The Washington times., 1910-10-22
PRODUCERS CALLED
TO MILK COUNCIL
Indicates Break With Deal
erS Over District Regula-
ton Disputes.
MARYLAND MAN
UPHOLDS THE TEST
C=-munication to Commissioners
Says Middlemen Are Menace
TO Trade.

Milk producers Of Maryland and Vir-
sinia today We're sent notices of a
meeting Of great and immediate con-
Germ 10 all farmers selling milk in the
city of Washington to be held Tues
day morning at IL o'clock at 6g3
Louisiana avenue
At this meeting the next step to be
taken by the producers in their fight
against the tuberculin test will be de-
clded- The meeting will be held be-
mind closed doors. Milk dealers Of
Washington We're not invited as on
previous occasions, and if they appear
they will not be admitted
This action points 20 the fact that
the producers have cut clear of the
dealers and viii carry out their own
fight along their own lines It was
regarded by individual producers who
discussed the question today, as an
other evidence that the breach be-
tween the dealers and the farmers was
irreparably wide.
Confirmation In Letter.
A letter received by the District
Commissioners from y F Kinnan, a
milk producer and owner of a dairy
farm in Maryland. confirms this grow
ing suspicion.
The letter expresses hearty approval
Of the action OF the District Health
department in enforcing the regIIa-
lions regarding the sale of milk
Inc writer refers TO the dealer as the
man who stands between the producer
ana 1he consumer and pushes the price
- me former down and the latter up"
culin test.
I desire to state that I am thor
fn mil ffgIV- vr-FwN
the Health Department, and in nv
opinion they are each and every one
reasonable and made in the interests OF
Jne cltlzens OF the District, says Mr..
hlnnan. The enforcement of these
regulations, in my case, has been dis
creeuy done There are many milk pro-
ducers besides myself who believe that
the residents Of the District are entitled
70 pure, clean milk from healthy cattle.
We have voluntarily had our cattle u-
Oercunn tested. and bdve stood the loss
ourselves, rather than ship milk from
diseased cattle
Tuberculin Test Effective.
There is no doubt in my mind that
the tuberculin test. properly admins
tered, is an absolute means for detect
ing the presence of tuberculosis n car
tie. Whether cattle are capable of
transmitting tuberculosis to human be-
ings is beside the question. The milk
from any diseased animal is unfit for
human FOOD regardless of the disease.
II is true that the producer, IL he is
Obliged to kill his cattle because OF
tuberculosis, should be given & reason
able price for the animal. II Congress
declined to reimburse dairymen for The
loss Of tuberculOuS cattle. however that
does not relieve the Health Officer from
his duty 20 see that the people of the
District are not served with milk from
tubcrCulOuS cattle.
eft IS hard for the rrOducPr 70 lose his
cattle. He IS paid only IL cents a gallon
for his milk in summer and IS 10 20 cents
a gallon in winter, exclusive Of freight
by the dealer, who stands between the
producer and consumer and pushes the
price to the former down and 70 the
latter up"
Dealers Not Inimical"
That the dealers are not inimicaI TO
the District Health Department, as
claimed by the dealers, and that they
are not even averse to the tuberculin
test, was shown In an interview with
D. w Baker, their attorney. today.
THE plan TO be followed by the pro-
ducers will not be announced until ar-
ter the meeting on Tuesday Mr.. Baker
said But I think it can be said at
this time that the producers will op-
pose any action toward enforcing the
tuberculin test until some compensa-
tiOn IS arranged for. In no State where
the test IS compulsory are farmers conf
PEELED to kill off their stock without
reimbursement"
Other producers said today that.
though they could not speak for the
association, they were willing 70 ac-
cept the verdict Of the Health Depart
ment as TO the efficacy and reliability
of the tuberCulin test. but thai. they
would make an effort to have the order
delayed until the Virginia and Mary
land Legislatures met and settled upon
some scheme for compensaung farmers
for condemned cattle.
At the producers meeting on Tuesday,
Representative Q. G. Carlin. vino re-
Gently appeared before the District
Commissioners, asked that the tu1er-
eJssn order be delayed until the Virginia
legislature met, is expected to attend.