The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-15
WILLIAMS DENIES
MILK RAISE BLAME
Federal Food Administrator
Asserts Increased Cost Of
Labor Is Main Factor.
HYLAN WRITES WILSON
Conference Board Meets in
Secret and Refuses to
Tell Proceedings.

ministrator for New York city. denied
yesterday that the Food Administration
was responsible for the additional cent
which housewives must pay for pints and
quarts OF milk beginning yesterday.
Under the new schedule Grade milk
sells for II cents n quart and II cents
pint. bottled and delivered. Grade
A costs - and 70 cents for quart and
pint bottles respectively.
1T Ii generally known" said Mr..
Williams, that the prodvcers-the
farmers OF the state-insist the price
they now receive does not, in view of
the present cost OF labor and feed. cover
the actual cost OF milk production. The
Food Administration is satisfied that
there is no element OF prohteering or OF
an excessive charge in the farmers
price: further It feels that the farmers
are sincere IN their belief that they are
now either subject to . loss or make
no profit In the present milk price.
Pronteer1ng Charge Denied.
The administration also 10 satisfied
that at present prices the distributors
arc subject to slight loss or make no
particular profit Our people may rest
assured there IL no profteering in the
present charge, based on the best infor-
nation the Food Administration has
been able to obtain through its experts
and accountants. This and the ap-
preaching month of December are the
period OF the year when the cost OF
production reaches a maximum.
while all will appreciate that neither
the producer nor distributor can per-
manently continue to supply milk at a
loss. II IL felt that some loss might be
carried at this period. or that the SER
vice might be performed without proft.
with the expectation OF balancing the
difference when the costs fall and the
flow Of milk reaches the usual seasonal
Increase"
Nc. williams asserted that the pres
ent jump In price was due TO the re
cent increase in the cost OF labor IN
this city" The claim Of the employees
Of the distributors that they should re-
ceive more pay has been sustained by
both Federal and State labor authori-
ties. ar. Williams added.
Mayor Hylan Makes Protest.
The increased prices elected a letter
OF protest from Mayor Hyian to Herbert
Hoover, the Federal Food Adm!nistra-
tor. The Mayor says he considers the
matter Of such importance that he has
called It to the attention Of President
Wilson.
Since the receipt OF your letter OF
November we again md that you
have allowed an additional charge of
one cent a quart for milk. which makes
an increase Of two cents a quart in
the last two weeks. making milk in
this city 10 cents a quart" says the
Mayors letter.
In your letter YOU place the blame
on the dairymen when the question Is
principally with the distributor. / am
informed on good authority that loose
milk can be distributed probably at
three cents a quart and bottled milk
at five cents a quart over and above the
price the dairymen demand for the milk
you have allowed the distributor To
charge 10 cents per quart for bottled
milk. which Is over 9 cents per quart
more than the price paid to the dairy
men.
Asks Power to Make an Inquiry.
You suggest In your letter that II
might be well for the municipal authori-
ties. dairymen and producers interests
who supply New York TO agree upon
some method or tribunal by which these
problems could be settled without inter-
ference by the Federal Government.
"If you will designate me as your
representative in this city to determine
whether an excessive price 10 being
charged by the distributors. as well as
by the dairymen OF producers. shall
be very glad to undertake the task and
report to you my findings. There Is no
question quite 90 vital to the people OF
New York as the question of milk and
coal.
IT consider the matter OF such i'm
portance that have called It to the at
tention of the President"