New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-31

VI bIllCldlS VI lllt Dtpdl lllltlll Ol t1tdllH,
but in the absence of Health Commits
sioner Lederle from the city Yesterday It
was not learned what action he hal
taken
Critcises the Department.
Mr.. Taylor, of the Milk Committee,
said he had found the sanitary superin-
tendent of the department, DR.. Walter
Bensel, "lukewarm" when he called up
yesterday morning to know what the de-
partment would do.
IF Commissioner Lederle and the De-
partment Of Health are to represent the
consumers and to represent the babies
of the city" said Mr.. Taylor. 1T is now
time to act. According to the report Of
the National Milk Commission, which
has just been submitted. the minimum
standard for milk calls for 3le per cent
of butter fat. The lowering of that
standard, as provided in the present
measure, will mean that the babies will
be starving wher they drink the milk
which has less than that amount.
I'VE found hundreds of babies in this
city who were drinking milk with less
than the required minimum butter fat
in 1t literally starving TO death. The
doctor who prescribes modified milk
makes 31s per cent the minimum Of but
ter fat, because he knows II should not
be less than that"
When Mr.. Taylor was asked how be-
low grade milk could be sold in the city
with rigid inspection, he said: The in
spection Of milk by the Department Of
Health is not thorough enough to pre-
clude the sale of low grade milk. We
made a special investigation last year
of a large number of shops in the city
where milk was sold, and we found 1T
below the standard and reported it TO
Commissioner Lederle,
He assured us that on January |.
1912, when his new milk scheme would
go into effect, the defects would he cor
rected. But when January | came, as
everybody knows. the plan of the Health
Commissioner did not so into effect, and
1t hasn't gone into effect yet"
Men Back of the Measure.
Mr.. Taylor believed, he declared. that
a large body Of milk dealers who were
not in a position to sell milk which had
the required percentage of fats were
responsible for the attempt to let down
the bars.
I'm certain sections of New York State" "
he said, there are milk dealers whose
cattle do not produce milk of the re-
ouired richness. 1t has been known for
a long time that TO bring it up TO the
required standard the lower grade milk
has been mixed with a sufficient guam
tity of richer milk. These dealers do not
want TO go TO that expense and trouble.
They want their milk supply to come
into the city as it Is, and therefore the
attempt to amend the law regarding the
milk standard
DIR. Reuel A. Benson, director Of the
Babies Dairy, said that instead Of taxi
ing the restrictions off the milk supply
Of this city, there sheuld be more OF
them. There are not enough restric-
tions now" he continued. Nor do
believe the minimum per cent Of butter
fat I'm milk should be as low as 31a per
cent. 1t should be higher; per cent
should I think, be about the lowest"
Or. Benson said he believed there was
a certain amount Of low grade milk
being sold in the city. but thought II was
an impossiblity for the inspectors Of
the Department OF Health to scrutlnizc
every bit of milk that came here.
Practically all the milk dealers have
notified the department Of what grade
they expect TO sell under the new regula-
tions, and permits are being issued ac-
cOrdingly.