Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-17
MANY TO ORGANIZE
HERE IN CAMPAIGN
TO REDUCE H. c. |.
Highway Transport Commit
tee Is Latest in Line for
Cooperative Fight.

Wv 0HSt ]
With Washington swinging into the
third week of it's high ost-of- living
investigation. consumers here are
promised the spectacle of a wholesale
creation of associations, all having as
their object the reduction of food
costs through cooperation.
The latest organization planned.
about which only meager information
is obtainable, is said to be sponsored
by the highway transport committee
of the District. 1t probably will go by
the name of the producers and con-
sumers' exchange, with headquarters
at the municipal fish market, if the
use of that building can be obtained
Its purpose will be to obtain foods
from farmers and producers through
the parcel post and distribute them to
consumers. This concern. according
to reports, will have sufficient fnan-
cial backing to enable it to function
effectively.
Apparently this organization is PLAN
ming to operate much along the lines
mapped out by the Citizens Co-opera-
tive Buying League
Buying League to Meet.
The latter concern, which came into
existence primarily for the purpose OF
distributing surplus--Army foods, will
meet at the Municipal building to-
morrow night to consider permanent
organization. 1t also contempIates
employing the parcel post and using
the fish market as a storage house.
1t is proposed to finance the league
and put it on substantial business
basis
These may be classed as purely citi-
zenS' undertakings. The fair price as
ISOLATION, scheduled to come into ex-
istence at a meeting to be held Thurs
day night in Business High School, will
be of a different order 1t will repre-
sent the effort of the food industry
here to stamp out profiteering and
sta bilize prices
Plea to Congress Suggested.
OF still another order is a plan now
in the making which contemplates the
presentation to Congress of a bill de-
signed to unite the District government
the Post Office Department and the
board of education in sort of part
nership for the purpose of reducing the
cost of living here. Under such an ar
rangement the District would furnish
the storage facilities, the Post Office
Department would provide the trans
portation facilities in the parcel post
and the school board would provide
some sort of machinery for the handling
of orders through the public schools.
This comprehensive plan originates
with those who have been most active
in the development of the so-called
farm -to-table service. which is being
supplied through the medium of the
parcel post and community center
stores in schoolhouses. 1t is not
known whether the proposed bill will
meet with :he favor of the government
officials who would be responsible for
it's enforcement.
Interest in Fair Price Plan.
Speculation is rife as to how much
good may b. accomplished by the
fair price association. to be organized
Thursday. 1t is admitted that some
members OF Clarence Z. Wilson's fair
price committee, which approved the
suggestion, are doubtful as to the
of Ms
sumers have not enthused over the
prospect.
In view of the fact, however. that
dealers here are disclaiming respon-
sibil,ty for high prices, the belief is
held by many that they may use the
fair price association to establish an
alibi to this effect. In other words, it
is proposed that they make their in
voices public, sell on a stipulated
basis or margin and police the trade
gested that they may do these things
SO effectively as to convince the pub
lie that whatever the cause of high
prices the blame cannot be laid on
local merchants.
Dealers are expected to accept the
margin of profits promulgated by the
food Administrations as a war meas
ure. The margins should be greater
in peace times. it is claimed, and. IL
the dealers accept them. it is urged, it
will be proof of their desire to go to
the extreme limit in lowering food
prices.
Want Order Made Permanent.
Suggestions are reaching govern
ment officials to the effect that the
action of the Interstate Commerce
in raising the limit of
parcel post shipments from 20 to 125
pounds as an emergency measure, in
with the distribution Of
Army foods. should be made per-
manent through enactment Of a law
by Consrssi. =