Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-12-26
ADOPT cash
AND CARRY
IDAHO FOOD ADMINISTRATOR
GIVES GRoCERS INsTRUC-
TIONS-RADICAL CHANGES
GROCERS IN CONSULTATION
Make Definite Plans at a Meeting To
Be Held Tonight.

In accordance with a letter re-
ceived from r. A. Bicknell U. S.
Food Administrator for Idaho, a
meetin~ of the grocerymen of Bon
ners Ferry was called Thursday night
by County Food Administrator King
at the Herald offices and the neces-
sity Of adopting the cash and carry
plan in this district was thoroughly
discussed. 1t was generally agreed
that the attitude of the government
in regard to the plan left but little
option with the retailers but it was
decided to postpone definite plans
until Wednesday night, December
Goth, when another meeting will be
held.
In his letter Food Administrator
Bicknell stated that recently at a meet
ing held in southern Idaho $50 gro
cerymen unanimously agreed to the
cash and carry" plan. Cutting
out the delivery evil" writes Admin
istrator Bicl1nell, will in the opinion
of the experts release about one hun
dred thousand men in the country
for more important demands their
services incident to the war.
"By cash is meant cash upon de-
livery of the goods and credits are
not to be extended under any con-
dition. By carry is meant that all
deliveries will be cut out except when
paid for by the customer. A charge
of five cents was suggested as the
amount of that charge but no action
wGs taken thereon at the Pocatello
meeting"
The cash and carry" plan has
been recommended by boards of ex-
E.
sion, department of agriculture, food
administration and the war economy
board of the council of national
defense.
"There is no question of the feast
bility of the cash and carry plan,'
said a prominent grocer to the Her
aid yesterday. 1t will denend upon
our customers and a general agree
ment by the grocery firms. The price
of groceries would be cut down no
doubt, for the cost of two or three
deliveries a day and the carrying of
credit accounts are items which add
to the cost of operating expense
and this amount saved on the article.
Of consumption ould be a large one
in the course of year. 1t would
cut down the overhead expense ma
terially. Our customers would have
to submit to ordering their goods
once day and paying for the deliv-
cry. There is no good reason why
housewives cannot order once day
instead of two or three times a day.
The success of the plan would de-
pend of course upon its adoption by
all grocers, for if one gave credit
while the others were selling fer
cash it would work out 4 hardship
TO the cash and carry stores. The
adoption of the plan would resul. in
cutting down the employment of men
for delivering and thus release them
for other work, as the government
cont: H."
Mr.. Bicknell advised that the cash
and carry" plan should inaugurated
by January list but that owing to
the ungovernable conditions to be
found in some districts he would set
January 18th as the latest date for
operating under the plan. He advises
that where a grocer is found to be
violating the regulation measures
will be taken to warn him and if he
continues he will be appropriately
handled by the government.
The grocers of Boomers Ferry hope
to be able to arrange a regular de-
livery system whereby the patrons of
all stores may be given adequate
service of perhaps once a day. The
service may be cut to three days a
week. In any event the purchaser
will have to pay for deliveries.
The meat markets of the city will
also be asked to participate in the
leash and carry" plan and all the
stores of the rural districts will be
advised in the near future Of the
new requirements.