New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-30

the Governors desk and marshalled o powerful
political influence TO secure q veto
Another section describes the character Of milk
which shall be declared aduterated. II The
milk be shown to contain more than SO per cent
OF water or fluids, less than IL per cent OF milk
solids. which shall contain not less than 2.s per
cent OF butter fst-unless the same be sold as
skinned milk or buttermilk-or cream that con-
tans less than 2 per cent OF butter fat, 1t shall
be declared to be adulterated
The selling of skinned milk as fresh milk is
punished by a heavy fine, or Imprisonment OF both
The Municipal Assembly are called upon to appro-
pirate funds fer the enforcement OF this law.
Here is where the political influence OF the local
dairy combine is. The Board Of Health has re-
quested an appropriation of So 900 10 enforce the
law The matter was referred 10 committee
and throttlcd. Meanwhile, in order to head on
the State law, the dairymen introduced an or
dinance in the Municipal Assembly ostensibly to
protect the consumer. but in reality to protect
the diaries, and il went through with a rush and
is now in force. 1t is an ordinance creating the
office of milk inspector and deputy inspector, and
prohibiting the sale OF adulterated milk and
cream" The milk inspector is required to De a
chemist and an expert on milk. 1t is his duty to
anayze any sample OF milk or cream submitted
is found impure he shall report to the Health De-
partment The ordinance is based on the State
law, except that the valuable provision prohibit
ing the sale of milk produced in city stables from
distillery refuse is omitted. The inspector is
called upon to visit stables and see that they are
kept clean, and that the cows are fed on whole
some food. After this ordinance became a city
law the dairymen dictated the appointment OF
the inspector, and il is a notorious fact that lie
has been with them ever since. When General
Stevenson, the Health Commissioner, asked the
Assembly to appropriate $1,000 Tor the enforce
ment of the State law, the Assembly replied
Why, we have an inspector who Is now acting
under city ordinance, and whose Office costs
$4,000 year. We cannot appropriate $4,000
Tor work that is already paid ior.
During the meantime the sources of supply for
the ST.. Louis consumer are hundreds OF reeklnS
stables scattered along the river ana on the Out
skirts of the city. The farmer cannot compete
with these SHAMELESS IL is true there are two large
ana popular dairies here that distribute the bunk
of the 5000 gallons OF milk that comes IN daily
from the country.
Mr. Charles Cabonne, manager Of the st. Louis
Dairy Company, who maze the successful hgnt III
the Legislature for country milk, says There are
dairy farms around st. LOUIS. The few farm
ers who are engaged in the production of milk
take it up as transient or secondary business
The farmers receive on an average 10 cents
gallon for their milk in the six months of spring
and summer, and IA cents gallon for the
naming SIN months. We deal i'll nothing but
country milk, and our prices wholesale are Is
cents gallon for one or more cans per day, and
90 10 10 cents gallon for cream under the
same conditions. Skinned milk we sell at
cents gallon at the depot, or cents delivered.
We sell just cheap, and frequently undersell
the local stable dairies They can only sell
what they produce therefore the supply as
well as profit is limited. Take Of these diaries
that has say thirty cows tied up in stable in
North st. Louis. The owner can feed for 80 per
cent less than the farmer, but the swill and Stop
that he compels the animals to eat is not pro-
ductlve The farmers COW, fed on wholesome
food, is nearly 80 per cent more prolific than the
Gagged cow. The city dairyman's supply of milk
is limited therefore, and he cannot extend his
business. We handle our milk contracts, and
there is no end to the supply. The item of freight
cuts an important figure with us, but We handle
so large number of cans that we sell country
milk at the same prices that the city producers
sell their swill milk
The scheme of milk supply in this city is
wholly wrong continued Mr.: Cabonne. The
law recently. passed. by the Legislature struck
of the city stables it is already dead letter. |
Even the press has not escaped contamination. |
1t was a newspaper that pushed the State law
through, but 1t refuses now to compel enforce |
ment of the law. We are with the farmer in this |
fight against swill-fed cattle. but at the same
time we take precautions to protect ourselves |
against the farmer. The st. Louis Dairy Com
pany has for eight years employed a competent
chemist and inspector. We have laboratory and
the the annual 1n report for the. last year
cream were analysed We have adopted - per per
cent of solids and 2.s of fat as a minimum below
which pure unskimmed milk should not go. l am
going TO appear to-day as witness before the |
committee Of the Municipal Assembly which has /
the question of an appropriation for the enforce
ment of the State law before it, and | think l
can show why the law should be enforced"
The ST. Louis consumers pay, on an average, 20
cents a gallon for milk in summer, and as high |
as 80 cents in winter. II frequently passes
through three hands, all of which deduct profit |
a ale nd retai
The wholesale supply is furnished to grocery |
stores, baker-shops and saloons, and is then re-
tailed to consumers. The dairymen of st. Louis |
have close organization in which the grievance |
of one is the concern of all. The duty of this !
organization is to give battle to any dairy that |
attempts to buy milk from the farmer who
produces 1t purely and legitimately 1t fights the !
Board of Health and city government whenever /
either comes in conflict with its members. 1t is /
asserted that so potent is the influence Of the |
union that it is political death to any one to run |
counter to their wishes. Perhaps this may ac-
count for the liberation Of stench-prOducing cow
sheds in the most densely populated portions of
the city. There 400 active members of the
St Louis Dairymens Benevolent and Protective
Union. The object Of this union is, according
to the constitution, The advancement and pro-
lection of the business interests of its members:
to oppose hostile legislation; to resist prosecutions
and attacks made on its members either before
the Board of Health or courts of law: to promptly
meet and counterfeit the efforts of designing per
sons to create public sentiment against milk
produced by ST. Louis darymen. second sec
tion says that =" all persons hauling food from
shall be assessed by the Executive Com
mittee; no dairyman shall interfere with the
business of brother dairyman'
Section OF the bylaws says: Whenever any
bill is presented by the State Legislature the
Municipal Assembly affecting the interests Of the
union, it shall be the duty of the attorney Of this
union to ascertain at once the objects ard scope
Of the legislation and notify the president and
the Executive Committee.
The attorneys are also required to watch the
newspapers, and TO answer promptly all articles
tending to cast dscredit on the business Of the
union. The feeding of distllery swill to cows
IS Endorsed, and any attempt TO cut of this supply
Of food is to be resisted. From this it is seen
hat the dairymen's union is well organized and
and, unless the law is enforced, the
who AT lao