The sun., 1918-11-03
FARMERS ASK MORE
FOR DECEMBER MILK
Say 3.81 Cents a Pound Does
Not Pay Cost of Pro-
duction.
MAY DECLINE TO SELL
Mayor Writes Sour Letter to
Hoover, but Gets His Facts
Curdled.
MAY DECLINE TO SELL

Officers at the Dairymen's League
headquarters. ITO West Fortieth street.
say they are receiving evidence daily
proving the leagues contention that the
price fixed by the Food Administration
for milk In the country Is not sufficient
to cover the cost of production.
The Allegany branch OF the league in
formal session has protested that milk
cannot be produced at the Food Admin
istration's price to the farmer and de-
ciared that unless the price for Decent
Der is large enough to cover the cost OF
feeding and maintaining herds OF cattle
the members will reserve their right to
refuse to deliver milk at the country
stations. This threat II carried out
would mean that distributors could not
get milk from this particular section.
Many farmers have sent letters and
kilograms TO league heads asserting that
they are not satisfied with the November
prices and that II farmers are obliged to
make milk" at loss they will have to
quit the business.
Cows Being Sold fer Beef.
A Dairymen's League director said
yesterday that reports from widely sep
arated sections indicate that farmers are
selling their cows for beef in preference
to keeping them and losing money.
IT know. too. that many OF them are
dsposing OF their cows for less than beef
prices" he said. Recently sold cow
for $50 for beef l have heard Of a
number of league members who have
| taken $50 and s55 for a COW because
they felt they had to get rid of their
stock In a hurry and prevent further
| losses.
1.-THE serious part OF all this is the
fact that II farmers continue to sell
| their mich cows the depletion OF the
dairy herds will result in a serious short
age of milk, which is just the thing that
the Food Administration doesn't want
| and the consuming public cannot stand"
The producers price. as fixed by the
Food Administration for November, Is
| S3.Sl for 100 pounds of 3 per cent. milk.
In discussion of the milk situation in
| Greater New York John d Miller, coun-
sci to the Dairymen's League. addressed
not long ago a brief to Federal Food Ad-
| ministrator Hoover. in which he said:
THE cost of producing November milk,
as shown by the schedule attached is
1925 per 100 pounds of per cent. milk.
| this being the base on which milk is sold
here. The farmers. in order that the
price to consumers might not go higher
than absolutely necessary. resolved every
possible doubt in favor Of the lower price
and suggested TO your representative a
price of S4.03 per 100 for 3 per cent.
| milk at the $50 mile freight zone and
| requested the approval of such price
| The dealers refused to agree to this and
| no decision was rendered. In making
| this suggestion the farmers expressly
stated that the present waving OF prof
its and the suggestion OF the price less
| than cost should not be considered a
| precedent for future action"
Mayor Writes to Hoover.
Mayor HyIan's trusty pen turned ou,
yesterday the following advice 20 Mr.
| Hoover in relation to the milk situation
Several days ago." the Mayor wrote
| "the press stated that you protested
against y cent milk as an attempt &c
profteer. note by the press OF Octo
Der 81 that you have allowed an in
| crease in milk to IS cents quart.
milk even at II cents a quart /:
bringing the price beyond the reach Of
hundreds OF thousands OF poor people ir
this city. II the press reported yol
correctly the people OF this city canno
| understand why you allowed the in
crease TO IS cents after you had so :.e
verely criticised milk at II cents a quar-
as profiteering. Tie news article ex
planned that the Food Admnistrato,
| stated that thorough examination o
the accounts OF the milk distributor!
showed that they have lost money OF
milk sold during October and will los,
money during November at the price
announced
IL do not believe that there are a hun
dred people In the city of New York
where almost 5000 900 of people reside
who believe that the milk distributor
have lost money during October or an!
other time.
| Mayor Is Wrong Again.
THE question of the price Of coal an,
milk in this city Is a serious problem
and the Food Administrator has ampl
power to protect the people from the eX
ploitation and protiteering in these ne
cessities of life
The protest" to which the Mayor al
ludcd appeared in a telegram which MI
Hoover sent to r. n. Cooper. presiden
OF the Dairymen's League, in which n
said that If the farmers Were allowe,
the price they asked the price OF milk L
the consumer would be II cents a quart
1t is known Mr.. Hoover had In MIN
Grade Il milk. The price OF Grade I
milk for November TO the consumer wa
fixed at Is cents quart. The Is cent
a quart price to which the Mayor refer
is the price fixed for Grade A milk. Tn
| great bulk of milk consumed is Grade L