Part 9 (1/2)
In Chicago, the Young Men's Christian a.s.sociation operates a nineteen-story hotel where tips are prohibited, and this organization generally discourages the custom in its enterprises.
XIII
THE SLEEPING-CAR PHASE
The Pullman company stands in the public mind as the leading exponent of tipping. It certainly is the largest beneficiary of the custom, as a simple calculation will show.
The company has about 6,500 porters, who receive $27.50 a month in wages. Suppose the porters received no tips. The company then would have to pay living wages. a.s.suming that the long hours of work would not attract desirable porters under a straight wage system without at least $60 a month pay, each one of the 6,500 would have an increase of $32.50 a month, or $390 a year.
This would mean an increase in the company's annual pay-roll of $2,535,000!
In other words, the company saves about two and a half millions a year through the tips given to its porters. What part of the large annual dividend is furnished by this saving is a secret of the company's books.
Some of these porters after many years' service receive $42 a month in wages, and this would bring down the foregoing estimate, though not to any radical extent. The tips bring their incomes to $100, $150, $200 and more a month! There are, of course, many runs on which the porters derive smaller amounts in gratuities, and the best runs are given as a reward for long and faithful service.
WHAT THE PULLMAN MANAGER SAID
The Walsh Commission, appointed to investigate industrial conditions in the United States, in 1915 singled out the Pullman tipping practice for investigation. Some of the testimony given by the general manager of the company follows:
”The company simply accepts conditions as it finds them. The company did not invent tipping. It was here when the company began.”
”What do you say to making tipping unlawful and paying employees a living wage?” Chairman Walsh asked.
”If such a condition arises, I presume we would have to pay wages necessary to get the service.”
”Do you get your negroes in the South?”
”Yes, we have been looking after them in the South. The South is a bigger field and the men there are more adapted for the work than the Northern negroes.”
”Well, be plain,” Chairman Walsh said, ”are the negroes from the South more docile and less independent than those from the North?”
”Well, no, but the Southern negro is more pleasing to the traveling public. He is more adapted to wait on people and serve with a smile.”
”Can a man live on $27.50 a month and rear a family?”
”Really, I don't know. He might.”
”Does the Pullman company have in mind the liberality and kindness of the public when it fixes that rate of pay?”
”Well, I should say that tips have something to do with it. I didn't make the rates of pay.”
”A porter must call pa.s.sengers during the night, polish shoes, answer bells, and look after the safety and comfort of the pa.s.sengers at all hours, must he not?”
”Yes. He is reprimanded, suspended or discharged for infractions of the rules.”