The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-14
CITIZENS To OPEN
COMMUNITY STORE
Connecticut Ave. Association
i. Launches New Project.
n. c. OF L. GETS BODY BLOW
Proposed to Start Cooperative En-
terprise Next Fall.
n. c. OF L. GETS BODY BLOW

Old Man H. c. Of L. was given q
staggering blow by the Connecticut
Avenue Citizens Association last
night when the report Of the public
service committee, recommending the
Establishment of a community store
somewhere between Cleveland Park
and Chevy Chase. was approved.
This is the first attempt ever made
in the District by q citizens sssocis-
ton to lower the cost OF living by or
gained community buying and SELL
inE. Every member OF the associa-
ton has approved the proposed new
enterprise, and 1t is expected that the
Federation of Citizens Associations
will urge the establishment Of such
stores in every association district In
Washington.
The committee which made the re-
port will be enlarged, and details OF
the new enterprise will be worked
out during the summer, so that con-
structive work on the store can be
started early in the fall
Begins On Small Scale.
II Is proposed that the community
store shall deal only in groceries and
meats at FIRST. Ii this proves q saw
ing to the community, the store will
be enlarged TO handle every neces-
sity.
The corporation, OF which every
person who does business with the
store will be a stakeholder, sharing
IN the profits, will be capitalized at
$1,000, and will be operated primarily
for the beneht OF the consumer.
The association does not consider
that the establishment OF the COM
munity store will be an experiment,
for the reason that the community
store has long been operated in Great
Britain and other countries with
great success.
Principles to Be Adopted.
Operation of the store, as outlined
by the public service committee, will
permit OF the incorporation Of the
principles Of
First-ownership and operation by
the purchasers or Vuyers, who fur
nish the capital;
Second-A fixed rate of return
upon the capital stock, probably per
cent:
Third-Democrstic control, one vote
accredited to each stockholder regard
less of the number OF shares OF stock
he holds:
Fourth-Sales at market prices and
distribution of the profits to the pur-
chasers in proportion to the amount
of their purchases.
The AFFAIRS Of the company will be
conducted by q board OF directors and
paid employees.
A store building either will be rent.
ed or constructed.
Looks For Economics.
. The committee believes the COM
munity store not only will furnish the
necessities of life much more chesply
than do the retailers, but will intro
duce economies in the households of
its customers. II a purchaser wishes
TO have his goods delivered. he must
pay for the delivery.
The report was prepared by Simon
l. Nye, chairman; L. J. Johnston, l. F.
Wittmer, and DR.. H. c. Dickinson.
W. B. westlake, president OF the as
sociation, is so sure the enterprise
will pay that he offered to subscribe
for 500 worth OF stock Immediately.
Mr.. Nye, who read the report
pointed out that the price Of food
stuffs has gone up 81 per cent and
that something must be done to curb
excessive profits TO spectators and
middlemen.
He said the distributive system in
Washington had failed.
'"The total cost of distributing com.
modities in Washington is greater
than the total freight paid on incom.
ing goods" Mr.. Nye declared.
Public Document Asked.
Chairmen Of the Senate and House
Committees on Agriculture will be
asked to print the report in the Con.
gressional Record. II will also b
printed as a Congressional document
II the consent Of Congress can be OBJ
tanned.
> special edition OF the Fellow CitI
zen, a monthly magazine published BY
the association, will be issued, In
which the full text OF the report viii
be printed. Two thousand copies viii
be distributed in Chevy Chase anc
vicinity.
More Democracy Urged.
]. c. Crawford was elected dele.
gate to the Federation OF Citizens As.
sociations to succeed DR.. E. A. Bryan
resigned President Westlake wal
elected alternate.
A resolution was adopted urging
the federation to widen its scope oil
organization and conduct itself along
more democratic lines.
at should be made truly represen.
tatiye body, which. I am sorry to say
# is not now" declared President
westlake.
4. r. Varela, Of the Commercial Ma
tional Bank. urged the members e
buy Liberty loan bonds.
George Oliver and John A. Sterrett
were admitted to membership.
The meeting was held in the Army
and Navy Preparatory School. The
meeting was attended by large mum.
Der OF women. Dancing was enjoyed