Evening journal., 1918-04-08
MERCHANTS consider
delivery PROBLEM
Cooperative Plan TO be
Discussed at Tuesday
Night Meeting
3 DAY LIMIT ON
RETURN PURCHASES

Merchants Of wilmington, 10 con-
formi,y with the request o. the Com
merciai Economy Bosrd Of the Council
OF National Defense. at Washington
viii meet IN the oGlees OF the Chamber
OF Commerce tomorrow evening for ihs
purpose OF considering tle feesblu1y
of introducing q system Of cooperative
delivery in Wilmington. which has peen
recommended urgently by the National
Council. All merchants or tlis city lf-
respective OF their membership in Inc
Mercantile Section Of the Chamber OF
Commerce, have been Invited % attend
this conference. ln view OF lne M
portance Of the subject, both 20 the
merchants and the government, u IS
hoped that there VIII be a lpfGe ana
Representative attendance Of merchants
30 Ell lines.
The Nstioual Council Of Defense de-
sires 20 secure the elimination ot al
forms of unnecessary work, such as the
usual details involved Ia the handling
Of unnecessary G. U. y orders and tie
making OF special deliveries. They urge
| That ail merchants, including retail gro-
GERS. should cooperate, and do not be-
I ncyo that any merchant, in this nsiionst
crisis. should seek 60 gain a special
adysnlege by continuing a seryiee
which Is curiailed by other merchants
Who loyBliy are cooperating With me
plans OF the government for securing
wartime nlcisncy.
The specific recommendations q the
Council o. Nailonal Defense are.
Tirsi-1hat only one delivery a day be
made over each route.
second-That The privilege Of return.
ing merchandise De limited 10 three
DAYS.
Thlrd--That cooperative delivery sys'
tens bo established wherever possible
a careful study made By the CONNER
cial Economy Board has indicated thai
there are more than 10000 men needed
lessly employed IN retail delivery ser
vice in ihe United states; that Is. by
ceri0in readiUs.menis. the merchant.
could permit this number or lnen 20 50
into other employments without incOn
yenlencing themselves or their custom
. ers Realizing TIE need OF conserving
man-p0Vcr. ihe Council Of National De
fense has authorized the board 90 60.
operate with the merchants 10 brineu'
, about these readiustrnents. The obieo
Is 20 prepare the stores 30 that wheI
) the delivery men are drafted they vii
2 not have % be replaced out Of The lin
ted labor supplies available for farm
= ms. munitions making, shipbuilding an
} the Ike, and go that when men en-
E pl0yed In deliveries are more needed j
- lany of these vital industries the mer
3 ch ants VIII not seek 10 retain them.
}. The elaborate service now rendere
b by merchants may be permiss .ble
$ times OF peace, but it can have no righ'
( ful place In a wartime program. n
tail merchants make four and som'
n times six regular deliveries q day. bt
By the exercise Of a reasonable fort
y sight, customers can easily antclpal
q their needs for one day, and order
q that one delivery a day vii. suffice. Ih
j. houd urges that specials be elm
s mated. and that the return privileges D
l restricted. and customers ursed TO max
E careful Inspections ct the time Of luI
+ Chase.
These are critical times. The naiio
d faces a serious situation. Ths Commel
% cisl Economy Board points out 10 r.
tail merchants how they can help. an
j. calls upon all retail merchants overs
E, where for prompt, patriotic co-oper'
u tion in adjusting their business IN al
cordanco with The national need.