The Washington herald., 1907-05-02
FEARS MILK FAMINE
Mr. HOrner Protests Against
Proposed Rules.
PRESENT LAWS SUFFICIENT
Or. Wiley, In Reply Declares the
Agitation for Improvement in the
Diaries VIII BE Productive of
GOOd-COmmitfee Submits RECON-
mendatIons for TubereuIin Test.


ing the condition of the milk supply does
not cease there will be a milk famine In
Washington. the Ike OF which has never
been known before. r. II. Homer,
member of the milk commission, and one
Of the largest milk dealers Ia the city,
yesterday submitted to the commission a
letter protesting against a number Of
regulations already recommended by the
commission and others. which are still
under consideration
Il am advised by reliable milk dealers
and producters." says MIR Horner. that
they are very tired of having unreasonable
regulations forced upon them, and before
they will submit TO further impositions
they viii go out Of the business entirely;
and, also, that as a result Of this con-
tinued agitation and the strict regula-
tions that are now in force, there have
been several producers or dairymen land
these were men of honor and the purest
type of manhood who have gone out of
the business simply from the constant
nagging they have been subjected to.
Il am speaking now from facts as
see them, and / now have a number of
customers who are afraid TO use milk
because Of this agitation and are suffer-
ing at this moment from the need OF
milk for their children and families. The
public is at this time living in fear that
some dreadful disease win befall them
through the use of milk.
Present Rules Sufficient.
''The regulations now in force in the
District, If properly enforced, IN my judg-
ment are entirely sufficient for the pro-
lection of the public, and now more strict
than are absolutely necessary for its pro-
lection. Reasonable regulations should
be made upon reasonable probabilities,
and not upon theories alone which could
never be put in practice"
With regard to the recommendation
of the commission that milk should not
be cooled above the maximum tempera-
ture of 50 degrees, Mr.. HoTner stated
that this temperature is too low by al
least or 10 degrees. and that IS or S.
degrees is low enough to reduce the milk
to keep IL perfectly sweet. provided tbs
milk is cooled Immediately after being
taken from the Individual COW.
There is not one farmer in fifty
said he. who could cool his milk Il
fifty degrees. as il would mean that M
would be compelled to provide an ice
house OF cold storage facilities, and, II
this climate. it Is practically impossible
for a farmer 10 have these things unles,
he goes TO a great deal of additional ex
pense, which he could not afford to dC
at the present price of milk. and no one
would be benefited"
DIR. Wiley Replies.
In replying to Mr.. Horners letters
DR.. Wiley. chief OF the Bureau of Chem
istry. Agricultural Department, said tina
he believed that the agitation concerning
the milk supply was productive OF grea
good, as it aroused the public 70 IL
sense Of danger in the consumption Of i'm
pure milk.
"The milk commission" said he. 'ha
nothing 10 back its recommendations, eX
cept public opinion, and, in my opinion
the public should be kept informed o
/ its proceedings. There is no man in thi
room who has been subjected 10 NOR
criticism than I. because Of my position
in the matter of pure food. I have beer
heralded as a theorist and alarmist, an,
yet it is by agitation that reforms mus
result"
mission stated that the alarming pre-
valance of disease and the percentag
OF infant mortality has prompted IN
work Of the commission, and in dealing
with the subject the rights Of the deale
and producer, as well as the public, vii
be considered.
In response to an inquiry from Col
/ Charles NewbOid as TO what rec0mpense
/ if any. the producer is TO receive in re
turn for the cattle slaughtered which hav
been found by the tuberculin test to D
/ suffering from tuberculosis, Gen. Stern
/ berg stated that the question Is 20 b
/ considered in the final report to the Com
missioners and by them transmitted 4
Congress.
Upon suggestion of Gen. Sternberg,
/ fourth committee viii be appointed con
/ sisting of the chairman of the variou
committees, the chairman. secretary. an,
| several members OF the Commission no
/ yet decided upon, to discuss. and, if nee
| essary. suggest amendments 10 the vari
/ Gus reports submitted
Recommendations of Committee.
The committee assigned to investigat
! the conditions from hygenic and sanitar.
conditions yesterday submitted its re
port containing the following recommend
atiOns.
/ First That all COWS on dairy farms produein
milk for the District Of Columbia be tagged. tat
toced otherwise marked. for purposes Of identif
| cation
Second That all milk produced on such dair
farms shall come from either tuberailin-tested cai
tle which shall be retssted at least once year, @
be subjected to pasteTizatiOn under the supervisor
I Of the health department In case the herd is nc
! bibercsliin-tested.
Third. That no additions to anE herd. whethe
tested OF not tested, shall be made ia the futuT
| without subjecting such cattle 10 the tuberculi
J sn=A