Evening star., 1932-09-23
Government Restaurants.

Government Restaurants.
The National Restaurant Associa-
tions protest against all eating places
in Government departments has been
placed before the Shannon Committee
of the House, investigating Government
competition with private business.
Should the protest be taken so seriously
as to endanger the existence OF these
eating places, the question would be
raised Immediately as to the fate of
the House and Senate restaurants at
the Capitol. These institutions are. OF
course, In competition with private
business. just as are the barber shops,
baths. gymnasium, etc, maintained at
the Capitol for the health and conven-
ience OF members and employees. They
are moreover, subsidized by the Gov
eminent, the House restaurant being
run under the House Committee on Ac-
counts and the Senate Restaurant be-
ing run by a subcommittee Of the Sem
ate Rules Committee. Losses suffered
by these places are made up out of
appropriations.
A majority Of the cafeterias, lunch
counters and one soda luncheonette"
in the departments are operated by
the Welfare and Recreational Associa-
ton Of Public Buildings and Grounds,
Inc, private benevolent corporation,
that utilities its profits for maintenance
Pnd improvement Of municipal golf
courses, tennis courts, etc. located in
the public parks When the profit ex-
ceeds a stipulated return, the excess is
turned over to the Treasury Its trustees
are Federal employees, serving without
compensation. Other eating places in
the departments are run by the en-
ployes on a cooperative basis.
When Secretary Of Commerce Chaplin
entertained at his own expense some
800 members of a recent economic con-
ference, providing them with luncheon
in the Department of Commerce cafe
terra, any profits that might have ac-
crued to the cafeteria through this
windfall-at fifty cents a plate-went
into the fund for maintenance of rec
reational activities. and some Of it will
probably go into the Treasury to swell
the receipts of the United States Gov
ernment.
But if a member of the House or
Senate chose to entertain visitors ct
one of the Capitol restaurants at his
own expense, and the meal was served
at loss to the restaurant, the loss
would be eventually covered from the
appropriations made for these eating
places
If there is to be any abolition of eat
ing places on Government property,
those at the Capitol might be con-
sidered as the first to go. But the ma
ture of the Government establishment
in Washington-and this includes the
Capltol-makes the maintenance Of
essary. They might be considered
as necessary as the desks and the
typewriters. The Government per-
sonnel could not get along without
them. except at great inconvenience. In
the first place, the location of Govern
ment buildings and the concentration
of employees require eating places within
the buildings themselves. And while
they are on Government property, using
a varying amount of Government space
and equipment, they should be run
either on a cooperative basis, with no
profit to anybody, or, as in the case of
the Welfare and Recreational Assoca-
tion, the profits should be utilized for
benevolent purposes.
II there Is criticism Of these eating
places, it should lie ON the side of lack
of uniformity in maintaining them. De-
partment Of Commerce employees have
their own well-equipped cafeteria in
the building. With only half an hour
allowed for lunch, the dining room must
be on the premises But the Treasury
employees have only a lunch counter,
i where no food is cooked. The Depart
ment of Agriculture employees must go
outside for meals. as must those of the
Department of Justice. The prices, as
we'll as quality of food, vary.
Serving. as they do, only one meal,
these eating places should be maintained
for the employees and the cost of food
kept at the minimum. This is one form
Of competition with private business in
, which the Government should excel.
So many excellent speakers are listed