New-York tribune., 1912-04-01
LEDERLE DENOUNCES
WHEELER MILK BILL
Health Commissioner Saws 1t
Lets Down Bars in
the State.
APPEAL TO GOVERNOR DIX
Pure Milk Supply Threatened,
Asserts Director of Bureau of
Municipal Research
Hint at Job.

Health Commissioner Lcderle Is absO-
lutely opposed TO the Wheeler bill,
jammed through the Senate on Friday
night. The bill aims To abolish the milk
standard in this city.
Il not only opposed the bill when II
came 10 my attention a month or more
ago" said the Health Commissioner
yesterday. but | wrote the Corporation
Counsel asking that it be- opposed should
it come up for consideration i'm Albany.
While ] do not think il could affect the
city's milk supply, | do think II would
affect the supply in other parts of tie
state. But | am against any plan 10
tamper with the milk supply here
Commissioner Lcderlc was surprise
when informed that William j. Allen.
one OF the directors of the Bureau OF
Municipal Research. had said that al
though the Corporation Counsel should
have taken some action 10 oppose the ill
in Albany. IL could not be learned that
any sucl. action had been taken
The Wheeler bill has aroused every
organization interested I'm the safeguard
ing Of the city's milk supply. If posi-
BILE, representatives of these organiZa
tions hope To induce the Governor to
grant n public hearing on ii before he
signs IL. II he plans 10 do so. Instead
of letting down the bars, physicians who
have been engaged III the work OF fight
ing for pure milk supply say that more
barriers should be raised. If the cream
line is brought nearer the top of the
bottle it will be over the united protests
of all organizations interested in high
grade milk supply.
Following the protests made on Sat
uiday. William j. Allen a director of
the Bureau of Municipal Research. led
the attack on the measure yesterday,
asserting that the large distributors who
own machines which separate cream
from milk were the ones who would
profit from the measure If carried out
and not the farmer.
This bill does not take away the
Health Departments power to dump
dangerous or unfit milk into the gut
ters," said Mr.. Allen. 1T would not
therefore be worth while TO the milk
people if they did not believe they had
influence enough to prevent the dump
ing of below standard milk into the gut
ters.
There arc six significant facts con-
cerning the law" continued MIR Allen.
He made this enumeration:
First This bill itself does not lower the
milk standard IL merely takes away the
jail and fine penalties Tor violating one
part Of the standard. II makes II as saie
for the small dealer to have unit milk
on sale as for the large distributor 20 com
pei him TO sell unfit milk.
Secondary financial gain VIII go, not
10 the farmer and not TO the New YORK
milk shops but TO large distributors who
own machines which separate cream from
milk
Health Departments power TO dump dan
gerous or unfit milk into the cutters.
: Fourth-The bin would not therefore be
worth while to milk people II they did not
believe they had influence enough to pre-
vent the dumping OF below standard milk
into the gutter Distributors are still more
opposed 10 losing milk in large quantities
than TO pay petty fine or letting small
dealer go to jail once In an age.
Fffth-The Health Commissioner was
away from his Office when action should
have been taken by New York's health
symptomatic not accidental or exceptional.
Time after time for two years and half
az crises In health problems have come UP
the answer has been. THE Commissioner
il away" The Mayor and Health Com
missioner have been represented by Cor
poratlon Counsel at Albany all winter, paid
for by the public. This bill should have
been explained and fought in the open long
ago and not left TO private citizens after
its passage. ~
Sixth-This shocking bill Is but one more
part of the ,whrlwind of.zapuses which
New York must reap because II has been
iers Tor two years lit is less than a fort
nlght srce our Health Department.
through the Corporation Counsel, argued
As-.'- si'.@s -'-.- --------- NJ,