The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-08-13
Frederick County Farmers Asso-
citation

Frederick County Farmers Asso-
citation.
Although no official action was
taken, the sentiment among the men,
bers of the Frederick County Farm
ers' association in session on Satur-
day afternoon was that Frederick
county dairymen should comply with
the sanitation requests which were
made by the Board of Health of the
District of Columbia, or the health
bodies of any other municipal city,
and then demand a corresponding in
crease in the price of their product.
THE farmers association" said one
of the most active members, has not
at any time shown disposition to
fight the State and Federal health
boards. Instead we believe in COM
plying with all requests of health
boards and then demand a price for
our milk that will reimburse us for
the outlay to make the changes and
give us a fair profit.
According to the statements OF
members of the association on Satur-
day afternoon there is no Maryland
law which provides for the tubercu-
line testing of cattle Of Frederick
county or any other county of the
State. This test explained one dairy
man is made compulsory by the health
board of the District of Columbia. All
shippers of milk into the District
must have their cattle tested for tu-
berculosis or else they must stop
shipping milk.
"The Supreme court" said mem
Der of the Farmers association, "has
handed down a decision providing that
any municipality may draft and pass
ordinances prescribing what the san
itary conditions shall be in the dairies
from which that particular city draws
its milk supply. The Supreme court
further holds that such law may be
enforced by the CITY,"
1t was brought out at Saturdays
meeting that if local farmers do not
desire to have their cattle tested for
tuberculosis they will naturally be
stopped from shipping into Washing
ton. With the exception of the Mary
land municipalities who have laws
controlling the production of milk,
there is no State law which provides
for provisions as prescribed by the
health board of the District of Colum-
bia.
eve want it understood that we
are not fighting any dairy sanitation
laws" said member of the associa-
ton, nor have we ever done so. 1--WE
believe, however, that the middleman
has an abnormal profit or very
great waste in the distribution,
which is charged up to farm
ers. When we say that we will be
in a position to demand higher price
for our milk if we abide by the pro-
visions of the District of Columbia
health board, we do not mean that
the cost to the consumer should be
raised. That's plenty high enough
now. What is needed is to cut down
the profit taken out from the time
the milk leaves the producer until it
reaches the consumer.
IF the Farmers association event.
ually is to go on record for any cause,
it will be that of reducing the middle
mans profit, and the increasing of
the money paid farmers for their
dairy products.
The manager of one of Frederick's
pasteurizing plants, announced re-
Gently that his loss from bottles alone
in one month was $500. The custom
ers retain bottles and use them in
canning fruits.
One member of the Farmers asso-
citation took the stand that this loss
was ultimately taken from the prices
paid farmers for milk, where in re-
ality the customer should have paid
for each bottle which was not return
ed to the Frederick plant.
The Farmers association has been
working on scheme Of cooperation
among the farmers of this county
which will cut the abnormal profit of
the middlemen and the evident wLste
in the distribution of milk At the
same time it is known that the mem
bers of the association stand for the
sanitation of all dairies Of the county.
Considerable interest was shown in
the milk question and some heated
discussions took place at the meet
ing.