The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-05-10
FIGHTING HIGH
COST Of LIVING
MERCHANTS OF EUROPEAN coUN.
TRIES FORM SOCIETIES TO
MAKE PRICES FAIR.
CoNsULs TO TAFT
In Lyons. France. Operatives Of Mills
Manage Certain Enterprlses.-
Workmen's Bill
Passed.

Washington, May 8.-President Taft
sent to congress the second INSTALL
ment of the reports of consular Off
GERS on cooperation and the cost Of
living, which are the result of the
investigation he some time ago d.
rected should be made. The countries
included in this installment are
France, Belgium, the Netherlands and
Denmark. The reports are accompan-
led by a letter from Huntington Will
son, acting secretary of state.
The rising cost of living has d.
rected attention to and augmented
the membership of the cooperative
societies more especially in France
and Belgium. The French co-opera-
tive associations are in the main ar
ranging the same system Is those in
the United Kingdom. The tendency
is toward small societies and the
great majority Of the associations rep
resent groceries and bakeries. The
most successful distributive societies
are in the manufacturing cities of
northeastern and central France.
Among these societies relief funds
are administered and insurance
against illness and forced non-employ.
ment 10 supplied.
Arrangements are made with dent
lists, doctors, and artisans for their
services by members on a commission
basis. IS
The operation of the agricultural So
cieties has been especially successful
in southern France. The French gov
eminent has given encouragement to
these societies by furnishing expert
advice. granting subventions, and per-
hitting long term loans by agricul-
tural credit, associations. The gener-
al buying is done principally through
district unions.
The consular reports state that the
French cooperative societies usually
sell at prices which are neither high
err 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 a fair
level, as well as to enhance the purity
and quality of the goods. N
In Belgium, the consular reports
state, a large proportion of the CO.
operative societies sell at prices low
err than those of the regular markets.
allowing only members to purchase.
and have only minimal profits to dis
tribute. Many societies guarantee q
6 per cent dividend on all purchases.
In the Netherlands the cooperative
movement has had its largest growth
since 1890. The associations include
domestic supplies. agricultural sup.
plies. creameries. farmers loan banks
and savings banks. A cash basis is
strictly maintained. The annual divi-
dends returned to the purchasers
average between 8 and 10 per cent.
In Denmark, sales are confined to
members Of the cooperative societies
unless the latter wish to subject them
selves to taxation. At present the
average dividends range from S per
cent to Taper cont. The statement is
made in the consular reports that the
prices charged by private dealers are
kept down.
The workmen's compensation bill
was passed In the senate ga to IS. sub
stantially as framed by the employ
ers' liability commission and amended
only to increase it's benefits. Il
In general, the bill provides an ex-
elusive remedy and compensation for
accidental disability or death to en-
ployes Of railroads in interstate CON-
merce against results or injury in
employment without reference to con.
tributary negligence or any Of the
rules of common law limiting employ
er's liability.
viii discuss Sea safety.
An international maritime confer
ence and the immediate equipment Of.
all United States army transports
with life saving apparatus We're pro-
vided for in bills passed unanimous
" by the house.
Il will consider, the broad questions.
Of life saving equipment on merchant
vessels, Investigate the d~esirability Of.
'hahin9 an International patrol fleet