Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-02
Plan TO CUT COST
Of tN|NGFOR POOR
Wholesale Prices on Credit
Basis Scheme of Sherman
and Faust.
CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS
WILL BE ASKED FOR AID
Capitals Families in Practically Des.
titute Circumstances Would Be
Able to Obtain Food.

Immediate steps to reduce cost OF ltv.
ing will be afforded hundreds of poor
. families in Washington If plans being
made by John H. Sherman. District
superintendent of weights. measures
and markets, and ]. w. Faust, acting
general secretary of the Associated
Charities, materialiZe.
1t is proposed to solicit the aid OF
charitable organizations to the enc
that families in practically destitute
circumstances may obtain food supplies
not only at wholesale prices, but on a
credit basis.
When Supt. Sherman suggested the
organization of community leagues
as means of enabling consumers to
obtain produce at wholesale rates, he
pointed out that the leagues must be
maintained on a cash basis If they were
to be success.
Conditions Preclude Success.
In the poorer sections of the city com.
munity leagues" have been practically an
impossibility, for the reason that condi-
tons preclude their maintenance on a
cash basis.
To meet this situation It is now pro
posed that charitable organizations take
the initiative in organizing the leagues
and that they advance the money for the
purchase of food supplies. so that credit
may be extended to many poor families
In other words, organizations engaged
IN charitable work are to be asked t.
finance the community league" plan for
the benefit of poor families until the
crisis is passed.
Conferences are being held daily be-
mt
view of bringing about the proposed
extension of the wholesale buying method.
1t is expected that the credit scheme will
be installed in numerous localities within
the next week or ten days.
Produce Sells Cheap.
According to statements made today
by Mr.. Sherman at the regular Wednes
day consumers conference held in the
District building, produce is now selling
in the local markets at cheaper prices
than in several years. The supply Is
plentiful, and promises to continue so fol-
some time.
Information received by the weight.
and measures official is to the effect thai
more than 900 community leagues have
been organized. and are a considerab biz
factor in the buying on both the munich
pal fish and Haskell produce markets.
Indictments Are Expected Here.
Grand jury indictments on account OF
the manipulation of food prices in the
District of Columbia, since. the beginning
of the European conflict, are expected
from the local grand jury tomorrow. ac-
cording to information, declared not to
be official, received by officials of the De-
partment of Justice. The officials de-
clared that they are without direct In
formation from the local District at
torney's office. and their only informa-
ton is meager reports which have drifted
into the Attorney Generals headquarters
Reports of conditions found during the
investigation of food price raises by the
investigating force of the Department OF
Justice are now beginning to pour into
the department. These official reports
are being compiled and tabulated in the
departments bureau of investigation
Necessarily a big task. it will be severa
weeks before the conditions are laid be.
fore the Attorney General, and that off
cial will Immediately send them to the
President. who ordered the investigation
| when reports began to come to him OF
raises in the prices of foodstuffs which
were being blamed on the war in Eu
rope.