The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-11-08

QudIL-btoI nAilh NOW oellS LOT 20
Cents Quart.
NEW YORK, Nov Federal au-
thorities have continued taking testi-
mony in the investigation into the cost
of the production of milk and the in
creascs of from one and one-half to
two cents announced by the distribu-
tors for November.
Henry A. Cutler, appointed by As
sistant Attorney General Francis 2. Gar
van to conduct the inquiry, has exam
med several witnesses whose Identities
were not disclosed, because of instruc-
tons from Washington that the hear
ing should be secret. It was said that
if the evidence warranted, criminal
prosecutions under the Lever food con
troll law or the Sherman act would be
begun by the government
Mr. Cutler said last night his inves-
tigation probably would last two
weeks, after which he would report to
The attorney general. He described
the progress made as very satisfac
| tory adding that a restriction had
| been placed on him discussing his
work
Patrons of the Borden Farm Prod
/ ucts company, were notified that the
following prices would be in effect
| Certified grade 4, % cents quart ;
/ selected grade A. 90 cents; fluid grade
B, IS cents; extra heavy cream. half
pints, 2S cents; route cream, Is cents i;
| buttermilk, II cents a quart. The pric-
cs demanded for grade A and B milk
represents an increase of two cents q
quart.
/ Tcstifying at the investigation into
i the department of farms and markess
being conducted by Special Commits
/ sioner George Gordon Battle, John J
/ Dillon, ex-eommissioner of farms and
markets and editor of The Rural New
/ Yorker. said the recent advances in
milk prices by the distributors made
the cost TO the consumer out of all req.
son. He said that with proper distri
Bntion 1andaga DISPLAY oSsoaby apint.io on
fairness by Observation-Disclosures, there was
no reason why milk could not be SOLD
in the city fonilo and L cents a quart
Mr. Dillon took up the subject OF
milk after he had declared that poll
ties impaired the usefulness of tn,
farms and markets departments
1.-The distributors. he said. Gar,
making an annual profit of $50, 000,00t
under these increases, while the farm
er actually is receiving Is cents
hundred pounds less this month than h
did a year ago. The price of grad
B milk here is t7lz cents quart
This gives the distributor work
ing margin of 10 cents quart after h
has paid the farmer the ~ cents al
lowed the producer. He pays about
cent for pasteurizing the milk and 70
freight charges, so that the consume
pays in reality a margin of cents I
have the milk delivered from the rail
road depot in the city to his house
Mr.. Dillon said = loose" milk in thi
city ought TO be sold in stores at
4 cents a quart. and that the best grad
should not cost more than II cents H
said 100000 quarts were being sol
daily here at a profit over these figure
of 81, cents.
b "a saving of cents a quart h
added ''means $4,000, 900 yea
8 Even more could be saved with sy,
4 TEN of distribution that would elm
q nate the handling of milk and othe
3 foods by six or seven different profit
81 seeking middlemen. If the department
q of farms and markets would work wit
3 the people, the legislature and local ei'
8 ic bodies and devise a practical schem
q of distribution there is no reason VIII
3 milk should not be sold here Mt 10 cent
y quart for the loose and u cent
b for bottled milk.
4 "Here is where the departmer
g should do something. The trouble
a that it has become SO stepped in pol
D. ties as to be virtually useless.