To the management of the Historic Inns of Annapolis, the incident in which a legislator was refused prompt service at the Maryland Inn was a mortifying lapse in customer service.

But to Del. Melony Ghee Griffith, an African-American from Prince George's County, the rude treatment she received when she brought a black constituent to lunch at the inns' Treaty of Paris restaurant Wednesday afternoon was about as subtle as a "whites only" sign outside the Annapolis landmark.

By yesterday, word of the incident was spreading through the House of Delegates, prompting leaders of the Prince George's County and Baltimore delegations to threaten to cease doing business with the inn and its sister properties.

Such an action could have serious consequences for the Historic Inns, which do a steady business of putting on legislative functions for local governments, including the city. Besides the Maryland Inn on Main Street, where the bar is a popular destination for lawmakers and lobbyists, the properties include the Robert Johnson Inn and the Governor Calvert House on State Circle.

A block from the State House, Maryland Inn is a popular haunt for people at the center of politics. Many legislators stay at the inn during the session and lunch with lobbyists at Treaty of Paris.

By midafternoon yesterday, the inn's management was scrambling to limit the damage -- offering abject apologies while denying any intent to discriminate.

Griffith and her guest, Sherma Brisseau of Largo, ended up at the nearby Potato Valley Cafe after a Maryland Inn manager reproached her for arriving about 20 minutes late for a reservation. Griffith said she was late because a legislative meeting ran long.

The Democrat said the manager refused to seat her and her friend, insisting that they wait though seven or eight tables were open at the time. She said her treatment contrasted with that of a white couple who came afterward without reservations. They were greeted warmly and offered a table, she said.

"Being refused to be seated with a constituent was probably the most degrading experience I have had in my life," said Griffith, who said she introduced herself as a delegate. She said it was the second incident of rude treatment she has encountered at the inn since January, leading her to suspect a racial motive was involved.

Griffith said the unpleasant experiences at the inn occurred when she was alone or with an African-American. When she has gone with lobbyists, she has been treated courteously, she said.

Griffith said she isn't oversensitive or quick to see a racial slight. "I don't look for these things," she said. "That's why I was so shocked."

Griffith's colleagues -- white as well as black -- were quick to rally around the popular freshman.

Del. Rushern L. Baker, chairman of the Prince George's County delegation, called the incident "unspeakable" -- especially since the last delegation dinner was at the Maryland Inn and the previous one at the Calvert House.

Del. Salima Siler Marriott, chairman of the Baltimore delegation, said she would encourage city legislators not to patronize the Historic Inns and would notify the Schmoke administration, which holds many Annapolis functions at the Calvert House.

Alex Bollman, assistant general manager of the Historic Inns, said the incident was the result of an inexperienced manager being under stress because employees' illnesses had left him understaffed.

Bollman denied his manager's treatment of Griffith was influenced by race, adding that if the manager seemed to favor the white couple it was because he saw them first.

Lobbyist Bruce C. Bereano, a regular Maryland Inn patron, witnessed the Griffith incident. He confirmed that tables were vacant when Griffith was told to wait, adding that the inn did not have the staff to serve them.

"As a customer she was treated very shabbily," he said. "Everyone was treated shabbily. We weren't getting water. We weren't getting bread. We weren't getting coffee."

Bollman said the inn's staff is well aware that legislators' meetings often run late. If the restaurant staff members know a lawmaker is running late, they will hold a table for longer than the usual 10 minutes, he said.

Bereano said the inn's restaurant has been disorganized and lacking in staff for some time.

"They're just not attuned to the legislature," he said. "They used to have someone there who knew every legislator by name. Not that legislators should be treated any differently than other customers, but [they] have to get in and out."

Bollman said the manager has been reprimanded, but not fired, for his treatment of Griffith. He said he and innkeeper Peg Bednarsky have scheduled a meeting with the delegate this morning, at which they intend to apologize.

Sun staff writers C. Fraser Smith and Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan contributed to this article.

Pub Date: 3/05/99