The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-28


That the special committee appointed by
the Chamber or Commerce 10 investigate
the milk supply OF Washington has I'M
dertaken an investigation which Will
involve a. report intended 10 be the last
word on this difficult problem. developed
yesterday afternoon at the third session
OF the committee, when Chairman Louis
Willige announced that the committee
would next begin the compilation OF a
symposium, In which health officials.
chemists producers. and dealers in all
parts OF the world will be participants.
The work will cover several months. and
it is not expected that the final report OF
the committee Will be ready before the
| summer OF 1919.
The work Of the committee has Veered
j from considering the private quarrels OF
dealers and the health department 70 the
consideration Of one OF the most inn
poTtant problems of a citys food sup
ply. Whether the dealers have been I'M
justly treated by the city health Off
cials in an attempt 10 purify the milk
supply, or whether they have invited the
quarrel by maintaining insanitary depots,
is "a question which has been dropped
! by the committee.
According 20 the statements OF the
/ several members of the committee. the
testimony presented at the FIRST two ses-
! sions is the cause for the change in the
| character of the investigation. A. s.
Trundie, a dealer, placed before the com
/ mi tee figures from the health depart
| mcnt reports upon the mortality OF in
q IL
10 show them Incorrect thereby invali-
dating whatever testimony the depart
ment might introduce 10 show impure
milk responsible for the high iafanrile
| death rate.
Woodward Hits Back.
For the health department. Or. Wood
ward retaliated by placing before the
| committee additional records 20 show the
| data compiled by the department TO be
correct. He added the statement that
| could accurate information have been
/ obtained concerning the use OF milk in
the negro sections Of the city, a much
/ larger infantils death rate directly trace
/ able 10 impure milk would be the result
1 Three witnesses were examined at yes
/ terday's hearing For the city dealers.
/ in completion OF the testimony offered
by them 10 show inefhcency in the health
/ department. Mr.. Trupdle spoke for an
hour. Continuing his charges that the
statistics of DR.. Woodward We're unre-
/ liable, Trundle offered several clippings
! from newspapers relative 10 the situa-
1 ton. and quoted from a ten years COM
pilati0n of the records prepared by DR..
/ William star.
Il Representing the Virginia producers.
/ / Frederick a. Saunders. a farmer OF Lees
4 hfrr "a b. a-l fv1a IN
| ing the Questions OF the committee Mr.
1 Saunders compared wage scales, prices
/ of fOodstu1s. and labor costs 10 show
the present cost Of milk production 10 be
! much higher than formerly. In regard 10
/ the tuberculin test. Mr. Saunders said he
| did not think II reliable, but expressed
the entire willingness OF the farmers 20
submit TO such test provided the State
/ furnished adequate remuneration for the
l cattle condemned.
DIR. Magruder Testifes.
| Or. G. Lloyd Magruder placed before
| the committee the results OF his re-
search work on the city milk supply
problem, several documentary publica-
| tons from the Department OF Agriculture,
/ and pamphlets Of scientists in London.
| Berlin. Paris, and other European cities.
| DIT. Magruder drew a contrast between
the high death rate among infants OF the
/. year 1850 Of l62 TO that OF 1909 Of =. and
| attributed the decrease 10 Improvement
| made IN publication OF the cty's milk
] supply.
II Dr. Magruder contended that increased
cost OF production. together with the
| added cost OF placing the milk IN a
healthy condition for consumption had
! made the day of Scent milk one OF
: history He advocated three classified
- tons Of milk. namely. that certified, q
retail at % cents; that from tuberculin-
tested cattle and bottled under sanitary
ID, conditions 20 sell az i cents and mill
FOR the masses, pasteurized under direc-
ton Of the health officials, 10 retail al
e 10 cents
e As the hearing adjourned for the after
s noon. Dr. Woodward placed before The
committee a tabulation of permits from
diaries in four States for permits TO sci
. milk in Washington. Or. Woodward said
y the table covered the period from October
= TO october p. and was intended 10 re-
flute the contention OF Mr.. Trundle thai
v the producers were Withdrawing from the
o business.
n A conference Of the milk producers wa:
Il held last night with Or. Woodward anC
n others Of the health department, respect
. ing the tuberculin testing of old and new
b, COWS on the farms OF the District, II was
decided in all applications fled since Oc
l., tober l. all cattle on the farms will b'
!. tested for tuberculosis from now on.
= Formerly the health department noti
IL fed two producers each day that theil
y cattle would be tested within thirty days
a but this process has been eliminated, ane
= tho health department will test whenever
Il desires and without notice.
Tests 10 he Renewed
old cattle which have passed former
tests will be tested anew, so as TO pre-
m vent any possible chance for the disease
getting to them in the meanwhile. Al
= cattle used on the farms for only a shori
= time for breeding purposes Will also have
to undergo the test.
-e The milk dealers and the health de
D. partment adopted this report, which viii
IF be subject to the approval Of tho Distric
l. Commissioners.
PREDICTS BETTER METHODS