The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-06-03
MILK PROBERS
FILE REPORTS
Railroads Criticised For Man.
ner In Which They Lease Cars
UNFAIR TO The PRODUCERS

Five Contractors Control Boston Mar
ket and Are Getting Fair Profit,
While Farmer Cannot Make Money
Upon Less Than Four Cents a
Quart For His MiIk-lnspection In
Boston Declared to Be Inefficient
Boston, May 20. -Recommendati
that the present system of leases OF
milk cars to large contractors on the
part of the railroads should be ended
and that the railroads should carry
milk just as all other freight, were
the principal findings made last night
In report by the joint special COM
mittee which has been investigating
the production, transportation and
marketing of milk.
The committee, in a lengthy report,
finds that the five large Boston con-
tractors, if they act together, can ex-
ercise a monopoly over the price paid
to the producers and the prices
CudISGu W Tie
1t finds that the milk inspection In
the city of Boston is manifestly in
efficient and that this work cannot be
satisfactorily done by the health Of
ficials of the cities and towns and
should be vested in a central au-
thority.
The contractors, according to the
report, are getting a fair profit on
the amount of money that they have
invested; the producers, at the prs
ent prices paid, are not, states the re-
port, as the farmer is unable to make
a profit upon less than cents a quart
for his milk.
The railroads are scored for the
manner in which they lease cars to the
contractors, and the lack Of facilities
for the producer to ship his milk in
competition and under the same con-
ditions Is termed intolerable.
The committee finds that the con-
tractors, upon their own admission,
try to restrict the supply by lowering
the price to producers during the
summer months.
The committee favors bill now be-
fore the legislature to repeal four
statutes covering the conduct Of the
milk business in the state, which
would give to the railroad commission
power over the freight of milk.
The committee believes that an in
vestigation should be made of the fiat
rate system" of New York and that
it should be accepted in this state If
it proves to be for the interest of the
public.
Whether there is active competition
among the contractors for markets
the committee finds to be problemat-
cal, but It does find the system of
leasing cars to contractors tends to
restrain competition.
The majority report is signed by
Messrs. Mellen, Warren, Gardner,
Avery and Bean. The minority re- |
ports, submitted by Messrs. Tink- |
ham and Meaney, agree generally |
with the majority report, but both be-
lieve that the present system of In
spection is so inefficient and ineffect-
i've that there should be immediate
corrective legislation.
Senator Meaney, in addition, be-
lieves that immediate steps should be
taken to correct the present inequali-
ties of the transportation system. He
favors the open car" and the fiat
rate"
The committee was appointed May
and began to hold public hearings at
which all sides of the present milk
controversy were heard, the produc-
ers, the contractors and the consum-
ers.
Besides the hearings, the plants of
the contractors have been visited and
has been made Of the
method of handling milk.