New-York tribune., 1919-09-12
Farm Council Head
Blames Governor
At Milk Inquiry
Dana Declares That Smith
Said He Could Not Help
to Probe Situation

Part responsibility for the failure
of the State Council of Farms and
Markets to investigate the milk situa-
tion in this city was placed upon Gov
ernor Smith by William Z Dana,
president OF the council, at Yesterdays
session of the inquiry by George Cor
don Battle into the activities of the
council.
This testimony created a mild stir,
as 1t was in the nature Of a boomeranr
the commission to investigate the
council having been appointed by the
Governor himself
Mr. Dana made his statement in re-
sponse to query from John B. Cole
man, ma counsel to the commission, as to
whether the state couAcil ever at
tempted to look into the milk situa-
tion here.
Il went to the Governor and asked
him for an appropriation of $50 600
to conduct a milk investigation in New
York City" Mr.. Dana said The Gov
ernor was extremely courteous, but
thought, it had been investigated to
t!catf."
Mr.. Coleman hastily interccdcd and
asked the witness if he 'meant to im-
ply that the Governor refused this
money"
No" Mr. Dana said slowly, "but he
could lot help lis get it,
Mr.. Dana broke the monotonv o. the
proceedings at another point when he
asked why ne should send his milk
to New York If he could receive more
money by making il into cheese. This
assertion followed Mr. Coleman's in.
curry into the responsibility for the
advance OF from 10 cents a quart to
1S cents in the price Of milk. The
featuring costs make it essential for
the farmer to advance his price. Farm
crs, even if they obtained monopoly
on all the receiving plants in the state.
would never raise the price Of milk to
a figure out Of the reach of the major
ity of the people, if only for business
reasons, Mr.. Dana said.
The league is beneficial to farmers,
Mr.. Dana continued. If it were not foY
the league, he declared at one point,
when nett!ed by Mr.. Colcmans cues
tons, people would be forced to pay
more ior their milk. He said that the
council made 10 attempt to follow ont
the recommendation OF the Wicls, COM
mlttec, which made an irvest.gation in
1916
He testified that no action had been
taken against Harry +. Cole, a tenn
| poIary employc OF the council. who ha :
! been accused Of accepting $500 from
/ Swift e. Co. Ny. Cole is now cornecte d
! with the division of production. He
maintained that politics had no place
III the councils activities.
John Gerou, of Washingtonville, y.
y, president Of the Dairymcn's League
from its inception in 1907 to 1916 and
a member Of the State Council of
Farms and Markets, said that he had
been asked to resign the leagues pres
1dcncy because of persistent rumo1
that he was growing rich in the Office
lie said that he did not think it propcr
tor Or. Porter to accept money from
/ the league while Commissioner of
Foods and Markets. He said he an
proved the amendment to the Donnclly
act because it enabled farmers to lift
themselves from the peasant class.
Before the session Mr. Battle issued
statement announcing that the rec
ords OF the Federal Trade Commits.
, sion's Investigation into the activities
; Of the beef packers had been made
available to him.. Mrs. Lewis Reed
Welzmiller, state chairman of the
Plenty Food League. who was present
at the session, declared that if the out
come of the present investigation is
unsatisfactory the women will petition
the Legislature asking it to take ac-
ton.