The sun., 1919-08-25

Ivy 10 IeBulale Tue anu sdiC
| of this necessity of life.
"If you are driven to this regrettable
alternative. we propose the following as
the nucleus OF tentative legislative pro-
| gramme for placing the distribution OF
milk on a public utility basis:
ii. That there be created state MIX
| Commission to regulate the milk distribu-
| ton business In cities OF the frst ana
second class
80. That all milk distributors in cities
| of the first and second class be required
to secure a license from the proposed
commission, and such commission be au-
thorized to refuse a license to any dis
tr!buter who cannot establish proof that
the business ne proposes to conduct Is OF
| public interest.
80 That the proposed commission be
| given full power to regulate the rates
which shall be charged on milk for the
service rendered by the distributing
agencies and TO limit the PROFITS OF such
| agencies to what It may deem to be
fair and reasonable return on the Invest
ment
Uniform Accounting System.
- That the proposed commission be
given full authority TO require the In
stallation of uniform cost accounting
systems by all distributing agencies in
the first and second class cities, and to
inspect and audit such accounts at any
| time.
IS. That the commission aid and as
sist all municipalities desiring to estab-
lish municipality owned distribution OF
milk. and act as an advisory board and
, be in position TO recommend the most ef-
| fective method to be used In establish
| ing municipal distribution Of milk, In
Guiding the acquisition of privately
owned distributing systems.
IS. That all the municipalities or the
State be authorized to acquire and oper-
ats milk distributing systems within
their boundaries when such acquisition
and operation are approved by this COM
mission.
az. That the proposed commission
promote cooperation between the pro-
| ducing and distributing elements of the
| milk industry; that II make from time
| to time investigation Of the cost OF pro-
ducing milk. and publish for the infor-
nation of the public data as to volume
ana cost of production In this State, that
| It conduct educational campaigns for
promoting the wider use Of milk as a
| food and cooperate with municipal
health departments and other agencies in
making special studies of the needs for
the greater use of milk in the feeding
| OF children.
IS. That the commission make spe-
ciai study Of the problem of providing
milk at minimum cost to the children
| Of the poorer sections of the larger cit
les, and cooperate with the municipal
departments of health in providing milk
for the feeding OF infants at the lowest
possible cost.
80. That the commission cooperate
with the New York city Department OF
| Health to make a special study of the
conditions under which loose milk Il
sold IN the city and endeayor to elimi-
nate all possible danger of contamina.
ton of milk sold in this manner.
40. That the proposed commission be
empowered to revoke a dealers license
for due cause after public hearing and
after due notice in writing.
al. That any municipality in addition
to cities of the first and second elias:
may by formal action OF the governing
body of the municipality place them
selves under the jurisdiction of this com.
mission.
other Data Available Soon.
"As to the food situation generally
we call your attention to the fact that
Investigations have been under way fol-
| a period of several months under the
direction of your Reconstruction Com
mission. Reports OF these have been
forwarded to you and we are informed
that those not yet completed will shortly
be ready for your use.
Numerous other investigations are
| already under way, which, IL vigorously
proceeded with, should supply additional
data for action, legislative and other
| wise.
1T therefore seems to be useless at
the present moment TO institute another
general food investigation, duplicating
those which are under way and in the
hands Of those charged with the respon-
sibility OF enforcing the law. The i'm
portant thing is to coordinate these in.
! vestisations, correiats the data produced
and devise such legislation as may be
necessary.
To this end we recommend that YOU
| call conference OF representatives OF
these various investigating agencies to
| meet with you and the heads of the an.
propriate State and city departments. SC
that plan of action may be worked
out best calculated to produce results
We suggest that there be included In
your invitation TO such a conference the
Attorney-General of the United State,
or his representative. the Attorney
General of the State of New York. the
District Attorney of each county in the
State. the Mayors OF cities, the members
Of the Reconstruction Commission, the
heads OF the departments of farms and
markets of State and city, the heads O,
departments of health OF State and
city. the Federal Food Administrator ir
charge OF the :air price committees, rep.
resentatives OF chambers OF commerce
representatives OF the agricultural in.
terests of the State, representatives o,
labor and other such persons as vol
may ind helpful In such a conference.
| I'VE suggest, moreover. that you In.
struct every department In the State IL
offer every facility and extend the full,
est cooperation to the Federal Trade
Commission and to the United State,
Senate committee, under the chairman.
ship of Senator Cummins. in their effort
to reduce the high cost OF living.
| And we also recommend that yor
cause all possible aid to be gtyer
throughout the State to the fair pric,
committees being organized to supple
ment the efficient work now being don,
by the Fair Price Committee in the cit,
OF New York and to the Federal Food
Administrators