The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-05-09
CHECK THE HIGH
COST OF LIVING
Results Of Cooperative Unions
in European Countries.
REPORTS FROM OUR CoNSULs
President Transmits to Congress the
Second instalIrent, Which Covers
France, Belgium, the Neither
lands and Denmark.

Washington, May 7-Accompanied
by letter from Acting Secretary OF
State Wilson, President Taft Monda,
sent to congress a second installmeut
of the consular reports, which includ'
ed those from France, Belgium, the
Netherlands and Denmark on co
operation and the cost Of living In
those countries. These reports are
the result of Investigations made by
the consuls some time ago by request
of the state department.
It appears from the information col.
lected. the acting secretary says, that
the rising cost Of living has directed
attention to and augmented the mem
bership OF the cooperative societies,
more especially in France and Bel
GUM. The French cooperative asso-
Citations are in the main arranged
upon the same system as those in the
United Kingdom. The tendency is to-
wards small societies and the great
majority of the associations represent
groceries and bakeries. The most sue
the manufacturing cities OF northeast.
ern and central France. Among these
societies relief funds are administered
and insurance against illness and
forced unemployment is supplied.
The operation OF the agricultural So
cities has been especially successful In
Southern France. The French gov ern-
ment has given encouragement to
these societies by furnishing expert
advice, granting subventions, and per
hitting long term loans by agricul-
tural credit associations. The general
buying is done principally through dis
trict unions. High-grade farm machin-
cry such as is beyond the reach OF
many individual members is pur-
chased from the SURPRISES or is loaned
gratuitously or upon the payment OF
nominal fees.
The consular reports state that the
French cooperative societies usually
sell at prices which are neither higher
nor lower than those of private stores
and that they have tendency ,o keep
prices throughout the district where
they are located down to fair level
as well as TO enhance the purity and
quality of the goods The degree OF
reduction in the cost OF living is al
most wholly contingent upon the capa
bility and the altruism Of the manage
ment OF the respective districts.
In Belgium, the consular reports
state, a large proportion Of the CO.
operative societies sell at prices loD er
than those Of the regular mar cts. al
lowing only members to purchase, and
have only nominal profits TO dis
tribute Many societies guarantee a
G per cent dividend on all purchases
and distribute all remaining profits to
various funds for insurance, pensions
strike relief, indemnties for injuries
and the like.
In the Netherlands the cooperative
associations include domestic supplies,
agricultural supplies, creameries, farm
ers' loan banks and savings banks.
cash basis is strictly maintained. In
Denmark sales are confined TO mem.
bers Of the cooperative societies UNI
less the latter wish to subject them
selves to taxation. The joint associa-
ton OF Danish cooperative societies
operates numerous factories aad ware
houses throughout Denmark