Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-05
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT is DOING

rectiy to wholesalers or jobbers after
shipment to city trading centers. Even
the products which the farmer sells at
the nearest railroad station are bought
largely for consumption in cities and
SO are paid for. in most cases, at prices
which are dependent on those prevail
ing in city markets. The city, there
fore. through the operation of city de-
mand in relation to supply. largely de-
:ermines the prices which the farmer
receives for his perishable products
The Office of markets and rural
organization of the department has
taken up as one of it's important
studies city marketing and distribu-
ton. Through this project the aim
of the Office has been to study market
ing conditions in various cities: to de-
termine as accurately as possible the
sources of loss and waste in city mar
keting and the methods by which such
losses and wastes may be eliminated;
to develop general plans for efficient
marketing facilities of various kinds
for cities. and to aid by specific sug-
gestions such cities as may seek as
sistance in improving their marketing
conditions.
The general fault, 1t has been found.
Is the existence of numerous terminals
separated from each other and from
the wholesale district. In some cases
it was found that there are as many as
a score of separate terminals existing
in city. Shipments for given dealer
may arrive at a number of these termi-
nails on the same day. necessitating
much more costly carriage or the en-
ployment of many more statesmen than
would be necessary IL but a single ter
minal for perishables existed and the
wholesale dealer had his store located
conveniently to it. Every extra
handling. every square of extra cart
II 4 ir-
crease the labor cost of marketing.
which must come out of the margin be-
tween the producers selling price and
the consumers buying price.
The aggregate losses and additions
to marketing costs, due to inefficient
terminal facilities, are so great in the
average large city that market spe-
cialists believe it would be a feasible
plan in many instances for the COM
munities to promote and finance sepa-
rate terminal for perishables which
would be connected with all railroads.
The studies that have been made of
the various kinds of market institutions
have enabled the office of markets and
rural organizations to offer an advisory
service to cities. truck growers and
produce dealers organizations. which
has proved very helpful. 1t is said that
this service has been carried on so far
the officials think that the widespread
demand from other places is an indica-
ton of the general interest in market
ing questions.
The bureau Of registration and inforna-
ton Of the National League for Women's
Service and its coop
Women's Work Grating organizations.
=, under the official in
IA VIC wal. dorsement of the De-
y,oryrpapf of 7 oh 10 eppo ord in ma L in
a special registration of women and girls
trained in industrial. commercial. agri-
cultural and professional occupations, who
are ready to serve their country. in order
to have a record CT workers available for
instant service should the present ma
iional emergency demand their assistance
All of the activities of the bureau
which concern the interests Of wage
earning women are subject to the ap-
prevail of the Department of Labor,
which has supervision of the informa-
ton gathered. Recently an Investigator
of the bureau of registration and in
formation visited eleven manufacturing
establishments in eight Connecticut
cities to determine the need Of woman
workers on government contracts. The
report of this investigation indicates
that three of these plants are ready now
to recruit about 1000 woman workers.
Wnlle TWO others Will want J,ouU more
in the event that the government runs
the plants to their full capacity. as the
firms expect will be done. These num-
bers will be greatly increased when
men are called out on the selective draft
and IL the firms are forced to discharge
alien enemy workmen and working
women. All the firms. it is said, ap-
pear to be willing to take inexperienced
women. which makes the task of fitting
non-working women into industry very
Sim nf
companies. according to the report. be-
lieve that there is even now shortage
of labor. that this shortage is bound to
increase in the near future, that they
have exhausted all the available sources
from which wage-earning women have
been previously drawn, and that il more
woman workers are to be recruited for
the present emergency they will have
to come from groups or classes of
women not hitherto identified with the
Industrial world.
Aside from the registration of availa-
BILE woman workers it is the purpose
ton of woman labor and providing
through local committees of the sup
porting organizations for the housing.
care and protection of the groups of
wage-earning women who might be
called in large numbers for emergency
or temporary service away from their
home environment
An investigation has recently been
completed by officials of the Post Office
Department into
Rural Free Mail the rural mail
-, service which, it is
expenditures. said, developed in
dications that gross extravaganza pre-
vailed in it's operation, and revealed
also a multitude of glazing examples
of special favor and privilege.
During the year a revision of the
service, having for it's object the cor
rection of the evils, was conducted in
329 counties and in twenty EIGHT
states. resulting. officials say. in re-
duction of s1.359162 in operating ex-
penses This reduction, together with
that Of s654.2S0 made in like manner
during the last fiscal year. aggregates
$2.013.442. and with such funds all APP
plications for new service or extensions
have been granted by the department
where the requirements have been met.
Officials of the department submitted
an estimate of $49,000.000 for the
maintenance of the rural mail service
for the fiscal year 1918. This amount,
they say, will be ample for this branch
Of the postal service. 1t is 100000
less than the appropriation for 1917.
This reduction is deemed feasible from
the fact that the work of the depart
ment in endeavoring to equalize hours
of labor, eliminate duplication of travel,
unnecessary retraces and all forms of