Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-12-25
Hearings On MINK Prlces.

Daring tho past few days hearings on
milk prices have been In progress at the
State House. Boston, the Regional Mill
Commission appointed By tie National
Food Administrator having met Decem.
Der II and set December 1S - the date
for bearings 70 begin. The name Of
Walter 81. Sawyer Of Maine was an.
nounced to complete the membership oi
the Commission and Henry B. Endioott,
Massachusetts, Food Administrator ID,
OK -0facio member.
The Commission 10 empowered to call
witnesses and determine the exact cost
Of producing and delivering milk at the
railway station at point of origin and
when that cost 10 determined, TO further
determine what would be . fair and
reasonable profit to the producers, ''and
by adding such profit to tho amount
found ~ the cost Of production, to de-
termine what will be just and reason
able price for the producer to be paid
from the date of the Commissions de-
cision mp to and including April /, 1918 -
The Commission will in like manner
determine the cost of distribution and .
removable profit to the distributors and
determine the price to be charged con-
sumers for the same period.
II the Commission finds the price to
be paid to producers and distributors is
In excess of the price paid to them dur
ing November and December 1917 they,
"shall add such sum to the reasonable
costs and profits for such . period Of
time ~ may be necessary to
make mp the deficiency caused in No
vember and December
The Commission is empowered to
recommend the practice of any econ
omies In the production and distribution
OF milk, that the evidence shows may be
pracsiced, and such cooperation in the
production and distribution of milk, as
It believes justified by the evidence,
"that will result In economies and pro-
mote the general welfare"
The dealers have agreed to be bound
by the finding of the Commission. The
result should be entirely satisfactory to
the milk producers and the public will
know that the price they pay for milk
after the Commission has made its
award does not cover excess profits to
the contractors or any more than .
just and reasonable profit to the farmer,
who has heretofore been charged by the
contractor with being the cause OF any
increase that has been made to the
public. The whole business of the
production and distribution OF milk for
food will be known and understood and
the public will consume more when
they realize that they are getting 1t at
q fair price and that the increased use
of milk results in decreased cost of living.
Able presentation OF the costs of pro.
duction will be made by representatives
of the several State Departments of
State Dairymen's Associa-
tiOns, State Oranges, Cow Testing As
sociations, The Boston Chamber of Com.
merce and other bodies and individuals
have the facts. This Is the opportunity
for which the milk producer has been
looking and which the New England
Milk Producers Association has been
working to secure. It means putting
on the basis where 1t belongs ~
the greatest single industry In New
England, that farmers can build on
certainty and that the herds Of valuable
cows which would be sold for beef will
be saved to continue to produce milk.
The N. E. N. P. A., in securing this
to pass officially on the cost
of producing milk and delivering 1t to
the consumer, is recognized by the
government as the representative OF the
producers and It is preparing to present
their case fully and efficiently 10 . way
to justify the continued confidence Of
the milk producers who have united ip
its organization.