The Washington herald., 1907-05-05
THE MILK SUPPLY OF WASHINGTON
ALARMING REPORTS NOT JUSTIFIED
Unreasonable Regulations Now Proposed Would
Drive Many Dairymen Out of Business
and Precpitate Milk Famine

upon reasonable probabilities and not
upon theories alone. which could never be
put IN practice; they should be carried out
by inspectors who are just and men OF
good judgment
As 20 the proposed regulation that the
health officer should be authorized 10 pub
lish the list OF dairies from which the
milk supply is drawn. giving the daily
rating OF each dairy, the chemical c0mp0-
sition. and the bacteria account Of the
samples. 1 desire 20 say this principle is
entirely wrong, and would be promoting
the interests Of private concerns and plac-
Ing too much power IN the hands Of the
health officer. 70 the detriment Of his
competitors al this time. The health Off
Ger now has the power 70 revoke permits,
and If the milk is dangerous and unfit for
sale. il is hts duty 10 do so. and by proper
inspection this milk can BE tested. and the
dairies arc always open for Inspection at
all times TO any of the District officials
who have authority. II / thought, as
some OF the theorists claim. that we were
killing children with our milk. then all
dairies should be closed By the health
officer, and 1 would, without cOmpuislon,
quit this business at once.
! am advised by reliable milk producers
that they are very tired OF having unTea-
E
and before they viii submit 10 further
imposition they VIII go out OF the busi-
ness entirely; and, also. as a result OF
this continued agitation and the strict
regulations that are now IN force, there
have been several producers OF dairymen
(and these were men OF honor and the
purest type of manhood who have gone
out of the business simply from the con-
stant nagging they have been subjected
TO. The public in general must suffer II
the health department does not cease this
agitation over impure milk. without any
grounds therefor This Is very lmpoT-
tant question not only 10 the daiTymeu.
but 10 the public, when the lives OF our
children and our families are at stake.
/ am speaking now from facts as / See
them, and ] now have a number or Gus
toners who are afraid 10 use milk be-
cause of this agitation. and are suuerlng
at this moment from the need OF Tnllk iof
their children and families II they do
use the milk it does not do them the same
good for If they have an ache or pain then
they Immediately assign the cause 20 the
milk. The public al this time IS living Ia
fear of some dreadful disease that might
befall them through the use Of milk which
is now being served them
Let as 90 about this milk question in
the right way, and not have so much said
about the question so as TO alarm the peo-
DIE. Ii is wrong. The public is now Suf-
fering. and has been for some time Also
e
the producers viii become more dlssatis-
fed. and will select other means OF "a live
( ilhOod. and I predict that II the agitation
does not cease there viii De "a milk famine
in this city, the Ike OF which has never
been known before. and the public VIII
then be the sufferer
I trust that ] have not offended any
one in this statement. as / have not
meant ofIense to any one. and ] hope YOU
Will present this letter TO the next meet
| ing of the milk commission as my views
! concerning the matter. I do not consider
l this a personal matter, bus a very impcr-
/ tant public question and what I have
said is from my own practical experience
and ] can further assure you that / have
/ the interests of the community at heart
{ for the good OF ali. and my opinion IS thar
! these alarming reports that are being
given out daily 10 the press are very mis-
leading and are doing an immense amount
of harm. They make the public dissaIis-
fed. make the producer dissatisfied and
! do not do any real good that ] cen see to
I the public. Yours very truly,
i. r HORNER.