New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-12
4 MODEL COOPERATIVE ESTABLISHMENT.
From Kate Fields Washington.


The experiments in cooperation which have been
made by the Government clerks In Washington have
been good enough in their way, but 1t has always been
and modelled more up on the eminently satisfactory
About Quarter OF a Century ago the Civil Service
Supply Association, Limted,' was organized there
members 10 supply themselves at wholesale prices with
food clothing and articles OF use and ornament ior
The story goes that caddy Of tea purchased by
club OF tea lovers In the employ OF the Government
that direction The price Of pound OF tea TO each
member Of the club was found to be SO small that this
OF the little circle. From this box Of tea the Civil
Service supply Association took its start and the
In ali England. only members of the Civil Service
admitted, and every branch OF the service, the
Custom House. the Museum, and is represented.
Tho various departments Of the business are con.
TO a governing head. For example, there Is the firm
Of John Barker Co. in High,st KensngtOn This
an entire block and all constituting one vast building.
tho cellar to the highest story clerks statesmen
and saeswOmen are employed. IN addition to small
Divided as to occupation, these people are book.
keepers. drivers, pSrers carpenters plumbers Ed ,es'
Their compensation is at the full union rate. the as:
ISOLATION making the point never to contend with wae
ton being itself an immense trades Union claims that
by doing IL gets the best workmen and accordingly
Every empioye. no matter what may be his grade;
whether the cOmmonest porter or the highestpaid
clerk is required report for work daily at 80 in
the morning and continue until 80 in the evening.
but is also allowed vacation OF three weeks In every
year. -, o.. -,
at O'Clock, giving the employees ne remainder OK
dictate 1t stated that during the recent Christmas
h rade %e o @ hours
In the top the Parker house two stories set
apart as lodgings for the employees. more than 300
furnished The rents charged for these apartments
are Incredibly small, considering the locality and
forts offered and the character Of the furnishings.
Not a great distance from the Barker stores, In q
ouiet and pretty street In KensngtOn, is row Of
line large private houses before each OF which Is
pretty garden The association controls these build
the rooms rented to employees on the Same
princlple rs those in the upper stories OF tho
barker building. Two OF these hOi~ss are specially
Association. A correspondent who recently had
occasion 10 visit them says that their occn'
pants are evidently women OF taste and refinement
the rooms One Of the largest apartments IS reserved
as q parlor. and contains grand plano. there being
among TIE employees some really accomplished musi:
clans Here once month the smPr9ses are pennies
ON two other dates Of the months a. dancing party Is
permitted also attended by invited guests: on a
certain anniversary date IN each year grand concert
Is held in ST. James Hail. which Is followed bv ban:
quet On these occasions tickets OF admission are solo
and the proceeds 20 20 swell general benefit fund.
another large npo , GOO pe eI Volumes,
embracing All classes of teraueblogaphy, history.
travels poems. and the best fiction on the walls arc
cases tables and other furniture described ele
s"If an anu undertaking Of this character be made
~ conh he made eoually successful In this country ana
why not Washington DO the place to put IL -
tina testi