The Washington times., 1910-10-22
PRODUCER Of MILK
TELLS Of TROUBLES
Virginia Dairyman Outlines
Practical End of Work
at Hearing.

One Of the most effective witnesses be-
fore the District Commissioners in the
recent milk hearing was Herbert P.
Carter. who appeared independently as
a producer Of milk in Virginia, and
urged that the tuberculin test be applied
TO dairy herds, but that a system Of
compensation be arranged for those
whose stock must be destroyed because
it is tuberculoUs.
Mr.. Carters testimony, Transcribed
from the minutes OF the hearing, fol-
lows
Il speak from the producers point Of
view.
There are two questions brought up
which I have nothing 20 do with one
J IS the personal controversy between the
officials Of the Health Department and
the dealers In milk here. and the second
is the matter Of the scientific COntrOver-
sy as TO the merits Of pasteUrization-
y am not entitled 10 any opinion on
/ its merits. but I can be convinced by
IN examination OF the evidence which
shows that the tuherculin test is SUM-
cient in a large number Of cases.
= can say for nv part that l am not
| bothered about the order for the tuber-
culin test, as nv herd has been tuber-
Cultn tested rom the first. and I know
about the cattle that have been Slaugh-
tered from my herd after reacting, and
I I should have been sorry TO serve milk
from them. It certainly served 20 weed
I out the bad cattle from my herd. cattle
that I would be sorry to keep in.
1t seems 10 me this is a matter which
neither the producer or dealers have
right TO discuss
Dairymen Not Scientists.
I'VE cannot pretend to be scientists.
If the scientific opinion requires such
tests, It is the business OF the producer
to obey them as we'll as he can.
THE whole question Is n matter Of
compensation II is a matter Of dollars
and cents. There may be many people
who have worked hard for many years
20 produce a herd Of say twenty cattle:
! honest. hard-WCrkinC. labOrinE men.
| They have not had any tubercuiin test
! applied and they have not done any
thing against the law or against their
conscience. The profit Of a hero Of
/ twenty cattle IS not anything eXtraor-
dinary.
You must consider in this connec-
1 tiOn that the producer Of milk has an
exceptionally hard life. It is a case Of
working seven days in the week. and
not six He should therefore receive
additional compensation.
! Suppose he had a herd Of twenty
/ calves. He may rely on getting two
gallons Of milk from each calf on an
| average. If he gets forty gallons a
/ Gay, and in the winter gets p cents,
| which Is a pretty good price, that
represents $3.50 day from that herd
! IF we calculate the cost Of feeding
I each one at 20 cents in winter. We
would deduct 81 from the $3.50. leav-
4 - D sNHHHa 81 - -
( $3.50 a day. He would have TO pay
/ his rant. and for sending the milk TO
! town. and from time TO time his cows
/ go dry, so his income is really made
! qUate.
( IF farmers must meet all kinds Of
+ expensive requirements, fl will add
/ more expense.
Housing of Cattle.
4 think. personally. IL is desirable
that the cattle should be housed in
I thoroughly sanitary stables. but that
lmeans an investment Of considerable
capital, and if the tuberculin test is
applied IL means also a certain
amount TO be written off at a loss.
but il has a more serious bearing if
il Is applied suddenly and without
warrant or compensation.
/ "A man may have his whole fortune
! staked on this herd. and IL he is TO
/ have the test applied, having done
nothing against the law, 1t may mean
! that half Of his cattle will be con-
/ demned; and il is not infreqUent for
half the cattle in a nerd 70 go under
| the test, especially If housed under
! inSanitary conditions. he faces a loss
Of half his herd with only what he can
! get from the butcher for the meat;
/ maybe in some Of them he viii lose
all. At any rate, IL means a serious
loss to the producer
4 don't think the producers or deal
. arc 81 q n no a
! as to what test should be applied,
but IL we submit to certain tests we
have a right to ask for proper com
pensation. It is not for US to deter
mine whether the test is by the gov
erument Of Maryland. or Virginia, or
the District, but it is fair that the
people of the District should pay US
| a proper amount if they require it.
Need Compensation.
"If there is increased protection to
the public, the producers must be prop
erly compensated for It, II they have
proper compensation 1 don't think there
is any objection TO submitting to the
test. Then, If the test is continually
/ applied after proper compensation Is
given, all that is required is that suffi-
cient price is paid Tor the milk
"A higher price Will have to be paid
by the consumer for a more valuable
| article. I therefore ask the Commis-
sioners to use their influence 10 obtain
proper compensation for the producer
of milk
/ IF this business is made productive
enough to the people in the neighbOr-
hood, there will be enough milk com
ing into Washington.
| Under present conditions, il is not
! 70 be expected that any Of the Door
class of producers can attempt TO meet
! the requirements in the District but if
! they get compensation for the cattle
condemned and get better prices they
will increase the facilities and there
will be no friction between the Health
Department and themselves in meet
ling the requirements"