Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-09
MILK DEALERS HEARD
THE MATTER OF CLEANSING OF
DELIVERY CANS DISCUSSED.
Proposed Regulation to Require Local
Handlers of Milk to Care
for Receptacles.

Quite wide divergence of opinion de-
vsloped at the hearing granted this morn
ing by the District Commissioners to the
milk dealers who wished to protest against
the proposed regulation requiring city deal
ers to clean the cans in which they receive
milk from the country producers. Some of
the dealers appearing at the hearing claim
ed that to clean the cans would put upon
them an additional expense amounting to
10 per cent of their net receipts. while
others contended that they had always
cleaned their cans before returning them to
the dairy farms and that the additional ex-
pense was hardly worth mentioning.
1t was apparent that there is considerable
feeling among the milk dealers, and at
times there were flashes of sarcasm and
hints as to the manner of conducting the
milk business that enlivened the proceed
ingS materially.
The general drift of the hearing pointed
to the framing of regulation which will
require the local dealers to rinse the cans,
leaving the more thorough cleaning and
Steaming to be done at the dairy farms, as
at present The dairy farmers have bitter
ly complained to the Commissioners of the
manner in which their cans are treated cy
the city dealers.
1t was brought out that the city dealers
often leave portion of milk in the big
shipping cans. In the summer this quickly
the purified matter becomes possessed of
animal life. In cases where the city deal
ers deliver milk to hotels, boarding houses,
or ice cream establishments in the whole
sale shipping cans, these cans are often
filled with objectionable garbage and re-
turned to the dairy farms in that condition.
If the regulation shall be allowed to go
into effect penalty will unquestionably be
included for milk dealers found with filthy
cans in their possession.
From Scientific Standnoint
The first speaker at the hearing was Mr..
G. e. Gordon of the Walker-Gordon Ia
boratory who spoke for the dealers on the
scientific points in question. He alleged
that no pathologist could show that sour
milk had ever been injurious to anyone. On
the contrary. he declared, great and in
creaSing business had grown up for the
purpose of providing sick people and con-
valescents with milk products principally
sour. The dealers use sweet milk because
it is desired by their customers, not because
of any superior healthfulness. Mr. Gordon
denied that 1T had ever been proved that
tuberculosis could be transmitted from bO-
vines to human beings. Before the Com
missioners promulgated regulation which
would encroach 10 per cent upon the al
ready meager earnings of the city milk
dealers. he declared they should first prove
that dirty cans and sour milk are menace
to the public health.
DIRTY milk cans may be injurious to the
public nose" said Mr.. Gordon, but ito
more than sauer kraut or limberger
cheese. Yet no one denounces the kraut
or the cheese as dangerous to the public
health. If this is a matter of smell then
so well and good; but if it be health
measure the authorities should first prove
that injury results from sour milk
DR.. Woodward. the health officer, asked
Mr. Gordon If his firm did not thoroughly
wash their milk cans before returning them
to the country. He admitted that the cans
were washed and sterilized. The majority
of dealers, however, did not appeal to the
medical trade
Wants Word Construed.
Mr.. Corbin Thompson. the milk dealer
who first requested the hearing, said he
desired to know what construction the au-
therities intended placing on the word
cleaning" If the dealers were to rinse
the cans only it would be comparatively
easy matter, but to thoroughly wash and
and expense. Mr.. Thompson contended
that the grease in the milk preserved the
cans from rust. He claimed also that 1t
would be an unwarranted hardship to re-
quire the Washington milk dealers to wash
the cans of the Maryland and Virginia
farmers shipping milk into this city.
DR., Woodward. the health officer, ex-
planned that the idea of the authorities is
to have the cans rinsed free Of milk when
they are first emptied. 1t was not proposed
that they should be steamed and sterilized
in this city, that work Is done at The
dairy farms, and would continue to be done
there. When the cans are received at the
dairy farms in the filthy condition often
described. however, it takes days to clean
and sweeten them. When the dairyman
runs short of cans, as he must when the
dealers keep them in town for days at a
time. then he has to refill and ship the
dirty cans right away.
Disputes Health Department.
Mr.. Thompson declared that the state
ment Of the health department that mag
gots and such things were found in the
cans was too remote for discussion, and
could not find Judgment in the brain of any
sensible man.
Upon finishing this declaration Mr.
Thompson was assailed with questions
fl ON all sides. Several inspectors and vet
Urinary surgeons of the health department
Immediately contradicted him. and one Of
the milk producers from the country arose
to remark that he had received a can back
from. the city with worms In 1t an inch
long.
The several inspectors of the health de-
partment then testified in turn, and each
told of the filth often found in the cans.
The farmers told of their troubles Cues
tons by Mr.. West brought out the fact
fore refillfng them for shipping fresh milk
into the city. Mr.. Thompson thereupon
remarked that 1t was evident the District
was protected.
The question then arose as to the number
of dealers in the city who make a prac-
to state that they did SO. and found the
system an emphatic success. They never
had complaints of sour milk.
The Commissioners took the matter I'M