The sun., 1919-08-25
DR.. Finley and Ex-Governor
Find Huge Profit After
Product Leaves Farms
REACHES 100 PER CENT.
Cost to Consumers in New
York City Amounts to
$14O.O0O,OOO a Year.
COMMITTEE rs SUGGESTED
If This Fails, Enactment Of
Laws to Reach GOugers
Is Asked.
COMMITTEE rs SUGGESTED

! Martin II. Glynn, formerly Governor,
and DR.. John H. Finley, Commissioner
of Education, the two commissioners
appointed by Gov. Smith to make in
quiry into the high cost Of living,
have fled a preliminary report in
which they advise him that such are
the conditions attending the milk traf-
fic and the cost of milk that he should
appoint Immediately a fair price milk
committee.
The two commissioners cite a milk
, situation that more than hints at
profiteering. They suggest that the
fair price milk committee be COM
posed of nine members and that these
committeeman seek to bring the milk
distributors to that stage of reason
ableness that the pyramiding profits be /.
reduced. The report has it that should
the committee find it impossible to
stop profiteering the Governor seek
legislation that would create a State
milk commission to regulate the milk
distribution business in cities Of the
first and second classes.
II was made known in Albany last
night that the Governor will create
this feir milk price committee within
a few Gays. The committee will in
clude Herman NJ. Biggs State Health
Commissioner; DIR. Royal S. Copeland.
New York City Health Commissioner.
and Jonathan Day, the City Market
Commissioner. 1t Is also known that
II this committee should fail to reduce
the cost Of milk that the Governor will
at once seek that Legislative relief that
the report suggests. The Governor has
told friends that, he will not hesitAte
to call a special session of the Lesisla-
ture to have such laws enacted.
The milk commissions authority
would be almost absolute regarding
milk distribution. In brief, the COM
missioners suggest that If the milk
distributors will not cut their profits
voluntarily to meet a fair price to the
consumer they be given no alternative.
M.ddleman Get. ProAt.
Messrs. Glynn and Finley report that
in so far as they have been able to DO
termine the farmer is not receiving An
exorbitant price for milk, but that the
cost of bottled milk to the consumer Is
approximately a hundred per cent. be-
yond what the farmer receives. The
two Investigators urge immediate action.
They quote facts from an editorial in
the MIR Reporter which urges that in
as much as there is more milk produced
here than the public needs foreign
market be developed that profitable
prices may be maintained.
And. the report goes on. despite the
fact that the farmers who supply milk
to Philadelphia. Chicago and Boston are
getting more for their milk than the pro-
ducers OF the New York supply. prices
in New York have been and are higher
to the consumer. At present prices.
the report has 1t. New York city win
consume about $l40,000,000 worth OF
milk a year.
1t is recommended that Gov. Smith
urge the Attorney General Of the United
States TO make all possible speed in
prosecuting violations OF the Interstate
cause New York's milk supply comes, in
part from Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
Connecticut, Vermont Massachusetts,
and Canada.
In regard TO the food situation gen
orally, the two commissioners find that
there are so many inquiries into the
! cost of food under way in the State
that it would be wise for the Governor
TO call a meeting OF the various heads
Of the several investigating bodies and
. seek immediate - cooperation between
them.
Ask 10 be Relieved.
Mr Glynn and DR.. Finley ask that
they be relieved of the business OF In
. vestigatIng the Department of Farms
, and Markets because they find that they
|, have not the time TO give such an in
Nestigation the careful study that condi-
, tions necessitate,
: The report says:
The milk situation, especially in
New York city, is so pressing that you
should not await the findings OF this
departmental investigation but should
give whatever Immediate relief Is pos
sible through other agencies. Moreover.
what is done in New York city Is OF
concern elsewhere, as the price paid for
milk in New York city has more or less
: influence upon the prices demanded in
: other cities OF the State.
I'VE find that the milk problem has
been Investigated and investigated ana
, investigated. The Attorney General OF
| the United States the New York county
U District Attorney. several State Legisla-
tive committees, Mr.. Hoover, the Federal
: Food Administrator and a number OF
3 city committees have Investigated II.
and some OF these agencies are still in
vestigating II. Moreover, the District
Attorney OF the county OF New York has
advised us that he will present on Mon
e day, August 25. to the Grand Jury evil
| dence OF alleged violation OF the law in
= the price liking OF milk.
Despite all these Investigations ths
price OF milk has rapidly risen since