The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-11-07
Decision, 1t Is Expected, viii
End All Possibility of Milk
Strike.
FARMERS TO BE NOTIFIED
Prices Are 20 and "a Cents
on Grades With 31a or 4
Per Cent Butter Fat.

Twenty-three and - cents for grade
OF milk containing 81 and 4 per cent
OF butter fat, respectively, instead Of
a flat price of "A cents for all milk
coming into the District, was agreed
upon by the executive committee of
the Maryland and Virginia Milk Pro-
ducers Association at a meeting In the
Munsey Building.
This is the first step taken by the
association In the direction OF having
Washington's milk supply graded and
bought on a butter fat basis. While
the prices of % and "A cents for the
the producers consider ideal as com
pared with the detailed system OF grad
ing now In use In New York, II Is a
marked Improvement over the old sys-
tenn. under which all milk has been
purchased by many dealers at n uni
form price regardless Of Its quality,
they say.
Held Lengthy Discussion.
This decision was reached after
lengthy discussion OF the price question
and after comparative figures OF prices
now being paid in New York, Chicago,
and other cities had been carefully ana
iyzed and discussed. All members OF
the committee were agreed that "a cents
was not too much to ask for 81 per
cent milk In view of the present high
ever. that dealers in agreeing to pay
~ cents for I per cent milk and q for
Sit per cent, had indicated a dispose
ton to meet the farmer half way, and
IL was urged that the farmer make
some concession and accept these prices
rather than force a milk strike at this
time.
Y; e. Booker. business manager OF the
producers organization. was Instructed
70 prepare circular letter which is to
be sent to every farmer supplying milk
70 the Washington market advising az
me decision of the committee, and urg-
ing them to insist on dealers granting
tion. WV" W o'e ASsoe'a-
To Maintain Price.
Any farmer who now is getting less
than q cents for 3h per cent milk. and
whose dealer refused to pay this sum.
VIII be advised to communicate at once
with the business manager of the asso-
citation, so that he may be directed to
a dealer who is willing to pay this
This letter will serve to protect the
dealer. IT is stated. as we'll as the far
mert since IL will prevent one dealer
getting his milk cheaper than another.
and thus tend to solve the problem of
cut-throat competition among dealers
for wholesale milk.
Farmers who already have signed con-
tracts for the winter months. or who
nave Hldue verbal agreements with their
dealers. at prices less than those agreed
upon by the association. will not be
advised to violate these contracts, II is
stated. They will be advised. however.
not to sign future contracts without
hrst consulting the association. and to
Sign no contract to continue In force
later than May 1, 1917.
To Take Up Summer Price.
Prior to May 1. 1917. the association
will take UP the question OF summer
prices, It 10 stated. At this time farmers
Will be advised to sign no contracts con-
tinuing In force later than October 1.
1917 II being the aim of the organization
TO have all contracts begin uniformly on
this date.
The question OF surplus milk, which all
dealers complain Ia one OF their most
serious problems, due to irregularity OF
shipments by producers at various sea-
sons OF the year, was discussed for the
first time by the committee yesterday.
II was agreed that responsibility for
this condition rests In large measure
with the farmer. and definite steps will
DO taken by the association to remedy
the condition and bring about more uni
form shipments from the producers
The action OF the committee In agree
ing to accept the prices of % and "A
cents for the winter obviates all pos
sibility OF milk strike here during the
present winter, II Is believed. Indca
lions are that the dealers will all be
willing to accept these prices. and that
better feeling between farmers and
dealers will exist from now on.