The sun., 1919-08-25

1915, and from present Indications II is
likely TO go still higher during the
coming winter.
This Increase Is due in considerable
part TO the causes which have led to high
food prices generally, among which was
the demand for our milk products abroad
during the last two years of the war But
when the MIR Reporter for July calls
editorial attention to an existing consider
able surplus over domestic needs, due to
the Increased flow OF milk, and urges
the finding of a new foreign market In
order that profitable prices be main
tanned we have reason TO infer that
there are other causes than these general
causes, and reasons that can no longer
be called patriotic.
Suspicion of Price Fixing.
'1Moreover, while the prices to the con-
sumner are fairly uniform among cities
generally this very uniformity raises
suspicion of general lifting to the
maximum price. From current quota
lions milk appears to be cheaper In
Chicago and Boston than In New York.
but In Philadelphia the price Is so much
lower as to challenge our special atten-
ton. We have been unable to find salts
flying reasons ourselves, but 1t should be
said IN all fairness that the representa-
tives OF the distributors have professed
an ability to give good reasons for these
differences.
ION Friday. August %. bottled milk
sold In New York city for 16 cents a
quart, In Chicago for is cents. In Boston
for 1874 cents and in Philadelphia for
IL cents--this despite the fact that the
average amounts per quart or per hun
he 70 MI
Philadelphia, Chicago and Boston mar
kets are. according to reports furnished
us by the State Department of Farms
and Markets, somewhat higher than
those paid the farmers supplying the
New York city market.
what this slight difference In the
price OF each quart OF milk means to
the people of New York city may be es-
timated from the fact that In round num-
bers 1000, 900 quarts of milk are daily
consumed in New York city. OF this a
per cent. is bottled that is, approx
mately $4,000 quarts of bottled milk
are sold in New York city daily. This
difference between the selling price Of
bottled milk in Philadelphia, which is II
cents a quart and that in New York
city, which is 16 cents a quart. means
that the people of New York in a year
would pay s6,424,000 more than the peo-
Of bottled milk and s3.212.oo0 a year
more than the people of Chicago and
si.1os,ooo more than the people of
Boston.
System Needs Reformation.
Undoubtedly it costs more to do busi-
ness and to distribute milk in New York
city than it does in Boston. Philadelphia
or Chicago, but a milk system that costs
the people OF the city of New York COM
paratively s6,000.000 a year more than
It costs the people OF PHILADELPHIA, and
100000 more than 1t costs the people
Of Chicago, and 100000 more than II
costs the people of Boston needs either
explanation or reformation.
I'm answer to this comparison, wa
know the contention will be made that
little or no dipped milk is sold in Phila-
delphia, and that people who do not want
to pay sixteen cents a quart for bottled
milk In New York city can buy dipped
milk for twelve cents. This answer. how
ever. begs the question. Bottled milk is
bottled milk whether In Boston. or Phil
adelphia. or Chicago. or New York, and
the people of New York city are entitled
to know why they should pay two cents
a quart more for bottled milk than the
people of PHILADELPHIA, one cent a quart
more than the people of Chicago. and
one-half cent a quart more than the
people of Boston.
'These comparative figures may seem
large. but It should be borne IN mind
that at present prices New York city
will consume bottled and loose milk to
the value Of s14o.ooo,oo0 in a single
year.
eff milk we're mere commodity with
out which human beings might live in
health and vigor. the State would. OF
course. have little concern in these
transactions; but since in every COM
munity there are many persons. espe-
cia1ly children, mothers and invaiids
for whom 1t is as much a necessity OF
life as a supply of pure water. the State
has not only a rightful reason for in
quiry as to whether there are exorbitant
profits in its sale. but a compelling rea-
son for interfering II there are.
Open Compe tition Desired.
TT is hardly conceivable that any pa
triotic or humane citizen would whiting
ly take undue or eXtortionate advantage
of this sTeat and primal human need
especially when II is realized that such
gain must inevitably result in the
greater mortality OF infants and weak
ness OF children unless charity. the
milk OF human kindness. supplies
this reason, while we recommend that
you urge the Attorney General OF
the United states TO all possible speed In
prosecuting violations OF the Interest te
Commerce Act in price fixing (since milk
Is brought not only from New York
State. but from Pennsylvania, New Jer'
sey, Vermont, Connecticut Massa-
chusetts and Canada. and therefore
through the channels OF interstate COM
merce), and while we further recon-
mend that you require all district at
torneys In the State of New York. as
you have already required the Dis
trict Attorney of New York County to
give immediate and most diligent atten-
ton to any violation of existing laws
within ther respective districts, we are
disposed to put the emphasis for the
present upon bringing about such
open cooperation between dealer anc
consumer as will insure a fair price.
TO that end we recommend. there
fore, that you cause to be appointed
FIRST Of all In New York city, fair price
milk committee. consisting Of nine mem
bers: The State Commissioner Of
Health, the New York city Commissioner
OF Health, the New York city Commits
sioner OF Markets. three members to b.
named by the Governor of the State and
three members to be named by the
Mayor OF the city OF New York.
I'VE further recommend that you fol
low this plan in the formation of mill
committee in other cities in the Stats
upon request OF the local officials.
Work of Other Committees.
The fair price committees organized
under Federal authority have produced