The Washington times., 1907-09-27
DAIRY INQUIRY TO
COVER COUNTRY,
WILSON'S PLAN
Secretary VIII Ask Con-
gress for Money for
investigation.
alarming State Of Affairs
Would Be Disclosed,
Officials Believe.

Convinced by the results OF the in
lvestigation into the diaries and dairy
products OF Washington, Secretary VIII
son will ask Congress for authority and
lnoney 10 make a thorough investigation
liato the sanitary conditions OF dairy
products in Interstate commerce In
case authority is granted. the Depart
ment OF Agriculture will undoubtedly
go to the Bottom OF this question and
will throw needed light on the character
OF the milk. cream. butter, cheese. and
other dairy products in common use in
the States and Territories.
Ordinarily. milk and cream are the
dairy products spoken OF as dangerous
in their capacity for the carrying OF
germs OF tuberculosis. typhoid. scarlet
fever. diphtheria, and. other communlc-
able diseases. But other dairy products
are as dangerous Butter and cheese
are excellent media for carrying disease
green's from place TO place. and often
do so. and the only safety in dairy
products in general is in the observance
OF careful sanitation.
Inquiry Partly Begun.
Something has already been done by
the Department OF Agriculture by way
OF inquiry into the sanitary. state or
milk and cream supplies The chief
thing accomplished by the Department
of Agriculture has been the investigation
into the sanitary condition Of milk and
cream sold in the District Of Columbia
Also. something has been done by way
OF inquiry into conditions Of dairy pro-
Il
some insight into these conditions has
also been gained through meat inspec-
ton. But what Secretary Wilson wants
IS a thorough. nationwide investigation
OF che condition OF dairy products in
order that. II necessary. steps can De
taken BY the department to protect the
public health from disease-la6en milk,
cream. butter. cheese. and the like
The pure food law gives the Govern
ment large authority over food products
in general. and SHOULD an investigation
show bad conditions in the dairy indus
try, II may be that the pure food law
would give sufficient authority 70 cor
rect them. but it Is proba bic some
specific application 20 keeping dairy
products pure would come about
Scope of Examination.
secretary NiASDns II ArellEIeE6 COIL
SCENTS. will have veterinarians examine
into the condition Of dairy cattle in a
large number Of places-how they are
kept. what are their surroundings,
whether taey drink gerin-iaden water,
and whether they have tuberculosis or
other diseases. Conditions in creamer-
ies. diaries. on farms. in stores where
dairy products are sold. whether dairy
employees are free from disease. and like
matters. will be examined into over a
wide area. and in enough localities 10
afford information representative Of con-
ditions the country over.
The revelations concerning conditions
Sn the District OF Columbia were s1lch
that there Is not much doubt a wide-
spread interstate Investigation would
bring alarming revelations.
Secretary Wilson is taking a personal
5nterest in the dairy products inquiry.
He believes Congress should authorize
a thorough Investigation. He was
shocked at the revelations concerning
some OF the practices i'm the District.
He viii not ask Congress for a large
SUN OF money. as he can carry on the
enquiry with his present force.