Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-06
MUCH WORK
DONE BY ~"
DURING YEAR
Complaints Of overcharg-
/, ing at Canteens Will be
Investigated.

New York, Jan. Ga review of the
tian Association regards as the great
est in the history of the organization
in effort and accomplishment was
made public today by the associations
war work council. The review deals
with the complaints of canteen over
charges made by some of the return
ing soldiers. refers to the war depart
ment investigation which, it ays ex-
onerated the "Y," and states that be-
cause of frequent .reiteration Of these
and other complaints by returning
soldiers, John R. Mott. general sec
rotary of the War Work Council, has
asked that the entire administration
Of the Y. NJ. c.. A. war program over
seas be Investigated by the inspector
general.
1T is our judgment" says DR..
Mott, that these complaints should
be frankly and fearlessly faced. If
we were to ignore criticism we would
be false to our trust. 1t is our duty
to discover the .unfounded criticism
SO that a patriotic organization, as a
matter of simple honesty, may not be
blighted unjustly. 1t Is equally our
duty to discover the ~well-founded
criticism in order that we may adopt
a constructive program that will OBJ
viate in our future policy any lax ad-
ministration of the past.
rs it true that the Y. NJ. c. A. has
been guilty of profiting in the opera
tion of its post exchanges overseas.
The following telegram from the
third assistant secretary of war,
Frederick P. Keppel, is self-explana-
tory:
Matter of prices asked by Young
Mems Christian association for its ar
ticles sold in canteens overseas al
ready investigated by war department
and condition being remedied. Young
Mems Christian association original
ly asked by General Pershing to run
canteen for army on cost basis. To
do his had to reckon in price fixing
such overhead charges as transporter
ton charges and marine insurance so
that prices we're much higher than
in this country. Young Mems Chris
tan association made no profit but
lost thousands of dollars. Arrange
ments now made will enable them to
obtain supplies from sources that will
reduce overhead charges and keep
prices down.
Raymond B.. Fosdick, chairman of
the Commission on Training Camp
Activities of the War Department,
following his return from Europe re-
Gently, stated hat he went into this
matter thoroughly and found the
complaints absolutely without foun-
dalton. 1 mention this matter only
because of the widespread is
most unfair to an organization which
is doing heroic service"
Criticism of the ~" the review
states, was thus leveled at a branch
of the associations work which was
multiplied in volume by five-during
the year. Receipts of less than ST.
100000 in the post exchange system
last January had grown to more than
$5,000,000 a month by September,
1918, n since then have maintain
ed that level. At these post ex-
changes. millions of dollars in remit
tances to the folks at home have been
handled without charges by the "Y."
One year ago, according to the re-
port of the personnel board of the Y.
NJ. G. A, there were fewer than 1900
"Y' men and women overseas stand
ing by the men in uniform. From
figures available on Dec. Is, 1918, it
is estimated that today there are g.
048 men and 1895 women in "Y''
uniform overseas. Women are now
being sent overseas at the rate of 100
a week for work with the army, in
the cav areas and debarkation ports
of France and England.
The y. NJ. C. A. refers with pride
., to the response of the men and wom-
en- of America to the associations call
for service with the colors, and re-
calls their war record and the list of
casualties among these civilian work
ers. The "Y" casualty list, complete
only so far as the list of dead is con-
cerned. follows: Nine workers, two
of them women. were killed by shell
IRE while on duty; twenty-three were
wounded Or gassed severely; many
others received minor injuries; and