nstance of an American Commonwealth
specifically and deliberately recognizing tipping as legal and right. It
turns loose the tip-pirates upon the public with full governmental
sanction, but stipulates that in their piracy they shall not organize
into a trust, as they had done in Chicago and in all large cities.

The Illinois law can be commended to the extent that it seeks to break
up the organized traffic in tips, but its recognition of tipping on an
unorganized basis is equivalent to the action of some European
governments in paying out of their treasuries tribute to the Barbary
pirates for the privilege of sailing the high seas. Thomas Jefferson's
democracy rebelled at this and he freed the whole world from the
outrageous custom.

IN MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts has a law to prohibit the corrupt influencing of agents,
employees or servants, but it is aimed specially at the practice of
"splitting commissions" and does not operate to restrain tipping in the
State. A salesman sometimes will offer to give a buyer a bonus or part
of his commission if an order is placed, and this practice is causing
the business world considerable thought, as employers realize that a
buyer who will accept favors from salesmen will not exercise unbiased
judgment. It is the itching palm a plane above tipping owing to the
larger amount involved, and is akin to the graft of public officials.
The law follows:

"Whoever corruptly gives, offers or promises to an agent,
employee or servant any gift or gratuity whatever, with intent
to influence his action in relation to his principal's,
employer's or master's business; or an agent, employee or
servant who corruptly requests or accepts a gift or gratuity or
a promise to make a gift or to do an act beneficial to himself
under an agreement or with an understanding that he shall act
in any particular manner in relation to his principal's,
employer's or master's business; or an agent, employee or
servant, who, being authorized to procure materials, supplies or
other articles either by purchase or contract for his principal,
employer or master, or to employ service or labor for his
principal, employer or master receives, directly or indirectly,
for himself or for another, a commission, discount or bonus from
the person who makes such sale or contract, or furnishes such
materials, supplies or other articles, or from a person who