Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-15
IS LUNCH 4 LUXURY?

IN THE newspapers a day or two ago
there was 4 cable dispatch that would
| have caused the heart@ of Americans
| wildly to skip beat had it not been shoul.
| dered into far corner Of every page by
| the news from the vicinity of Metz. The
| British Government. it appears, has es.
| tablshed in London a syste,, of restau-
rants which offer "a substantial and pleas.
ant luncheon for thirty-five cents" What
humping business the British Govern
mentOwned restaurants would do if they
could be planted in the United States.
Some sort OF white magic underlies this
latest enterprise of the versatile British
Recause even though most OF the food nee.
cSsarN tn "a substantial and pleasant
luncheon in England is produced in
America. VIC on this side have no such
bright midday prospect the English can
now enjoy Nearly every waiter in Amer
tCa expects almost thirty.tlve cents for his
tip. And a discoverer more insstent than
Columbus would be needed tn find in this
country restaurant where one may lunch
comfortably upon substantial fare for less
than dollar
The explanation of the seeming miracle
is simple enough The food administration
at least the Pennsylvania food admins
trauon-has not Vet progressed to state
ot mind from which it can regard lunch
con as an essential human need
The wholesome conservation methods
suggested by Mr Hoover are observed by
the restaurants of course. But at no time
has the Federal system Of food sa wing re-
acted to protect the patrons OF restaurants
m. hD moi
PEELED by force of circumstances to find all
thelr meals ""ui. An example of the
process that has been followed by in
Vulnerable restaurant keepers was pre-
sented not long ago in New York. where
the State food board summoned the mana
gers of a weli.known restaurant syndicate
and demanded to he told why the price of
a glass Of milk had been raised from five
cents to ten. The restaurant men adj
mltted that the rate was eXorbitant and
they reduced it, But the same syndicate
is still collecting the ten.cent ra in its
Philadelphia restaurants.
The so-Called popular Recommendations
patlonzed by hurried workers-have been
the greatest sinners in the game Of eouue
1t is safe to say that the average mans
luncheon costs nowadays twice the former
figure. War. by some odd process. has
doubled the cost Of pie. The sandwich thai
used to be considered almost swindle
when it was obtainabe for five cents now
costs ten. The sleiGht.of-hand worked on
the basis of the wheat conservation pro.
gram in many restaurants has been ade-
quate to dazzle eve sensitive to OBJ.
Nious artistry. When the bread allotment
was limited to TWO ounces the cost Of evS.v
substitute necessary TO ease the bangs of
hungry man scared faster than any
other items on the bill of fare. The huge
sums which restaurant owners have saved
by the reduced consumption of sugar and
wheat have at no time benefited those who
eat in restaurants. And while it is to be
admitted that much of the excess costs
OF luncheon have been distributed in
| higher wages, il is still apparent that
| somebody is making more than fair
profit
Public restaurants are. in sense.
| essential public utilities. Lunch is a neces!
! sity. and such it will bear the SCRUTINY
| of the food administrators in the forms it
| assumes in most Of the centrally located
| restaurants. Or shall we have to suppli-
| cate Mr.. McAdoo to invade this field in all
| effort to give us in this country the boon
| Of "a pleasant and substantial luncheon
| for thirty.tive cents?