Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-06
Is There No Remedy in Law?

Is There No Remedy in Law?
Several weeks ago the milk inspector
sent report to City Council, embodying
the results of his analyses of milk con-
rii.ions and general observations, which
was quite startling in its details. In 8
word, IL alleged that surprisingly small
proportion of the milk furnished for con-
sumption by men, women and babies Of
our city met the requirements Of the law
as TO good conditions, while large pro-
r>ortion of it Was abominably deficient,
1t was announced that the publication Of
this report wss 10 be looked upon as q
warning, and that if subsequent reports
failed 70 reveal decided improvement,
offenders would be vigorously prosecuted.
Since the publication Of the report at
keast two others have been presented
70 City Council, and the latest, read at
Thursday nights meeting, said: ut
will be noticed conditions arc about the
same as reported previously" And so
they were OF total of 80 tests of milk
ANALYSIS, only II were reported as showing
clean milk: II were set down IS medium
and 10 as dirty. There WAS noticeable
Improvement, however, as 70 bacteria
contents, only one exceeding the safety
limit Of 100000 Ten samples were
below the minimum requirement Of 3.5
per cent Of butter fat
It is apparent, however, that little
attention is being paid 70 the warning
gwen out BY the milk inspector in respect
Of prosecutions under the ordinance.
Why? Did the dairynen and wholesale
distributors look upon his announcement
as mere chaf, intended for the public ear
cnly. and therefore 10 be disregarded with
.nuInity By those Immediately concerned?
There have been no prosecutions vet, and
a his latest reports to the City Council
-hc inspector had nothing to ssy in re-
-pcct Of q rigid enforcement of the milk
regulations. He referred to q continued
delinquency IN respect Of thorough cleans
ing and sterilization Of the milk bottles,
and suggested an amendment 10 the ordi-
nance to provide for proper appliance for
this work at all stations where II is sup
posed to be performed.
But what viii be the use Of amending
the ordinance il its provisions are to be
disregarded, as they are shown TO be by
the successive reports OF the milk inspector
A law in q book, or even IN the public
press, Of itself amounts 10 nothing. II IS
not self-enforcing It needs an effective
agency behind it TO make its provisions
effective IN the public service.
Ne suggest that the milk inspector
employ the experiment OF few pTcsecu-
sions, IN order 20 ascertain whether there
any relief for the people, under the exist
ing law, from the danger Of impure milk
Such procedure would at least show the
standing of the law, and if the test pr d
the law TO be ineffective, il would then be
IN order TO have in promptly strengthened
by appropriate amendment. But If there
IS TO be no practical enforcement, the law
is Just as good-or just as bad-in its
present shape as II would be with al the
presumably strengthening amendments
that could be conceived of Enforcement
seems TO be the great need. There
is no doubt that one prosecution attended
by conviction and the imposition Of
penalty would be more eficacious than
any amount of reports, complaints and
suggestions OF law amendment by the
milk inspector
The situation IS one Of great importance. /
A pure milk supply Is as essential to the
comfort and health Of the people as a
pure supply OF water. Especially It is
necessary 10 have pure milk for infants,
many of whom can take no other sus-
To have impure, weak, non /
milk fed to babies is bad enough. /
but when milk that is dirty and bacteria I
laden is allowed to go into their tender
little stonachs, disease and death are
threatened Health authorities every /
where have hammered this important 1
subject into the minds OF people, day in /
and day opt, in efforts to bring about
reform that will insure absolute purity I
ana cleanliness II ali supplies Of milk.
Our milk inspector is laboring earnestly /
n this direction, but, unless there is some
restrictive agency in existence of which the
public has no knowledge, he stops short
of the real objective. He points out evil
conditions that must be lawless, issues
warnings that continued delinquencies
Kill inclte prosecutions and lets il 20
II that.
Plainly, something more is needed to
snforce the adequate protection Of the
milk supply of our city. Let US have it,
whatever it may be.
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