Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-03-18
STANDARD OF
MILK IN STATE
Gov. Wilson Has Signed
Bill Making 1t 1f:50.
Especial Correspondence

AOAAN0Ar ia i6o
Wilson has signed the bill intro
duced by Assemblyman Meyer, of
Sussex county, making the standard
for milk In New Jersey 11.60 per
cent. solid, instead of a standard of
IL per cent, as at present.
A lengthy hearing was given by
the governor on the measure yester-
day afternoon. 1t had passed both
houses and awaited only his sigma
ture to make 1t a law.
Throughout the long hearing,
which occupied nearly three hours,
Governor Wilson sat patiently, and
listened with close attention to the
statements made in favor of the bill,
as we'll as those In opposition to its
interest In the purpose of the bill
and asked some pertinent questions.
Anxious to Know.
1t was evident that Governor VIII
son was anxious to have 1t made
clear whether or not the enactment
of the bill would prove of benefit to
any Dealers in milk to attempt to
~adulterate it to a greater extent than
at present. At the same time he
expressed the belief that the greater
proportion of milk that is sold was
not tempered with at all, and this
belief was evidently shared by many
of those present at the hearing.
There was a large delegation pres
ent from Newark, Orange, Paterson,
Passaic and Jersey City. The gem
tlemen in this delegation were physi-
clans and health officers, and all
were opposed to the enactment OF
the Meyer bill. Those who were in
favor of the enactment of the bill
were farmers from Sussex county,
Somerset county, several counties In
the southern part of the state, and
Assemblyman Richmond, OF Salem
county, who was present, spoke as a
farmer of long experience, and one
who was shipping milk daily to diff
ferent cities.
Governor Reads Figures.
Governor Wilson read some fig
ures showing the standards In differ
ent states. Some of them were as
follows: Connecticut. 11.75 per
cent; Georgia, IA per cent; Idaho,
II per cent; Iowa, IL per cent; Min
n~esota, 13 per cent; New York, 1I.50
per cent; Ohio. 10 per cent; Penn
sylvania, - per cent; Texas, 10 per
cent, and Wyoming, IL per cent
DR.. Corwin, of Newark, An author
ity on tuberculosis, expressed the
fear that the demand for lowering
the standard was due to mercenary
motives, or possibly to a purely COM
mercial eason He said the lower
ing of the standard would be an in
vitation to ~adulterate the milk, and
the adulteration of milk by water
dangerous. The danger from
the use of water wac duo to the pos
sibilities of germs of typhoid or
diphtheria.
DIR. Corwin declared that people
of low resistance acquired the germs
of tuberculosis, while people of high
resistance, or first class health,
threw them off. He argued that the
Of the standard of milk
would. to q certain extent, promote
low vitality.
Plea for Passage.
A. A. Cortelyou, of Somerset County,
a good plea for the passage of
the bill. He said It was unfortunate
that there was a standard at all. He
said that there was no standard for
oats or for besf steak. ri can get just
what T want In the way Of a beef steak
and 7 pay for what J. get,' said he.
The long hours and the hard work of
tho farmers were mentioned. emo far
msr Is trying to produce poor milk, ex-
cept once in awhile some snfde farmer
said he, t'end we believe tho number
of that kind is very small in tia
State.p
Governor Wilson stated that It would
seem, from the statements made, that
there wal a disposition Of the health
officers to extend the present require
ments, and that conviction seemed diff
ficult. This was due, as was brought
out, often to the fact that the jurfes
would not convict because of the small
margin the milk might, in many instan-
ces be below, standard. The Governor
declared, with emphasis, that he want
ed to find out what was fair In the
matter, and what would be to the best
interests of the greater number.
1t was brought out during the hear.
ing that the farmers and dairymen feel
that at times, under the present stan.
dard, they are practically branded as
dishonest, when their intentions may
be of the best. 1t was shown also that
at times it was found necessary to di
lutte milk that was being fed to babies
so that much of the contention that the
lowering Of the standard would be In
furious to them, was not absolutely
true.