Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-05-07
Second Installment of Con
sular Investigation Re-
suits to Congress
EUROPE EXAMPLE C|TEO
DECLARED ADVANCE ~ NFCES.
SI1IFS HAVE AUGMENTED
MEMBERSHIP or Cc-Op-
ERNTIVE SOCIETHS
BY Associated Press.

w fN'HRNteANN 'sNRe
Washington. H. C., May 6.-Presi-
dent Taft today sent to Congress the
second installment of the reports OF
consular officers on cooperation and
the cost of living which are the re-
suit of the investigation he some tim,
aeo directed should be made. The
countries included in this installment
are France, Belgium, the Netherlands
and Denmark. The reports are ac-
companied by letter from Hunting
ton Wilson. Acting Secretary of State.
II appears from the information
collected, the Acting Secretary says.
that the rising cost of living has
directed attention to and augmented
the membership of rhe cooperative
societies more especially In France
and Belgium. The French co-opera-
tive associations are In the main ar
ranged upon the same system as
those in the United Kingdom. Tho
tendency is toward small societies
and the great majority of the associ-
.ations represent groceries and bak-
.eries. The most successful distribu-
tive societies are In the manufactur-
Ing cities OF northeastern and cen
tral France Among these societies
relief funds are administered and in
snrance against illness and enforced
non-cmployment is supplied. Ar.
rangements are made with dentists.
doctors and artisans for their serv
ices by members on commlssiol a
basis -
The operation of the agricultural
societies has been especially succcss
ful in Southern France The French
government has given encourage
ment to these societies bv furnishing
export advice granting subyentions.
iand permitting long term loans by
agricultural credit associations. The
general buying is done principally
through district unions. llirh grade
farm machinery such as is beyond
the reach Of many individual mem
hers is purchased from the surpluses
OF Is loaned tratuitously or upon tho
lpavmcnt OF tominal fees
Goyernmoht employees are TO A
large extent organized into co.opera
luNe societici Many OF the associa-
lions are affiliated with lator unions
that restricWheir membership 10 per.
lscns engagf in a given occupation.
In resart TO industrial co-opora.
tive production II appears that plants
loWned and tperated by the operative
are not common in France IN
Lyons, for Example. the enterprise is
conducted by SOCIETIES composed Of
their own Veratives, inclrdmg prin
ING and ctraving. building. plumh
ing tailor D. weaving tanning. car.
renteriuc haper hanging. the making
OF nastchfri boxes and tho maitiul
Of .netalHtmrniture.
Tho cot Iar report. state that ,h.
French I'd operative sociatic- uggall,
gcll al prbs which are neither hirh.
er nor Pc than those of pr.yaf,
stores ~ that they have a 'cndenc,
TO keep t'Ces troughout the dietric'
where z y are located down 10 .
I lair love a. we'll as 10 enhance ths
purity 10 quality OF the goods The
degree deduction In the rCst Of DIS
g ing is fost wholly contingent upo'
S the cana li'v and the altrusm Of th,
- manaectr. of the respective l.s
l. tricts.
= In Btium the consular report
: state. ab barre proportion uf tho 60
y lorerau societies sell al prices love-
than z lsc of tn" regular markets
> allowr onl, members tc purchase
y and hat only nominal profits 10 dis
= tributcI NanS societies guarantee
u 9 per fnt dividend on all purchase
- and dtribnte all remaining profit
to vaIus funds for Insurance. peu
: sions Iirike relief. indemnities 70
v injuri and the like The cousula
'c report state that the virtual begin
/. ming bf the general co-operati,'
y movetnj in Belginm Is said 10 hay'
- been ne 10 the growth Of the vari
- ous SoiaIistic and labor parties II
y lSsgb brd the years following Tn
y soci tstic societies are reported q
n ha,a ao affiliation with the Interna
We toni Cooperative Alliance TIT
:. dcvs pment Of many OF the agricul
OF turt oo-onerative societies has bee
~ add very greatly bv the clerica
r- paf the league Of church societie
er rojrlsirg $50 associations.