El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-14
TAFT'S MESSAGE
ON LIVING COST
Continued from ~ p

-
Continued from page II
ed by the continued rise IN the price
Of food products, many of the com
mOdities having advanced far above all
previous records The average retail
prices prevailing in 81 OF the principal
cities OF Germany were given
In Holland the consul at Amsterdam
quoted an official agricultural report
covering such articles as beef, pork,
eggs, butter, ham, and wheat which
showed that the Increase IN prices had
ranged from l6 to IS per cent in the
~ years Following 1888. Reports from
consular officers IN the other countries
showed similar advances.
English Cooperative Association
Much interest attaches TO the CO.
operative associations in England The
aided by. the parent society In nego1-
atoms with railway companies, govern
ment departments and business houses.
Supplies OF all kinds are purchased
jointly at wholesale. Farm produce IS
graded and distributed through means
Of depOts maintained in neighbOring
towns or through selling agents Mar
kets are visited by agents who inform
the members as to the quality and
price Of produce.
The Cooperative Union located at
Manchester has contributed greatly to
the formation and growth of COOpera-
tive societies generally. The objects
OF the union are a diffusion OF inform
alton in regard to the movement and
the assistance Of individual societies.
II maintains committees on education
joint propaganda, legislation, exhibit
tons, trade uniOnism, credit training,
and legal defense.
The Development OF cooperation in
the United Kingdom is continuing at
a fair rate although not so rapidly as
IN the earlier years The growth thus
Tar has been confined to the wage
An analysis Of the reports Of the con-
sular officers on cooperative societies
ana similar associations N the United
Kingdom was made by the Bureau Of
Trade Relations OF the department OF
state and is transmitted with the full
text OF the reports. This reviews the
movement as a whole and gives many
interesting details. Among other act
tvlties, many OF the societies under
take to insure either their corporate
property or the property or lives OF
their members against various contin-
gencies. In other instances they simply
act as agents for established insur-
ance organizations. Some OrganiZa-
tions have a plan whereby members
are insured automatically to the
amount Of their average annual pur-
chases during the three years preced-
iEg DEATH thus setting up an addition
al inducement for trading at the So
cieties' stores A reserve fund is main
talned by nearly all the societies. This
fund Is provided for by the segrega-
ton OF q low percentage Of the sur
plus profits which may be drawn up
on In emergencies at the discretion Of
the directors Most societies provide
instruction In accOuntancy, the prin-
ciples OF cooperation. economics with
reference 10 betterment problems. In
dustrial history, administrative science
and cognate subjects. Lectures and
other entertainments are frequently
provided and circulating Libraries and
reading rooms are maintained Many Of
the associations provide an annual out
ing for their members. These outings
are paid for out Of the reserve funds
Various cooperative societies have
arrangements with doctors, dentists,
ana artisans by which members secure
dividend checks when patrOnizing them
In other words a commission is allowed
to the societies by the parties with
whom the arrangements are made in
consideration Of the patronage afford
Many cooperators are members Of
labor unions and there has been a pos
slDiIty that the two movements would
to some extent coalesce- UD to the
present time, however, although the
cooperative Union has committee on
labor uniOnism and the two move
ments send representatives to each
others conventions there has heen no
active aid or official cooperation be-
tween them.
A number of the consular reports de-
scribe the .semipriTate cooperation
concerns which are patterned to
=
dale and allied systems. The most
important Of these is the Civil Ser
vice supply association. which origin
ated among employees Of the postof-
flee department who dubbed together
to secure wholesale rates on the more
common household supplies. The ex-
pertinent was an immediate success
and other governmental employees
Joined the movement The Civil Serv-
ice supply association established the
urst department stores in London
which after many years were opened to
the general public. Its sales now an
prOximate $4,000. 600 annually No
dividends are paid. The Army and Navy
stores are operated on the same gem
eral lines as the Civil Service Supply
association
Pitney Confirmed.
Mahlon Pitneyy chancellor OF the
state of New Jersey. president Taft.s
nominee to succeed the late justice
Harlan on the supreme court bench.
was confirmed today by the senate by
a vote OF 50 to 26. Justice Pitney win
come to Washington Monday
Cummins Urges Wool Revision.
At an informal ronferanca % 4ba