Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-23
SUBSTITUTE BILLS
DIR. WooDWARD'S SUGGESTION
REGARDING MILK INSPECTION.
Wants Two Measures Enacted in Lieu
of One Pending-Commis-
sioners Endorsement.

The Commissioners have received a re-
port from DR.. William c. Woodward, health
officer relative to Senator Stewards Dill
providing for a new milk inspection force
and for new requirements respecting the
milk supply in the District. DR.. woodward
recommends that two bills which he has
prepared be substituted for the bill intro
duced by Senator Stewart. One OF the Dliis
suggested by the health officer provides Tor
a milk inspection force and the other pre-
scribes the rules to protect milk from un-
healthful conditions.
Commissioner Macfarland has recon-
mended to his associates on the board OF
Commissioners that they recommend 10
the Senate committee on the District that
reserving the question as to additional ex-
penditureS required for the increase OF the
inspection force, if there is to be legislation
in the direction indicated, that the substi-
tute bills of the health department ought
to be preferred.
DR.. Woodward's Statement.
DR.. Woodward, in his report on the mat
ter, states that if the proposed bill provid-
ing for a more efficient inspection of dairy
products is enacted it will create within
the health department division to De
known as the dairy division. to be under
competent chief responsible directly to the
health officer. Due provision is made 1or
the organization of the proposed Inspection
force so as to supervise the production ana
care of milk upon the farm rs we'll as the
handling and distribution of milk by the
local merchant. Provision is made, more
over, for the proper organization OF lao-
oratory service both chemical and bacteria
logical 1t is believed that If this proposed
bill be enacted into law the inspection OF
dairy products in this District will be upon
a thoroughly satisfactory basis.
rT,l,, f0r t1ai ,cr n a.
ducts in the District under the proposed
legislation will consist of a chief inspec-
tor, thirteen subordinate inspectors, one
clerk, one skilled laborer. Six OF the IN
spectors shall be qualified veterinary sur
geons and each shall receive a salary OF
81 800 a year. The chief inspector shall
receive an annual salary OF $2,Uvo; I.
subordinate inspectors, who are not We
terinary surgeons, and the clerk shall re-
ceive $1,000 a year, and the skilled Ia
borer shall be paid $500 a year. In order
to provide for the proper meteorological
supervision of dairy products bacteri-
ologist and an assistant bacteriologfst
are to be appointed, with annual salaries
of $4,000 and $1,000, respectively.
The new bill also provides that the title
of the present sanitary and food 1nspec,
tor shall be changed to that of chemist
and he shall be paid salary of $1,000
year.
Production and Sale.
The proposed bill to regulate the pro-
duction and sale Of milk and cream in
the District embodies such legislation as
is deemed necessary to secure thor
oughly satisfactory control of the SAM
tary features of the milk business.
The most important changes which the
passage of the proposed bill will effect are
as follows: To require all milk producers
and dealers to provide and use sufficient
and suitable means for cooling milk and
cream which they handle, and for keeping
the same cold; to require producers of and
dealers in milk and cream to provide their
establishments with apparatus for the
cleaning of receptacles in which milk is
received, kept, stored, measured or de-
livered.
The proposed bill will make the presence
on a dairy farm of a COW which Is in such
condition as to render her milk unfit for
sale prima facie evidence that her milk is
being sold. 1t will, however, make ignor-
ance of the condition of such a COW a legal
defense against any charge which may be
brought If a knowledge Of her condition
could not have been obtained by due dill
gence. The bill undertakes to regulate the
sale of condensed milk, to prevent traffic in
diseased cows for dairy purposes.
The legislation, If enacted will also re-
duce the standard of milk from three and
one-half per cent milk fat to three and one
quarter per cent milk fat and from twelve
per cent total solids 1t will, however fix
a limit in the souring process beyond which
milk may not go and yet be salable simply
as milk. 1t will provide that the farmer
shall report to the health officer such dis
eases as are liable to occur on the prem
1ses and the presence of which endangers
the milk supply therefrom, and it will tend
to prevent the substitution of ordinary milk
or cream for milk or cream from tuber-
culin tested cattle.