The sun., 1919-08-26

of the Sheffield Farms Company, Inc,
Harry A. cronk of the Borden company
D. e. Austin of the Nestles Food Com
pany and 1. Ellsin Nathan, secretary OF
the Milk Conference Board.
Big Distributors Called.
According to persons questioned yes
terday by Judge Swami and Alfred ].
Taey, Assistant District Attorney, this
conference committee meets on the first
Of each month and determines sale prices
for the entire city. 1t was said that
these prices have been fixed in many
cases twenty days ahead of time.
After conducting lengthy examinations
in his private offices and further probes
IN the Grand Jury room District Attor-
ney Swami said last night that he was
convinced that II there was any con-
spiracy to fix prices illegally 1t would be
found to hinge upon this body He an
nounced that the Grand Jury which was
originally empanelled to take up the
question OF Red" activities would de-
vote at least an hour and a half each
day to the milk question until something
definite should be arrived at.
at may he necessary to grant~im-
munity TO certain persons on the in
SIDE" he said, lin order to get after the
higher ups"
Regarding members of the conference
residing in Connecticut and Massachu-
sets. he said, evidence tending to show
any violation of the law would be pre-
sented to the Federal authorities, who
might be able to proceed under the anti
trust statutes.
While the District Attorneys office
was beginning its drive, DIR. Royal S.
Copeland. Health Commissioner, was
compiling some figures regSFding the eff
feet OF the high prices upon school chill
dren, and the result. which he made pub
lie last night, showed an anna ing per-
centage OF cases of malnutrition in GER
tain parts OF the city.
Where the number of undernourished
children two years ago averaged 10 per
cent Dr. Copeland said last night that
every public school in the city has gone
over this mark and that at present the
percentage of cases of malnutrition
ranges everywhere from 20 to 10 per
cent. a school. with the average for the
city % per cent
The proposal of Martin H. Giynn, for
mer Governor, and DIR. John II. Finley,
commissioners appointed by Gov. Smith
Tor the establishment of a fair price
milk committee with ali alternative OF
municipal supervision of distribution,
caused considerable comment In both Of
hcial and private circles which differed
widely on the question of its practica-
blty.
Copeland App1auds Plan.
DR.. Copeland, whom the Governor is
said to have selected for membership on
this committee. said of the scheme: III
put into effect, a great amount of good
will be accomplished by 1t. The plan
VIII in no way affect the investigation
which the Department of Health is con-
Quoting"
Arthur Williams. Federal Food Ad-
Illustrator for this city, said of the
Glynn-Finley report: 81 like 1t i'm
mensely. 1t is most constructive. I,
ought to solve the whole milk problem. u
f. r Eastman. manager Of the Dairy
mems League. was pleased to see that
me report gave the farmer a clean bill
OF health" but remarked on the ques-
@s3n Of municipal supervision:
The Government made a fizzle of the
railroads.; what would Hylan's admins
nation do then with milk distribution ??
A. Van Bomel Of the Sheffield
Farms Company. Inc. one of the men
me District Attorney will question to-
cay said to a representative of THE
sun:
II they can show us how we can re-
duce prices and still pay our stockhold-
ers fair profit on their investment, the
Gsaiers VIII have no complaint TO make
we have been investigated again and
again practically to the point of per-
secution. As a matter of fact at pres
ent we are losing money on our route
department. which constitutes about sc
per cent. of the business. There Is only
small profit in our store sales depart
ment"
Mr. Van Bomel made it plain that his
remarks were not to be taken as indi.
eating the attitude Of his company but
merely as his o&n opinioS.
serious menace to the milk supply
Was pointed out by Mr. Eastman and
Anert Manning. secretary of the Dairy
mem League. who asserted that cows
Ie being purchased here in enormous
numbers for shipment to Europe.
700 Cows shipped to France.
AT. Eastman declared that $50 milk
ISows were shipped out of Goshen, N. Y,
,. s' week en- route for France. and that
h carloads OF thirty cows each were
5Tnpped from another town up State.
-nese' he, said, are but examples of a
nolesale business which European
,Ssehts are transacting here. In Goshen
.e cows are being brought from many
parts OF the surrounding country and
paced IN corral which during the war
vas used for the herding of horsss pur-
,LIased for overseas shipment. From
mere large numbers are regularly sent
vi trains 10 the seaports.
Inc rumber Of cows required for the
ni'k supply OF this Stats Mr.. Eastman
saia' Is about 100000 half of which sup
py the district about the city One
factor contributing greatly to the trouble
the Tact that many farmers feel that
uIey can obtain more money by selling
mel grain than by maintaining cows
WIN II and selling their milk
10 explain the pessimistic feeling
.hons the farmers Mr.. Eastman referred
=" The following table showing an enor-