Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-15
No ProJfteering
on Soldiers Here
Camp Community Scruice Looks
Into Charges Made BY Visi-
tors From Camp Lee.

So far as the Information OF the
| Richmond Camp Community Service
! Eocs-and this organization has care
] fully looked into the mattcr-thcrc
[ has been practically no disposition on
/ the part OF local business men to
| 'profitecr" al the expense OF the SOL
, dicrs and sailors who visit this city.
| y standing committee on commercial
relations. of which William IL Schwars-
child is chairman. invest jTatcs all
complaints in this connection and is
grateful for any hints leading TO the
discovery OF SHARP trading.
some months ago 4 little ErumblinE
was heard from men who claimed they
had been made to pay excessive rates
At some OF the hotels. Inquiry elected
the explanation that these complain
ants had reached town AZ late hour
in the night when practically all Of
the rooms except the high priced ones
had tecn engaged. The soldiers had
no choice. under these circumstances.
and their only alternative WAS to seek
quarters elsewhere NcNatious as were
these situations. the hotel people could
not be blamed for them. ON the CON
trar., they were then and are now
ev'ncing disposition to make all pos
siblc. concessions to visiting soldiers
and sailors.
Just at present. the men in uniform.
so far as is known. have but one
grievance against Richmond. They
think the, rity's shoe shine ''pariors'
and bootblacks put TOO high a valua-
ton on their strong-arm efforts. As
everybody knows. the sons of Mars
when not actually on duty. love TO
have their shoes i'll nice order. as this
particular line Of ncatncss adds to their
appearance.
Unfortunately there is in this city
foreign element engaged in the shoe
y, tt,ttN 4
preciate this fact These callous NOR
tails obviously think that the polish
inE of mans boots is 4 finp1 art, and
ssuch. deserves u prncely reward.
Moreover, they maintain that the cost
OF their supplies has jumped way up
| Pleading and coaNing on the part OF
the community service people have
| done little TO make these obdurate
! citizens change their opinion. The
usual scale OF prices to-day IS 10 cents
! for ordinary occasions and ID or 20
cents for Saturdays. sundays and holi-
days. And unfortunately nearly all
! days having the least suggestion Of
EaictY or excitement about them are
literally construed as holidays Worse
Still. the proud warrior in puttccs, he
he private. "noncom' Sr commissioned
officer. must scgrcgatc himself from
80 cents in order TO have the proper
gloss put on his lcathern rcgalia.
Secretary G. II. Winfrey. local rep
rcsentative Of the War Camp Commu-
nifty Service is determined to reduce
the high cost Of shoe shines. He
thinks that cents is 4 fair price. Al
ready he has effected an ARRANGEMENT
with the proprietor of a nearby par
| lor" who agrees To furnish the 1cces-
! sary shines for n nickel. To i1ahc as
I surancc doubly sure, MIR. Winfrcy has
| given TO certain cntcrprising boot
! black Of exquisite fincsSc and bound
less energy. the right to ply his brush
NJ the Army and Navy Club on Satur
days and Sundays. Last week the
possesSor OF this franchise. -bristle
| with enthusiasm. went over several
acres OF military feet. and at cven-tide
WAS seen at the gates OF the city
wearing jeans which bulEcd with Il
! whole battalion OF nickeIs