New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-15
Leagues Committee In
dorses Bill for Pasteur-
ization Plant
Dillon Sees Delivery
At 8 Cents a Quart
Prophesies New Concerns
if Old Firms Fail to
Reduce Rates

Cheaper milk for New York City was
brought nearer yesterday with the in
dorsement by the executive committee
of the Dairymen's League OF the
Towner bill, now before the Legs
lature.
Hitherto, the league has been cold
toward the measure, which proposes
100000 appropriation for a state con-
trolled pasteurization and distribution
plant in the city.
Passage of the bill, with the leagues
cooperation, would insure, according TO
John J. Dillon, State Commissioner OF
Foods and Markets. delivery IN the
homes Of the city of pasteurized
bottled milk at eight cents a quart.
This would be sold by grocers and pro-
prietors of delicatessen stores, VINO
have asked by the hundreds TO be
allowed TO handle and deliver 1t at
cent quart profit.
Could Pasteurize Little
While the proposed plant could
pasteurize only about 5 per cent OF the
milk sent to New York, 1t would demon
strste, Commissioner Dillon said yes
terday, that milk could be sold at eight
cents with a reasonable profit to both
wholesaler and retailer.
Should the companies then fan 70
reduce their prices, he asserted, they
would find themselves faced by compe-
tition from new concerns.
At present prices asked by the farm
ers, milk could be sold at eight cents
for at least six months of the year,
Mr. Dillon estimates. During the rest
of the time-largely in the winter-it
II
The action OF the league brings
sharply TO a crisis the struggle be-
tween the farmers and the milk com
panies over prices, the former having
demanded an increase for six months
to begin April 1.
lp brief statement announcing its
Endorsement of the bill. the league
committee differed with limitations OF
the milk companies that prices 10 the
consumer would have to be raised 20
II or possibly l3 cents a quart If the
demands Of the farmers we're granted.
Barely Covers Cost
at the Office of the Dairymen's
League it was stated that the price OF
milk as named b. them for the next
three months would be about Az cents
per quart for the standard sold in this
CITY, IL Hdlu, ludb hhlS pA'SC D"AN''
covers the cost of production and can
be paid them without any increase IN
price to the consumer.
"The league favors more direct con
nection between it and consumers. feel
ing their interest to be to a large eX-
tent Identical
"To this end the executive commit
tee Of the league this afternoon in
dorsed the Towner bill, which author
ICES the Department Of Foods and
Markets to establish milk distribut-
ing plant in the city through which de
livery of milk may be made mere di-
rect and at less expense
The executive committees announce
ment followed long conference OF It's
members and Commissioner Dillon on
Tuesday night. while the former were
i'm session with representatives OF the
milk companies. The Commissioner de
clared that he had not been consulted
concerning the farmers demands and
had offered no advice, although he had
negotiated contracts giving them better
prices last fall.
Early yesterday. however, League off
cials telephoned Mr.. Dillon and asked
him TO meet them at the Murray Hlli
Hotel
lie replied that If they cared TO tax
to him they would have to come to his
office, at 2O4 Franklin Street. The con-
ference began there at IL o'clock.
Dilon's Estimates
Commissioner Dillon estimates that
with milk being sold by the farmer at
about $3.50 for a forty-quart can. the
eight-cent price TO the consumer would
be based on the following additional
costs. all on n fortyquart basis: Pas
teurizing. - cents; bottling, 10 cents;
freight. "a cents; delivery to the re-
taller. Is cents; overhead charges, 10
cents; wholesalers profit. 10 cents;
retailers profit, 40 cents, total OF
S319. -.
Dispatches from Albany last night
said that the Towner bill now in the
hands of the Senate Finance Commit
tee. would not be considered until after
the general appropriation bill was dis
posed Of.
An officer of the Dairymen's League
said yesterday that the leagues 10000
members would be urged to bring
pressure to bear on the Legislature IN
favor Of the hill