The Washington herald., 1916-09-15
WANT MORE FOR MILK
BUT NO TAX ON PUBLIC
coNrINuEp prom PAGE oNE.


delegates were of the opinion that un-
less prices were raised, hundreds of
producers would be forced from the
business into more profitable use of
thelr lands, for they pointed out that
with wheat selling at about s1.5o a
nushel marketing milk at loss cam
not long be maintained,
A basis of about "a cents gallon
in winter and about Is to 80 cents In
summer was the satisfactory mini
mum, Judging from the views express
cd by members of the committee, and
TO the establishment of such a basis
their energies will be directed.
Would Decrease Expenses.
Judson C. welliver, who was elected
chairman of the committee in place of
Wsstmorsland Davis, Of Virginia, who
resigned, in speaking of the result of
the committees findings, said:
1--WE believe that somewhere along
the line of milk production and dis
tribution there are certain expenses
that can be eliminated to the interest
of the producer, and we are working
to this end. On next Tuesday we will
call a meeting, to which the distrib-
uters of Washington will be invited.
At this meeting our contentious will be
outlined and suggestions for remedy
aHe NV NphhthiOh Nlil bt
This Is no sensational movement
which justifies fear on the part Of the
consumers. but a logical get-together
campaign to try to make the milk busi-
ness profitable both to the producer
and the distributor, without raising the
retail price"
One method outlined by which waste
may be eliminated was a more careful
handling of the milk bottle problem.
This phase of the industry has always
represented more or less loss, and
the drivers the value OF all bottles
taken out. the loss would be cut ma
terially. This method has been success
fully tried in other cities.
Among those who attended the COM
mittee meeting were W. J. Spillman.
B. H. Rawle and Frank G. Caffey, of
the Department of Agriculture; Jud-
son C. weIIiver. McGin Belt. of Dick
erson, Nd; w. H. Chambers. of Barnes
vile, Nd: H. E Gssch, ]. R. Bowman
and II. p. walker. of Virginia. The
meeting Tuesday between the commit
tee and the distributors of Washington
will be held at the Munsey Building at
$50 o'clock.
Bread Problem Urged.
Another food staple whose price is be-
is bread. The general practice among
bakers seems to indicate that their
method Of meeting the increased price
OF materials is simply to cut the size
of the loaf.
Under existing law bakers Of the Dis
trict may make their loaves Of any
size they desire, as they are sold by
the loaf, and not by weight.
Complaints received by the government
to the effect that the weight OF a loaf
of bread is gradually decreasing brought
forth no promise OF relief. as officials
are powsrless to act.
Prices Of materials were never higher,
according to q prominent baker last night.
'cFIour and sugar have risen nearly 100
per cent and even the cost Of the bags
with which We wrap bread has risen
to a hgure almost four times that which
we paid last year" he said. Baking
tins and pie plates have also Joined the
upward trend Of prices and there seems
little chance for relief,
Meanwhile the bakers are cutting the
size of the Iosves in self defense and
there Is no legal way to stop them.
Combinations TO fix the price of milk
arbitrarily will be probed by the Depart
ment of Justice. The first Investigation
will be made on a complaint received
yesterday from Boston. which accuses
milk dealers there of having combined
against the public and in violation of
the antitrust law.
Local producers do not wish to run
contrary to the provisions of the sher-
man act which foFbids agreements TO
raise and fix prices. The Clayton act
contains a provision exempting asricul-
tural organizations, and the milk pro-
dueers claim they come under this