Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-08
CHANGE IN RULING,
OR HIGHER PRICES
Alternatives Presented to Milk
Dealers Throughout the
Country.
INTERESTED MEN MEET
TO CONSIDER SITUATION
Regulations by Department Of Agri-
culture and Court Decision
Basis of Action.

| series of conferences was begun, ir
executive session, this afternoon at =
o'clock at the National Hotel, which
/ have for their object an organization
which will attempt to get the Department
OF Agriculture to modify its regulations
as they affect milk, or. falling that at
tempt, the raising of the price of milk
| throughout the United States.
The conferences were called at the re-
/ quest of the New York Sanitary Milk
I Dealers Association, the president and
secretary of which are participating in
| the deliberations, in addition to DR.. Her.
bert D. Pease, director of the department
| Of bacteriology of the Lederle Labora-
| tories of New York. the scientific ad-
| wiser of the New York milk dealers.
The Milk Dealers and Producers Asso-
ciation of Washington is taking part in
the conferences. under the leadership OF
w. A. Hartranft. president of the or
ganization and ii was stated today that
C. G. Dade, W. A. Simpson, II. l. Black.
J. W. Gregg and Corbin Thompson, all
Washington dairymen. had announced
their intention of being present
DR. AIierton 9. Cushman OF Washing
ton it was said, would be present as the
scientific adviser of the Washington dairy
men. and the legal counsel for the Wash
ington and New York milk dealers.
Henry E. Davis and Matthew e. OBrien.
both of this city, it was stated, also would
attend the conference.
Court Decision the Cause.
A recent decision OF the Court OF APP
reals Of the District Of Columbia has
brought about the movement. This was
in the case known as the Dade case. c.
G. Dade a Washington dairyman. was
accused Of having in his possession milk
which revealed the presence of colon
bacilh That accusation was fought
through the Police Court in Washington.
and finally reached the Court OF Appeals
which decided against him. When he
asked the Supreme Court of the United
States for writ of certiOrari ii was re-
fused on the ground that the Court of
Appeals had rendered its opinion on the
facts.
The decision is said to be the first
one Of court OF last resort putting
milk under the food and drugs act
which act IL administered by the De-
partment Of Agriculture.
Colon bacilii, 1t is stated, are found at
least to some slight extent In all milk
When the Supreme Court refused the
writ of review in the Dade case the
decision of the Court of Appeals Of the
D1SlT1cI went on record as Hnal one
in United States courts throughout the
country.
Protective Measures in View.
The New York Sanitary Milk Dealers
Association has taken up the question
| OF the decision with the International
Milk Dealers Association, and has
brought IL to the attention Of bac-
teriologists of high standing all over
the United States, with a view it was
stated today in behalf of the milk deal
ers Ito determining the best method
OF procedure for carrying CO.
ordinated and active campaign of pro-
lection of the milk producers and deal
ers."
..The decision in the Dade case" the
milk dealers state, III generally followed
will put the average producer and dealer
in constant danger of prosecutions and
disaster. besides having the effect of driv-
Ing out Of business all but the larger
dealers and greatly increasing the cost of
milk to the consumer, by reason OF the
expense that it will be necessary for The
producer and dealer TO incur to be sure
that the milk they produce and sell will
pass inspection under the pure 1000 and
drugs act
In addition TO the Dade decision, the
milk dealers object to the regulations of
the Department of Agriculture for the en-
forcement OF the pure lOou law
Department Ruling.
The department has assumed aside
from the decisions In the Dade case" II
was said in behalf of the dealers today,
that milk is within the purview of the
food and drugs act whenever the pres
ence OF bacilE is established. but when
asked what number OF bacilli In milk con-
stituted bringing the product within the
4 purview of the act the department 5
| experts fixed upon an arbitrary standard.
/ In other words. they said that the pres
! ence Of a certain number OF bacill is in
! d.cative OF impurity We answered that
! II that were so, and there was one bac-
/ ter um short of the required number the
milk would OF necessity be pure, which is
Inanifestly an absurdity."
The milk dealers claim to be acting in
the campaign they are about 10 organize
IN the interests of the consumer. who will
be under a hardship if the price OF mill,
Is advanced throughout the United States
to meet the cost OF extra inspections ana
additional methods of bringing about
purity.