Evening star., 1897-01-23
Arguments Today on the Bill Sug.
gested by DR.. Woodward.
HEARING BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE
Dairy Farmers Object to the Cow
Tagging Scheme.
STANDARD OF RICHNESS


milk bill now pending in Congress. This is
House bill No 9Ga5, ITO further regulate
the sale of milk in the District of Columbia
and FOR other purposes" prepared by the
health officer Of the District and introduced
py Chairman Babcock. Its provisions
have been published heretofore in The
Evening Star.
Mr.. Corbfn Thompson. in behalf of the
Milk Dealers Association, opposed the first
section of the bill. which requires the dairy
permits to expire and be renewed annually
He said this was unnecessary.
Health Officer Woodward, who was pres
ent, held that the requirement is neces-
sary, owing to the inability of the health
over the milkmen under the existing condi-
tions. 1t was suggested to amend the law
so as to provide for the continuance of the
permit until the law is violated.
A Substftute Proposed.
Mr.. Thompson offered a substitute for the
first section to provide that the permit
shall continue until some violation of said
permit. And no new permit shall be
granted to any person unless he can pass a
satisfactory examination as to his fitness
for the same or produces certificate from
a dairy school.
The subcommittee held that this was a
very radical provision and would have
to be considered by the committee.
To Tag the Cows.
The next sections were then taken up, as
follows:
Sec. 2. That the health officer of the Dis
trict Of Columbia be, and ne is hereby au-
thorized to cause to be made metal tags,
numbered and stamped with some device
deemed suitable by him. and to cause each
COW from which milk is or is to be supplied
for use in said District to be examined by
veterinary surgeon, and If such COW is
sound and III good health to cause to be
affixed to her one of the tags aforesaid.
No person shall counterfeit or initiate the
tax before provided for, nor put on any
COW any counterfeit or imitation tag nor
without authority of said health officer
move or cause to be removed, either di-
rectly or Indirectly, such tag; nor place or
cause to be placed such tag on any other
COW than the one to which it was affixed
by authority of said health officer. 1t shall
be the duty of the owner of any COW thus
tagged to notify the said health officer i'm
medlately after becoming aware of the loss
of any tag therefrom.
Sec. 3. That after the examination of the
cows at any dairy farm has been made as
herein provided for and the tags have been
affixed to such of them as are sound and
In good health 1t shall be unlawful for the
written permit from the health officer of
the District of Columbia, to have or keep
thereon any milch COW not tagged as here
in provided for, or either directly or indi-
rectly to sell, exchange or deliver, or to
nave IN his possession with intent to sell,
exchange or deliver, or to send or bring
into the District Of Columbia any milk
from any cow not tagged as aforesaid
Every permit hereafter issued to send or
bring milk into the District of Columbia
shall be conditioned upon compliance with
the provisions of this section.
Under the Agricultural Department..
Mr.. Thompson opposed these two sections
and offered a substitute for the same, pre-
pared by the Milk Dealers Association,
placing the inspection under the bureau
of animal industry of the Agricultural
Department.
Mr.. Thompson in support of his amend
ment said 1t was a practical suggestion
TO meet the conditions. The health officer
OF the District was not a practical dairy
man, whereas the bureau of animal indus
try could take practical cognizance of the
matter.
DIR. Woodward supported his tag system,
as proposed by the bill. which, he said,
was in operation in Minneapolis. The su-
preme court Of Minnesota had upheld the
validity of the tag law.
Mr.. Thompson said that under the tag
provision the farmer could sell his diseased
cow for meat. He cited recent case
where milk cow was found diseased, AMI
the farmer prohibited from milking it.
He then sold 1t for So, and the diseased
COW has since been cut up and consumed
by the citizens of Washington. Under the
proposed substitute the COW would be kill
ed and destroyed by the bureau of animal
industry.
DR.. Busey's Remarks.
DR.. Busey said that inspection is abso-
lutely necessary IL pure milk Is desired.
There is no doubt that disease is conveyed
by impure meat and milk. He was startled
by the suggestion Of Mr.. Thompson that
condemned cows are killed and sold for
meat in this city. There are more diseases
conveyed by impure milk and meat than
through any other source. and this is espe-
cially SO with children under five years of
age. The health Office has already found
in samples Of local milk enough excremen-
titfous matter to convey disease to every
person who used that milk. In the trans
missien of diphtheria, typhoid fever and
He wanted to see the health office of the
District placed upon the very highest
plane. At present the milk inspection law
is rendered practically imperative by the
insertion of the word knowingly in the
clause relating to the sale OF impure milk
1t must be proven that the dealer knew
the milk was impure.
well, We want law that we can live
UNDER" said Mr.. Thompson.
ihat Is al, very well" said DR.. Busey
but at the same time the consumers Of
your milk want to live also"
thousands of people are living under
the law, said Mr.. Thompson.
But you don't count those who die"
said DR.. Busey.
Mr. Thompson said that children die also
from lactated milks and artificial foods.
That Is true" said DR.. Busey, and a bill
is now pending In Congress to regulate the
sale OF drugs and foods in the District. At
the same time, the fact that hundreds die
from artificial food does not disprove the
TACT that thousands die from bad milk
DIR. kober Gives His Views,
DR.. Kober addressed the committee IN
fav.r of stringent milk inspection laws
He said 1t would not be right to reduce
the general standard OF milk, because it
would put premium upon the production
of poor milk.
Mr.. Thompson said that the large herds
OF dairy cattle in the vicinity of washing
ton are In good condition, and that the
ard.
Coming to section Is, which provides
that prosecutions under this act shall he
In the Police Court Of the District OF CO.
lumbia, st the instance OF the health Of
fcer, on information signed by the attor-
ney for said District or one Of his assist