Evening star., 1914-08-21


for the high cost Of living. John H. sher-
man. District superintendent Of weights.
measures and markets, today addressed
the second Of the tri-weekly household
ers' meetings in the interest Of the conn
munity league plan to reduce prices
through wholesale buying.
Every seat In the boardroom of the mu-
nicipal building was occupied when Mr..
Sherman opened the meeting at IL
o'clock. He took to task citizens who
create demand for products out Of sea-
son and who are responsible for the more
or, less standardizing of luxurious meth
DDS of marketing, which have had the ef-
feet Of advancing prices.
There probably will be no substantial
reduction in the cost Of foods. he said.
because Of the constantly increasing
numbers that must be fed, but further
advances may be arrested through the
adoption of comparative market sys-
TEN which will reduce the cost of distri-
button.
The speaker declared that the house,
wife must return to the basket-carry-
ing style or she may expect to see eggs
sell eventually at 81 dozen and an
advance in prices all along the line.
Community League Temporary.
The community league plan, he as
serted, is designed to afford only tenn
porary relief and probably will cease to
be popular after the present food crisis
is passed. It will then be up to Congress
to provide for the establishment here of
q comprehensive municipal market sys-
tenn which will serve as model for the
whole country and practically preclude
the possibility OF future crises.
Mr.. Sherman went into the details Of
community league organization, again
recommending that the wholesale buy
inS groups be composed of from three
to ten families. He stated that the
leagues must be conducted on a strict
cash basis and that supplies should
be delivered on the days that they are
purchased.
He suggested several "don'ts,' for the
suggestion that dealers should not be
considered crooks
my faith in human nature has been
greatly increased since I have been su-
and markets department" Mr.. Sherman
said. There is very little deliberate
crookedness among Washington dealers
You can count on their fundamental hon.
esty."
Shop early was another bit Of advice
offered by the speaker. He stated that
many housekeepers order supplies for
luncheon over the telephone between the
hours Of and 10 o'clock. and that this
method Of marketing has added to the
high cost Of living problem.
Women Address Meeting.
Preceding Mr.. Sherman's talk. Mrs. El-
lis Logan, Mrs. Charlton M. Clark and
other Washington women, who are in
terested in the efforts Of the District gov
ernment to bring relief to high-priced-
food sufferers, addressed the meeting.
Each Of the women was requested to
name the prices she had paid for foods.
and the localities in which bought. Mrs.
Logan declared that there was a great
variation Of prices paid for the same
quality Of goods.
The question also came up as to
whether 1t was better to deal the year
around with one merchant, or to take
the basket on the arm and go to mar
ket, where selection could be made Of
the best goods at the most reasonable
price. The decision was unanimous
that the women should tour the
market.
Reports reaching the weights, meas
ures and markets department today
indicate that the wholesale buying
plan recommended by the local au-
thorities is being carried into effect
another large crowd of housekeepers
will be on hand for the third lecture,
which will be delivered Monday morn
ing. beginning at IL o'clock.
Will Discuss Community Buying.
Solving the high cost Of food prod
ucts by community buying as outlined
by the department Of weights, meas
ures and markets will be discussed to.
night at street meeting under the
auspices Of the socialists at Pennsyl-
vania avenue and sth street southeast
at S:15 o'clock. Benjamin GlassberR
Of New York city and J. I. Pierce viii