Evening star., 1911-06-08
ITS DOORS CLOSED.
Straus Milk Laboratory
Ceases Operations.
PLANS OF G. N. OYSTER, JR.
Third Station for Furnishing Milk to
Babes Opened.
PHYSICIANS GIVE SERVICES
Trained Nurses Will Be Maintained
and Visits Made-Chamber
Of Commerce Action.

The indefinite suspension Of the Nathan
Straus pasteurized milk laboratory; the
opening Of a new baby milk station by
| George NJ. Oyster, jr., and the inaugura-
ton OF movement by the Chamber Of
Commerce which may lead to a new in
vestigation by that body of the local milk
situation-these were the developments to-
day growing out of the varied activities
OF the past few months to provide suit
able milk for the babies of Washington.
In accordance with the notice 1t had
served. the Straus laboratory this morn
ing closed it's doors. The plant, 1t was
! stated, will be left intact for the present
in anticipation of Congress acquiring it
for experimental purposes.
Carrying out the philanthropic plan
which he announced through the Cham
Der Of Commerce last March to provide
four baby milk stations in the capital,
Mr.. Oyster today opened the third sta
ton. at Friendship Home, 324 Virginia
avenue southeast. The fourth, he an
nounced. will be opened tomorrow in
Casualty Hospital. Two previously have
been put into operation at Georgetown
University Hospital and at the Children's
Hospital. 18th and w streets.
With the Inauguration Of the fourth
station tomorrow, Mr.. Oyster declared
that he will be in a position to furnish
modified or whole milk to all the babies
in Washington. An advisory board of
eminent physicians and a corps of train
ed nurses will determine in what form
milk shall be furnished to the babies
whose mothers apply at the stations and,
also, will decide in the individual cases
whether or not a price shall be charged.
In no case, 1t was stated by Mr.. Oyster.
| would the price exceed that charged by
the Straus plant
Chamber Of Commerce Action.
The relation Of the Chamber Of Com
merce to the situation has grown out of
misunderstanding on the part Of the
directors concerning it. At a meeting Of
the directors last night Isaac Cans asked
for a report from the committee which
was appointed to consider the Oyster
plan. Developments this morning re-
vealed the fact that there is no committee
| which has the matter under considera-
ton.
ing j. Louis Willige, as chairman of a
milk committee, which represented the
chamber in considering the plan to have
Congress purchase the Straus plant, to
| report on the Oyster proposal. Mr.. Will
| lige will have no report to make mas
| much as his committee was not assigned
| to consider the latter proposition.
The opinion was expressed In several
| quarters today that when he communi-
| Gates this fact to the board 1t will re-
| suit in the chamber deciding to make
| a comprehensive investigation OF the
| entire milk situation.
Mr. Willige said today that his commit
| tee reported favorably on the bill to have
| Congress acquire the Straus plant for
| experimental purposes, but not to run it
| in competition with local concerns which
| were equipped to furnish pure milk. and
will do SO in such philanthropic man
| ner as that proposed by Mr.. Oyster.
When Mr.. Oysters offer was announced
through the chamber a resolution was
passed commencing his philanthropy, but
the matter went no further. Apparently
| the directors have been under the i'm
preston that it was referred to Mr..
| Willige's committee for report.
| night by Mr.. Cans resulted in nearly an
hours discussion, and lively interest was
manifested by the members concerning
just what the chambers attitude is. Mr..
committee was criticised for not bringing
| in a report earlier. 1t was not until this
morning that an examination OF the rec
| ords showed that the matter had never
gone to the committee.
Mr.. Oysters Purpose.
Mr.. Oyster today said that he had
been perfectly satisfied with the reso-
| luton commencing his offer He re-
| iterated that the work started By him
| has no connection with the Straus
| plant, and is not intended as its sue
| cessor Milk will be furnished free In
| deserving cases. he declared. and in
| ed the cost will not exceed that paid
| for milk at the Straus plant
| The milk will be delivered to the four
| stations and will be given TO infants in a
Al Ct0 uA1 49,
| as the physician may determine in ndi-
viduaT cases.
On the Oyster advisory board Of physi-
clans are: Or. Samuel S. Adams, Dr. W.
Woodward, DR.. John F. Anderson. direc-
tor of the marine hospital service. and
Dr. George M. Whitaker. milk inspector
at the Department Of Agriculture.
In addition to the advisory board, Mr..
Oyster is maintaining a trained nurse at
| each station. Attending physicians. as well
as the members of the advisory board,
are giving their services gratuitously. 1t
ton opened today at Friendship Home
| dispensary was established IN connec-
| ton with 1t.
According to Mr.. Oyster applications
| a nurse and physician at each home from
| which the appeal comes The needs Of
| the child will then be determined and q
decision will be reached as to whether or
not any charge IL to be made for the
milk.
Operation Of Straus Plant.
The Straus plant, which closed this
morning. had been In operation since
| April %. 1910 During the time of its op-
| Grafton 1t has been under the direction
of Miss Reba Hurn. who came to Wash
ington from New York. 1t was stated
this morning by Miss Hurn that more
than 800 babies were furnished milk from
| the laboratory and that 81 per cent of
the infants fed last summer were Ill.
About % per cent Of the number, she
said had been given milk without cost.
| Should the bill pending in Congress for
/ the taking over of the laboratory be
enacted into law the institution will pass
into the hands of the public health and
marine hospital service for experimental
/ v,urnoaes.