New-York tribune., 1919-01-14
Deadlock
Still On; Hope
Of Break Seen
Smith Commission Unable
TO Bring Producers and
Distributors Togeth e +
Some Progress Is Made
Appeal to Legislature Is
Promised Unless Agree
ment Is Reached Monday

- Sl&-nOQr conference ycSterday t.
tween representa- tives of the milk pro-
ducers and distributors on the Com
mission recently appointed by Cover
nor Smith, presided over by Chairman
Robert Z. Bowling, failed to break the
deadlock over the January price
schedule The relations between the
opposing factions, however, we're i'm
proved to such an extent that Chair
man Bowling decided to defer taking
other steps to settle the differences,
pending another conference to be held
to-day. He declared on Saturday that
unless an agreement was reached Mon
day he would recommend that the
Legislature take action to bring about
resumption OF normal daily milk
supply. III
The session was held behind closed
doors in the Office of Mr.. Bowling. 165
Broadway At its close the chairman
reported enough headway had been
made to warrant further discussion.
Surplus Milk the Problem
The solution of the milk question"
said Mr.. Bowling, "seems to hinge on
agreements between the farmers ard
distributors provide the distributors
shall take all the milk the dairymen
send them. in certain seasons OF the
year the greater part Of the milk thus
received is not sold as fluid milk, but
is manufactured into condensed or
powdered milk or some other product,
such as butter or cheese. The distrib-
uters say they cannot pay for the milk
that is manufactured the price asked
by the Dairymen-s League, as in the
sale of their products they have to
compete with other factories that are
able to procure much cheaper milk"
He added that the discussion of the
day had centred chiefly on year
round schedule, in which connection
the subject of surplus milk was intro
duced.
"The price to be paid by condcnseries
is question we are considering" he
concluded. "Condenseries in other
states pay lower price than those of
this state. Unless prices are arranged
competition with those of other states,
they may have to move out, just as
did the steel mills.
Permanent Commission Advised
Some permanent commission to su-
pervisc the milk industry should be
appointed, TO license both producer and
consumer and generally control the
milk SITUATION. / am hopeful that both
sides may get together FOR perma-
nent agreement tomorrow, and it is
only because of this hope that l have
consa nted to meet with them again"
The city's milk receipts yesterday
totalled l,451, 492 quarts, cstabu ushing
a new high mark since January I. when
the members of the Dairymen's League
refused to ship their milk because dis
tributers offered them $3.50 hundred
pounds, against their demands for
$4.01.
Health Commissioner Copeland de
clared the baby health stations and
families with children are now assured
OF an adequate daily supply. He said
very few complaints arising from the
milk shortage have reached his Office.
The John Doe inquiry into the high
cost Of milk will be resumed on Thurs
day, according to Assistant District
Attorney John T. Dooling, who has been
announced that DR.. Eugene H. Porter.
Ccmmiss sioncr of Food and Markets Of
New York State, probably will be called
before the end of the week He said he
will request from DR.. Percy Stickney
Grant the name Of the company whose
driver, the pastor reported, was seen to
mix one can Of water with five cans Of
milk. DR.. Grant made this statement
at the forum discussion at his church
Sunday night.
Excessive Demands Denied
Roswell d. Cooper. president of the
Dairymens League, issued a statement
las. night in refutation of statements
by the distributors that farmers in
New York State demand moro for their
milk than those of other states.
IA comparison of nationwide prices
for milk with those paid to the dairy
men supplying New York State" said
Mr.. Cooper "as given by the United
States Crop Reporter, the official pub
lication of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, shows the dairy
men received for the first eleven
months Of 1918 an average price of GIT
cents a quart, while the average price
received throughout the country was
TIA. The December figures are not yet
available.'
A month By month comparison, ac-
cording to Mr. Cooper, shows the fol-
lowing:
Nationwide New York