Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-06
MORE FROM TAFT
ON LIVING COST
Cooperative Societies Success
full in France, Belgium, Den
mark and Netherlands.
HAVE RELIEF FUNDS ALSO
Annual Dividends Returned to Pur-
chasers Average From 8 to 10
Per Cent.

Washington, May 6.-President Tai:
today sent to congress the second in
stallment of the reports of consular
officers on cooperation and the cost
Of living which are the result Of the
investigation he some time ago di-
rected should be made. The coun-
tries included in this installment are
France, Belgium, the Netherlands and
Denmark. The reports are accompan-
led by a letter from Huntington VIII
son, acting secretary Of state.
1t appears from the information col
lected, the acting secretary says, that
the rising cost of living has directed
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 Unit
ed Kingdom.
ADMINISTER RELIEF FUNDS.
The tendency is toward small so
cieties and the great majority of the
associations represent groceries and
tributive societies are in the manufac-
turing cities of northeastern and cen
trail France. Among these societies re-
lief funds are administered and insur-
ance against illness and forced non
employment is supplied. Arrange
ments are made with dentists, doctors
and artisans for their services by
members on a commission basis.
The operation of the agricultural
societies has been especially success
full in southern France. The French
government has given encouragement
to these societies by furnishing ex-
pert advice. granting subventions and
permitting 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 purchased
from the surpluses or is loaned gra,
tuitously or upon the payment Of nom
inal fees.
OPERATE OWN PLANTS.
Government employees are to a large
extent organized into cooperative soci
cites. Many of the associations are
affiliated with labor unions that re.
strict their membership to persons en-.
gagged in a given occupation.
In regard to industrial cooperative
production it appears that plants own.
ed and operated by the operatives are
not uncommon in France. In Lyons
for example, the enterprise is conduct.
ed by societies composed of their own
operatives, including printing and en-.
craving, building, plumbing, tailoring
weaving, tanning, carpentering, paper,
hanging, the making of pasteboard
boxes and the making of metallic fur.
niture.
The consular reports state that the
French cooperative societies usually
sell at prices which are neither high
er nor lower than those of private
stores and that they have a tendency
to keep prices throughout the district
where they are located down to fail
level as well as to enhance the purity
and quality of the goods. The degree
of reduction in the cost of living is
almost wholly contingent upon the
capability and the altruism of the man
agement of the respective districts.
SELL TO MEMBERS ONLY.
In Belgium the consular reports
state, a large proportion of the coop
erative societies sell at prices lower
than those OF the regular markets, al
lowing only members to purchase anC
have only minimal profits to dis
tribute. Many societies guarantee Z
6 per cent dividend on all purchases
and distribute all remaining profits tc
various funds for insurance, pensions
strike relief, indemnities for fniurie:
and the like. The consular report:
state that the virtual beginning of the
general cooperative movement in Bel
gium is said to have been due to the
growth of the various socialistic ant
labor parties in 1880 and the year;
following. The socialistic societie,
are reported to have no afiliatior
with the International Cooperative al
lance. The development of many O
the agricultural cooperative societie.
has been aided very greatly by thc
clerical party, the league of church
societies comprising $50 associations
LARGEST GROWTH SINCE 1880.
In the Netherlands the cooperatiy,
movement has had it's largest growth
since 1890. The associations include
domestic supplies. agricultural sup
plies, creameries, farmers loan bank
and savings banks A cash basis /.
strictly maintained. The annual dIvi
dends returned to the purchasers aver
age between s and 10 per cent Ar
rangements are made with dentists
doctors and merchants who sell goods
which the society does not handle I,
give the society a commission on bus
iness done with its members.
In Denmark sales are confined I,
members of the cooperative societie
unless the latter with to subiec
themselves TO taxation. The Joint az
sociation of Danish cooperative soc
cites operates numerous factories an
/ warehouses throughout Denmark. 4