The Osceola times., 1875-10-23
COOPERATION IN ENGLAND.
The civil service Suoots Association and
It's workings.

This Institution, little heard of in the
United States, is one of the peculiarities
of the British capital. The object is to
supply families with articles for consump-
tion and general use at the lowest possible
prices. II Origins'e I in a combination
among persons holding subordinate posi-
tions under the government, municipal
and national; hence the title. With their
comparative small salaries, and their anx-
icty to live respectfully, they found it
impossible to pay the high charges for the
various neccssaries of life and 20 they
adopted a co operative system, Il little
like that attempted by the oranges or the
patrons of hus1andrv in some parts of
America, or, in other words, something
like the old-iashioned plan of orders
adopted in many of the manufacturing
towns in our own country, the difference
here being that cash must be paid for
everything on the spot. The institution
issues I 800 shares to its members, each
of whom pay f5 or S25 per annum, which,
besides securing the benefit of the society,
entities the holder to take part in the
meetings of the association and to have a
voice in the management. Tickets may
be sold to others on the payment of half
a crown (62l cents), which tickets secure
the purchasing of goods at the stores and
from the firms connected with the asSo-
citation, but they cannot attend the meet.
ings or take part in the management.
Tickets may also he obtained by the wild
ows of civil servants upon the payment
of half crown yearly, and by widows
of members without payment. When
you are told that this organization con-
sists of hundreds of thousands of persons,
and that the supplies are furnished by
thousands of establishments, and that no
such thing as Pecuniary loss has ever
happened, or anything like dishonesty in
any one of the branches, you realize how
successful it has been. And this fact is
more apparent as you examine the prices
paid by those who enjoy the benefits of
the system. In looking over the list of
articles furnished, | perceive that it in
cludes literally everything groceries,
wines and spirits, provisions, tobacco and
cigars, hosiery, drapery, gent and ladies'
clothing, fancy goods, drugs, plate, furs,
stationery and jewelry, books and music,
ii'u0Nhplh iullIlNhi III idNls fNfI NlllHH
in the way of necessaries and luxuries.
The price list for the quarter ending
the 3lst of August, 1875, showed re-
duction of from ) to % per cent. on the
prevailing rates. When you reflect that
this organization is not patronized alone
by the poorer classes, but is really sup
ported by persons in the very best cir.
cumstances and includes, as | learn, very
many of the nobility, you will see at once,
not only how useful it is, but how neces-
sary integrity is essential to its manage
ment. At first there was decided pro.
test against it among old establishments,
but now it has become 50 powerful that
it includes thousands of co operative
stores, and, of course, comrels bv the
very nature of its competition reasonable
prices among those who are not connected
with it. During the christmas holidays
some OF these civil service stores received
over their counters as much as 5000 600
in single day, and it is a noteworthy
fact, as illustrated, for instance, by Mr..
S+Eter, VI. T., in his speech on the odd
fc "a which is in England kind OF
4 relief organization, that the co.
opc Aye system as applied to working
people has been a triumphant success
London Letter