The Washington times., 1923-03-13
R AURANT 5
LAN PUBL
Pol ICY
Have Live Organization Here
to Gust Profiteers and
Preserve Standards.

When the average Washing tonian
sits down before q delectable dish Of
ham and eggs IN one Of the better
class restaurants. his mind - too
much on his meal to reflect that be-
hind that dish Is the price, and be-
hind the price IS 81 rigid code Of
ethics which u enforced iii the Ma
tionaI Capital by the washington
Restaurant Association.
The association will meet In the
Bellevue Farms Lunch tonight to
give q further demonstration Of the
fact that the public's interest Is
always at heart The intention il
to prevent profiteering In, Washing
ton restaurants during the Shrine
conclaye In June
This does not entail actual price
fixing for all Washington eating
places, but acts as deterrent to
those prOprietors who do not scruple
to charge high prices when great
gatherings convene in this city.
PrOfiteering Hurts All.
The association feels that over
charging visitors is another method
OF killing the goose that lays the
golden eggs The members argue
that il the visitor finds courteous
service and fair prices In Washing
ton restaurants, he will return fire.
quently, whereas profiteering works
eventual detriment to the customer,
the restaurateur and the city.
The association was made q per-.
manent organization on February
l2, 1920. The first officers were
Ben Resented, president; Mrs Apnie
.. Hatch, vice president; Miss Janet
Smith, secretary, and Eugene Rog-
genmoser, treasurer.
The principles expounded at the
first meeting are unchanged today.
The purpose Of the association was
solely to elevate the standard Of the
public eating business; to educate
the Individual restaurant operator
to higher ideals, and to acquaint
him with better methods of fulfilling
his obligation to the eating public.
First in u. s.
The Washington association was
the first in the United States to
take active steps to put into practice
the code OF ethics adopted by the
National Restaurant Association at
/ It's conventin here last night.
/ The local organization likewise
/ was the first to create a special
| sanitary committee to make rigid in
spections Of it's members estab-
lishments. The purpose of this com.
mittee was to obtain for members q
higher sanitary rating than the Dis
trict Health Department deemed
necessary. While the average
proprietor would endeavor to keep
within the law, his efforts at clean.
liness would be redoubled by the
knowledge that his associates In
business were to look over his plant
and criticize his methods Of keeping
the place free Of insanitary con-
ditions.
1t was through the efforts of
the association that the national
convention and exposition was
secured for this city last year.
The attendance exceeded any for
mer similar gathering of the ma
tional body. The exposition ex-
coed all like events in the number
of exhibitors and In the size of
display of restaurant supplies and
food products. More than $500, 900
worth of food products and sup
plies Were sold by the exhibitors
during the show.
Officers Are Progressive.
The present officers of the asso-
citation are j. III. Ledger, president;
Mrs. M. H. Jones, vice president:
Bert l.. Olmsted, secretary and
B. H. Brockway, treasurer.
These four leaders in the Wash.
ington restaurant business have
distinguished their administration,
since the February election, by
actively promoting steps in their
particular field here.
Secretary Olmsted particularly
has shown himself a capable Sec
rotary. He has offered numerous
suggestions to the association for
it's betterment. He is the type of
man technically known as "a live
wire"
The association plans to adopt,
during the next few months. a dis
l'tinctive insignia for members
establishments, that sign to be the
recognized emblem of merit in
| Washington eating places. This
sign is to be prominently displayed,
so as to guide the Washingtonian
and the visitor to eating houses
where fair prices and efficient
service are adjuncts to well-pre-
pared food.
Directors of the association are
Henry Bittinger, Joe Fisher, Miss
Ruth Cleves, c. F. Harper, Ben
Rosenfeld. Frank p. Fenwick, Miss