Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-12
MILK ISSUE DEBATED
Enforcement of TubercuIin
Test of Cows Discussed.
CONFERENCE HELD TODAY
Senator Martin and Representative
Carlin With Health Officer.
WOODWARD MAKES STATEMENT
Quantity and Quality of the Product
of Dairy Farms Main
Consideration.
CONFERENCE HELD TODAY


!. Consideration.
Senator Martin and Representative Car
| lin of Virginia and Commissioner Johns
ton and Health Officer Woodward of the
District were in conference for several
hours today discussing the differences be-
tween the health Office and milk pro-
ducers over the enforcement of the tuber-
cuin test order
| Todays meeting followed a call made
yesterday by the senator and representa-
| tive upon Health Officer Woodward and
an earlier conference between the milk
men and the Virginians. At yesterdays
conferences it was decided to lay the
question of resembling the tuberculin test
order before the District Commissioners.
All Points Discussed.
AT the conclusion Of today's conference
IL was announced that all the points OF
difference between the health Office and
the milkmen were thoroughly discussed
and the arguments Of the dairymen have
been taken under Amusement by the DIS
| trict Commissioners.
| 1T Is hoped" said Senator Martin
that all the differences will be adjusted
10 the best interests of both producer and
consumer do not think it wise to d s.
cuss the details of today's conference"
Attorneys d. w. Baker and Eugene H.
waters, representing the milk dealers
are still looking over the situation, and
Mr- Baker this morning stated to a re-
porter for The Star that it was proba BILE
no move would be made to test the
powers OF the health office until some
time next week.
Health Office Statement.
Dr. Woodward, District health officer.
this afternoon made the following state
ment regarding the controversy between
his Office and the milk producers:
In the present situation two condi-
| lions must be considered: First. the
! quantity Of milk, and, second the quality
or milk. 1t is sheer nonsense to under
take to attribute the alleged shortage of
mix to any regulations that have been
enforced or the enforcement of which is
contemplated by the health department
Inc records of the department show
dur1ng the past year more dairy cows in
service for supplying milk than ever
while the shortage Of milk is so
Iar as the health department regula-
lions are concerned, a collateral issue.
II Is safe to say that such shortage is
attributed TO the fact that farmers are
are depending upon pasturage to feed
| their cattle. Pasturage is quite as
available now as it is in the winter
months, and in the winter months
| there is no cry of milk famine.
The difference is that during the WIN
Ter months the farmers feed their cat
Tie from their silos and with other stored
1000, whereas now they are boarding
such places FOR the winter months and
are relying upon the burnt fields 10 pro-
auce milk. The high price Of cattle may
be due in part to the tuberculin test, be-
cause healthy cattle are always worth
| more than sick ones. and farmers now,
unoer the pressure of health department
reguiations, are more careful than ever
| before to buy healthy cattle.
Calves Sold at Profit.
THE high price is due, however, in part,
| it is believed. to the fact that the high
price of veal calves for some years past
has tempted farmers. in some parts Of
| the milk producing districts at least. to
dispose OF very much larger percentage
| or their calves than usual, Instead OF
| raising them for the production of milk
with the result that milk cows are not so
readily purchased as previously.
The milk law in force III the District of
| Columbia was enacted in 1895
Experience soon showed that for the
| proper protection Of the health of the
| people OF Washington it should be amend
ed, and efforts have been made continu-
! ously ever since to procure what existing
knowledge suggested as the best amend
ments. Every such effort has been de-
| feated through the activity Of milk pro-
ducers and dealers. Efforts have been
made to compromise with them. so as Tn
procure the legislation most needed. even
II all that was desired could not be oh
tanned, but without success
Object of Legislation.
What has been attempted has been to
procure for the Commissioners the right
to fix classes and standards, and the con-
| dltions and manner under which milk
| must De produced. manufactured, trans
ported, held and offered for sale and sold
Those familiar with the history of this
| leElslation-and no one is more familiar
with 1t than certain Of the milk dealers
know that ii was the outcome of the
milk conference called by the Commits
sioners in the spring of 1901 and that
| that conference recommended that there
| be established by law three grades of
| milk; the first and second grades, 'certi-
| fled milk and inspected milk we. e 10 be
| required to come from tuberculin- tested
cows. the former grade to contain not
more than 1000 bacteria per cubic cent?
meterr and the latter not more than
| 10000.
The third grade, which the milk COM
mission recommended be established,
| ''pasteurized milk" covers all milk from
| cows not tubercuin tested. IT will be
seen that the proposed legislation instead
of requiring that all cows be tuberculin
tested. provide a definite outlet for the
milk from INFESTED cows, for the present
at least. Ultimately, Of course, all cows
| ought to be tuberculin tested. CONNER
| cial pasteurization should not be depend
ed upon to stand between the diseased
dairy COW and death from tuberculosis
| for commercial pasteurization, except UNI
der ideal conditions. produces by no
means uniformly satisfactory results"
Dealers to Meet
| meeting Of the Washington Milk
Dealers Association will be held at the
National Hotel tonight. and Il large at
tendance of the members of the asso-
citation is looked for. The dealers at
this meeting will decide whether to
join the milk producers in their fight
| against the tuberculin test. 1t liz
| thought that the dealers win join the
producers in the fight.
| CHANGES IN POLICE FORCE.
Transfers and Promotions and One
Resignation Announced.
Maj. Sylvester today announced several
| changes in the police department. They