Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-17
REGARDED WITH FAVOR
OFFER OF NATHAN STRAUS OF
PASTEURIZATION PLANT.
Matter Discussed With Senator Gal
linger and Mr.. mcfarland.
Appropriation Necessary.

Senator Gallinger. chairman of the
senate District committee, and Nathan
Straus held conference this morning
regarding the milk pasteurizing plant
which Mr.. Straus has offered to give to
the Capital city.
| Senator Gallinger expressed himself
as much impressed by the plan of the
New York philanthropist and assured
his visitor that he would give his sup
port to legislation necessary to assure
the maintenance of the plant.
Mr. Stratus explained to some extent
the benefits derived from similar plants
which he has established in New York
city. particularly along the line of re-
ducing infant mortality. Senator CALM
| ger said he was familiar with the work
or the New York plants and the good they
were doing and that he thinks similar
work can be done in this city,
Provision for Maintenance.
The pasteurizing plant, fully equipped,
Is to be established by funds, furnished
by Mr. Straus, but a provision must he
mace tor maintenance. 1t was that mat
ter which specifically came up during the
discussion i'm Senator Gallinger's room
today. Senator Gallinger assured Mr.
Straus that when the matter of provision
Tor maintenance was brought up by the
commissioners to the Senate subcommit-
tee on District appropriations it would
receive careful consideration.
Whlle much blame for the prevalence
or typhoid in the District has been placed
upon the water. the District committee
the milk should be considered as one of
the chief causes. 1t is for this reason
that he Is impressed by the offer of Mr..
Straus.
Mr.. Stratus gave no figures to Senator
Gallinger to indicate the cost of main
tenance of the plant which he proposes
to give the city. Health Officer Wood
ward, 1T was explained, will go to New
York with Mr.. Straus and look over the
plants there At that time. it is expect
ed. some information will be obtained
to show the running expenses.
Calls at District bulIding.
Nathan Straus called OH Commissioner
Mcfarland today to confirm in person
the offer Of a pasteurization plant to the
District of Columbia, but from all that
can be learned from the conference the
city is just as far from accepting it as
1t ever was.
depends, it is understood, on whether or
not the cost of running the plant Is small
enough to suit the '"carvers to the bone"
at the Capitol. There is not much dis
position expressed at the District building
10 take a large estimate to the approp-
carved and dissected into a resemblance
of its former self.
When the New York philanthropist
| made his offer few days ago one Of the
nrst questions asked him by District Of
| ficlals was, What will it cost to run?
Mr.. Straus answered, with disregard for
dollars when human lives were at stake
that the cost depended on the output. and
| that compared to the lives it would save
any cost would be inf1nitesimal in COM
| parisOn.
Merits of Pasteurization.
AS to whether or not pasteurized milk
is really all that its hackers claim and
| that this question governs the acceptance
OF the gift. no one will breathe whisper
TWO of the leading health officials of
the city boil all the milk that comes into
their homes.
Health Inspectors say there is pasteur-
fzing and pasteurizing. Some of the plants
In and around the city operated by pri-
vate dali ymen go through the form of
pasteurizing, according to the inspectors
but merely shock the milk with sudden
blast OF high temperature. Other plants
subject the milk to a higher temperature
for longer time and are more expensive
| and said to be more thorough In their re-
! suits.
When DR.. Woodward collects more in
formation on the subject of municipal
| pasteurizing plants and when Mr. Straus
submits some figures showing what JIG
costs to run the plant which he maintains
| foi charity in New York something may
| be zone.
Assurance Of Appreciation.
During the conference in Mr.. Macfar-
| lands Office the Commissioner assured
Mr.. Straus of his high appreciation of the
philanthropic motives which led TO- the
offer of a plant to make it possible for
every drop of milk used in the District to
be pasteurized. He told Mr.. Sttaus that
the board had never considered a similar
proposition. but that the novelty, of the