Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-07
Not Up to District Of Column
bia, Reports Committee.
ITS VALUE IS APPRECIATED
Suggested That Public Health Serv-
ice Take It Over.
OPPORTUNITY TO INVESTIGATE
Commissioners Urged to Require
Public Institutions to Use
Standardized Milk.


The District Of Columbia should not
maintain as public institution the
Nathan Straus milk laboratory:
The public health and marine hospi-
tai service could take over the plant
and thereby have a splendid oppor-
tunity for Investigations with view
to making a practical demonstration
of the value of pasteurized milk and
modified milk as food for infants;
The Commissioners should insist that
inmates of founding asylums. hospi-
tails and other institutions under the
Districts care should be furnished
with milk coming up to the standard
set by the milk conference of 1907;
The health officer should publish
list giving the average rating of dali
ries.
Opinion of Committee.
These are the principal points of the
decision of the committee appointed by
the Commissioners to offer advice as to
whether or. not the District of Columbia
should ask Congress for an appropriation
to continue the Straus milk laboratory
after January 1. 1911, on which date, 1t
has been announced, Mr.. Straus will dis
continue it as private charity.
The committee held two meetings.
There was no question as to the value OF
the plant. The wisdom of maintaining 1t
as a municipal charity, in view of the
fact that Congress has to be approached
for money, was the main object of con-
sideration
The report was submitted to the Com
missioners today. AT the same time the
Commissioners sent to Charles D. Norton.
secretary to the President, some informa
ton as to the cost of running the plant.
1t is understood that the President has
been asked to consider having some
branch of the government take over the
laboratory.
The information sent to the White
House showed that the plant and installa-
ton cost nearly $500, that for six
months the cash receipts were $2,619, for
sales, and that during the same period
9.11O bottles were given out free. The
operating expenses for six months, In
cost of operating laboratories for six
months to Mr.. StrauS. $3.50
The report to the Commissioners opens
with the statement that the generosity of
Mr.. Straus has served most useful pur-
pose in presenting 1.-The dangers Of inn
for infants" and that the plant should
be continued by some one until provision
can be made for providing an ample and
safe supply of pasteurized and modified
milk through commercial channels under
the direct supervision of the health de-
partment.
District Ownership Impracticable.
''In the judgment of the committee"
the report continues, lit is not practicable
for the District government to undertake
the management of such plant. which at
all events could not be done without spe-
-cial authority from Congress and an APP
preparation made for the purpose.
ut occurs to the committee that the
proposal of Mr.. Straus offers a splendid
opportunity for the conduct of investiga-
tons under the public health and marine
hospital service or the Department of Ag-
riculture, with a view to making a prac-
teal demonstration Of the value of pas
teurized and modified milk as food for in
fants. The authoritative settlement of
this question would be Of immense value,
not only to our community, but to the en-
tire country.
I'm the event that for any reason it is
not possible to have the operations OF
the Straus laboratory continue 1T Is be-
lieved by the committee that existing
agencies,
Citizens Relief Association, the Asso-
ciated Charities and the Instructive Wis.,
iting Nurse Society. should be encourr
aged by contribution of additional funds
to continue the splendid work which is
now being done by them. The activities
of these charitable agencies are being ex-
erted not only in directing and furnish
ing proper fccd for infant feeding among
the poorer classes. but also in dissent
mating information generally with re-
gard to the proper care of infants.
1T Is recognized in this connection that
these agencies should exercise scrupulous
care in restricting the distributor of free
infant food to such families as are not pc
cuniarily able to pay for it. The milk
dispensaries now in operation under ex-
listing agencies should be generously sup
ported by the public in enlarging their
existing station and in increasing the
number of depots from which milk may
be dispensed
Good Milk for Public Institutions.
1.-THE committee is impressed with the
great desirability of securing prompt and
adequate legislation as recommended by
| the District Commissioners for providing
a clean, pure and wholesome milk supply
| for the nations capital. Pending the
| enactment of such legislation the COM
mittee strongly recOmmt nds that the
| District authorities insist that the in.
| mates of founding asylums. hospitals and
| other charitable institutions. wholly OF
| in part supported by public funds, be
| supplied with milk coming within the
classifications recommended by the Wash.
| ington milk conference appointed by the
| District Commissioners in 1907.
| For this purpose the health officer
should be required, as a result of in.
/ spectiOn. to publish list of diaries from
| which the milk supply is drawn, giving
| the average rating of each dairy. the
| chemical composition and the bacteria
content of the samples. 1t is understood
| that this information is already in the
| possession of the health department, bu
| provision is not made at present for its
| publication.
| The committee avails itself of this op-
portunity to express its hearty approval
of the recommendation recently made by
| the health officer for the appointment OF
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