The Washington times., 1919-11-20
UNITE T0CUT
LIVING COSTS
Federal Workers, to the Number
Of $4,000, Plan Chain Of
Cooperative Stores Here.


A constitution and plans for tIu-
minent Incorporation, under the laws
Of the District OF Columbia, Of = cen
tral purchasing and distributing plant
for the new Federal Stores. Inc.."
were adopted last night at . meeting
Of representative of Government De-
partments, held In the munitions
building. and presided over by John
F.. Keely, manager Of the War DE-
partment's Cooperative buying store.
Those who attended the meetirS
represented 1900 Government en-
pioyes who have Joined the Federal
Stores, Incorporated and whoss
initiation fees to date represent q
working capital Of more than SIS, 900.
New members for the organization.
which represents q league Of Gov
ernment employees banded together
for the purpose OF lowering the cost
Of living necessities through the med
ium Of cooperative buying. are be-
ing secured At the rate of more than
200 persons q day. Seven stores are
now maintained Independently, deal
ing in food and wearing apparel. and
selling the commodities 1T Wholesale
prices.
Seek Unitea E2srt.
The organisation completed at the
meeting last night provides for q
central buying and distributing plant
which will bind these seven stores
already established. and those in the
process Of estabiiment, into one or
ganisation. The central plant viii
deal directly with the Wholesale man
In H<<<<A
parel, cutting out the middlemen's
profits, and enabling the consumer to
obtain food and clothes at wholesale
prices.
Among those who attended the
meeting last night were Mr.. Keeiy,
who called the meeting and presided:
Commander E. s. Cohey, reprssenting
the Navy Department; George e. Gay
lor. War Department: J. q. Nc0rath,
Treasury Department: George e. Chad
sey, Postonice Department: Louis e.
Doyle, Interstate Commercs Commis-
sion; E. b. White, Department Of
Commerce; and Samuel Oompers,
tr- Labor Department. ". d. Gay
lord Of tho War DepaPtpDeot was
elected chairman of the newly formed
buying and distributing plant
Capital - 11oASoA.
Arrangements already have been
made. II IL stated. for the purchase,
direct from the manufactures, Of goods
representing the necessities of life.
The organisstion II expected to have
q working capital Of more than $780,.
900 within q short time, this capital
representing the fees for membership
In the association paid BY the Govern
ment employees.
A membership In the Federal Stores,
Inc entities one to the privilege Of
buying At wholesale prices all goods
sold II IL expected that the present
strength Of the body. approximately
$4,000 members, will be quadrupled
with the permanent establishment OF
the central buying and distributing
plant.
The War Department store, which
did more than $45. 900 worth of busi-
ness last month, and saved the Gus
toners there 25 per cent In the pur-
chase Of their food and clothing. now
includes the Navy Department, which
will join" formally at q mass meet
ing to be held at 4:30 o'clock tomor-
row afternoon. in the Munitions build
ing; the Federal Trade Commission.
Tariff Commission, State Department.
Civil Service Commission and proba-
bly, the United States Shipping Board.
Employees Of the latter branch of the
Government are expected to Join with
in a few days, although this is not yet
formal.
Low Overhead EXpeAsa.
Stores similar to that maintained
by the War Department are now run
by seven other branches OF the Gov
ernment, while more OF the co-opera-
tive plans are In the way Of being
established within q short time. The
overhead expenses connected with
the maintenance OF the stores IL said
to be not In excess OF per cent of
the cost Of the goods sold, this being
consumed in wages paid clerks. The
buildings where the stores are housed
are donated by the Government
The organization formed last night
Is to be composed. in it's hnal mem
bership, Of . buyer from each Govern
ment store. The central purchasing
and distributing agency, which will
deal with the manufacturer, 10 said
to be the best plan so far found by
Government employees for lowering
the cost OF living necessities. Patrons
OF the Government stores now are
able to secure food and clothing at
% per cent below the cost of similar
articles in Washington commercial