New-York tribune., 1912-04-02
Dr. Ira S. Vile Says Low Grade
Product Would Cause Death OF
Hundreds, Perhaps Thou
sands, of Little Ones.
woMEN'S CLUBS PROTEST
All Organizations Interested in
Reducing Infant Mortality
Send Appeals to Gov
ernor Dix Not to
Sign Bill.

'1f Governor DlA SIsHe 'he "H''iV'
.m aimed TO abolish the milk standard
=. u,ll sign at the same time the death
-..rront of hundreds and perhaps thou
s.ras Of babies In the coming summer
months"
such was the statement made yester-
dsv bv DR.. Ira S. VILE. OF the New York
Milk Committee.
Not only will II cause the deaths OF
,.ro. numbers of babies in this city,
so,d DR.. Vile but such will be the case
tb,ouebout the state. No more vicious
h,ou was ever aimed at the work OF
saving the lives Of helpless infants.
.Jet that bill become a law and do
ubs, the Health Commissioner would
hs copld never offset the effect on the
babies Of the low grade milk which
would most assuredly come into this
citv Every effort which has been put
forth in the last twenty-five years TO
reduce infant mortality would be nulli-
fed by such law.
81 not only believe the diarrheal dis
sases among children-known commonly
az summer complaint-would increase 10
an alarming extent with the introduc-
ton of the low grade milk, but l think
II would increase the contagious dis
eases, and toward the latter part Of the
summer would bring about a wholesale
increase Of typhoid fever"
Ask Health Officers to Protest.
Paul Z. Taylor, secretary Of the Milk
Committee, which was the first organi-
zation TO protest against the bill, said
yesterday that the committee had sent
telegrams to health officers in a large
number of cities upstate asking them
10 protest to Governor Dix against the
measure and to join the cry for pub
lie hearing, at which the bill could be
thoroughly thrashed out and an effort
made to find out just who was behind
it and why it should have been tammed
through the Senate at the last minute,
with no chance for debate.
Health Commissioner Lederle reaf-
Armed yesterday his statement Of the
night before that he was absolutely op-
posed TO the bill and that he had asked
the Corporation Counsel to oppose IT..
II the Governor signs the bill. Commits
sioner Lederle said. ne would do all in
his power 10 prevent the sale Of any low
grade milk in the city.
While 1t would be impossible to trace
the low grade milk to its source" said
the Commissioner, 1T would be possible
10 prosecute any dealer who sold milk
that did not come up to the standard y
Commissioner Lederle said that
Deputy Commissioner Flanders of the
State Department Of Agriculture had
appeared before the Committee on Agri-
culture OF the Senate and had advocated
the passage of the bill.
The Health Commissioner said that he
was the sole opponent in 1910 of the
bill passed by the Legislature and signed
by Governor Hughes, reducing the total
solids in milk from II to 1112 per cent
The Board of Health had ruled that
milk sold in this city should have a II
per cent total of solids. The board WAS
forced 10 amend its ruling.
Il do not believe this bill will greatly
affect the city, but it will affect the
state. AS l have already said, am OPP
posed to It. 1t is bill. however, which
seems to have the sanction Of the State
Department of Agriculture"
The Commissioner said he understood
that the bill had been considered at the
instance Of the small dealers. But he
was at loss. however TO find a reason
Why such a measure should have been
rushed through the Senate at the last
minute