New-York tribune., 1919-01-06
Soldiers Hit by
Higher rices at
Women's Canteens
Mrs. Henry Answers That
Increased Food Cost Has
Forced the Committee to
Order Small Advances

Unable, it is stated, longer to pro-
vide satisfying meal to soldiers.
sailors and marines at prices of from
2712 to 33 13 cents apiece, the can
teens operated by the Mayors Com
mittee of Women on National Defence
have raised their prices.
This increase, amounting to 5 cents
each on many of the most important
dishes and which has raised the price
of most of the 'plats du jour" from 35
to 40 cents. is due solely to the in
creased cost of raw materials, accord
ing to Mrs. Nelson r. Henry. chairman
and chief executive of the cantcen sec
tion of the committee
Attention OF. The Tribune was called
to the cantcen prices by men in service,
who spoke of the amounts charged in
view of the fact that the meals were
to be served at. cost to men in uniform.
In letter to The Tribune, a yeoman
of the U. S. S. Wyoming, listed the
following meal fcr considerations: Lamb
stew. 40 cents; potato salad, 10 cents;
bread pudding, 10 cents milk, 5 cents;
total IS cents. The same meal he said.
could be obtained at the w. C. c. S.
canteen on Twenty Street for
40 cents and at the Navy Club for 25
cents.
Mrs. Henry Explains
Mrs. Henry, in discussing this, as
sumed personal responsibility for the
increase.
You may say the increase was
ordered by Mrs. Henry" she said. "The
sole reason was the increase in the
cost of food and the additional ex
pensc of light and heat in winter
months She explained that the can
teens had been serving an average of
1000 men week and had fed more
'han $4,000 since June 8, 1918. The
average check of each man, she said.
varied between 27l2 cents and 33 IL
cents. The average check for the week
gnoIhg e., december 21 was 3414 cents.
rms was the period when the increase
became effective.
Mrs. Henry declared the canteens
were run as economically as possihlo
under most careful supervision and
lhaC therc was no waste or extrava
gance.
The, canteens pay no rent. having
been built and presented to The com,
mlttee. Cooks and dishwashers are the
only employees paid in the canteens, the
other work being performed by women
volunteers, who contribute 81 a week
each to the committee. Supplies orn
purchased each day by the caJ1tG captaio q in IN
charge OF each canteen at the market
price, and each captain reports the
amount bought, amount delivered, por-
tions served, men served and average
check and amount remaining Before
payment is made each bill must be ap-
proved by the canteen captain. the ma
lor IN charge of inspection and Mrs.
Henry.
Try Elsewhere, She Says
Our patronage has not fallen off in
the slightest since the increase" said
Mrs. Henry. "The men arc not com
PEELED to come to the canteens, but
hundreds return again and again.
Mrs. Henry said that the cantcens
were at disadvantage in competing
with the restaurants, which bought in
larger quantities and were able to take
greater advantage of fluctuations in the
market. The canteens, she said, were
compelled to buy for only one day and
keep nothing over, as they had no
storage facilities.
Women Workers Protest
Protests against the increase were
made by many of the volunteer work
crs, who said they felt that some means
should be found to lessen the present
cost to service men.
Following is menu taken from the
canteen blackboards Steak and pota-
toes, 35 cents; fishcakes and beans. 20
cents; vegetable soup, 10 cents; frank
furters and potato salad, 20 cents;
ham and potato salad, 90 cents; ham
sandwiches and egg sandwiches, 10
cents; cake and pie, 5 cents; ice cream.
10 cents; coffee, tea, cocoa, milk, 5
cents; rice and bread puddings, 10 cents.
Another menu listed pea soup, 10
cents; roast lamb, with jelly, potatoes
and peas. 40 cents; nam and eggs, 25
cents; potatoes, 5 cents.
Following is a menu taken at ran
dom from the lunch rooms near the
City Hall Park cantccn: Soup, 10
cents; meat balls and spaghetti 5
cents; bacon and eggs, 25 cents; frank
furters, Is cents; corncd beef and
beans. Is cents; Gshcakcs, Is cents;
ragout Of beef, 20 cents; rice pudding.
5 cents.