way
shows that the foreign tourist Is not
wanted at any price.
Virtually no complaints have been re-
ceived from France of any standardized
discrimination. But in certain parts Of
Germany the doctors are attempting to
charge Americans fees based upon dol
lars. and there are sporadic instances
OF this sort of thing on the part Of shop
keepers. though not In the large stores
English tourists are having much the
same experiences as Americans. but they
are much more wary. Even In the
Rhineiand. which Is considered tempo
rarily at least under foreign control.
shops are allowed to charge foreigners
so per cent. more than citizens under a
law approved by the Interallied High
Commission, but with the proviso that
this increase shall not apply to the
members of the several allied services
or their families or servants.
The small German shopkeepers
throughout the Rhineland are taking
advantage of this law In many cases.
Increasing prices to the maximum chiefly
roufluucd nm pa0e Five