New-York tribune., 1919-12-29
Fair Price Committee Report
Suggests Board of Three
With Power to Investigate
and Establish All Prices
Would Combine Stations
Favors Better Distribution
Methods and Curb on Bv-
Product Manufacturers

Absolute control of the entire dairy
industry of New York State by COM
mission appointed by the Governor to
cut the price of milk is recommended
in the report of the Fair Price Milk
Committee submitted to Governor
Smith and made public yesterday by
Health Commissioner Royal S. Cope
land, chairmen of the committee.
The committee recommends that the
Legislature. which c0nvenes in a few
days, take steps to declare the milk
business a public utility. DR.. Cope
land said the committees plan pointed
the way for state control over al
perishable foodstuFs
The report recommends the Legisla-
sure enact laws clothing the proposed
commission with the following drastic
power
/. To enact legislation in the form
or rules and regulations to make
effective its complete control over
the milk industry and give them the
same force and effect as statutes.
,. To obtain the punishment of
those who violate the regulations of
the commission, violations to be
classed as misdemeanors punishable
by $500 fine or year in prison for
each offense, or both.
3. To issue subpoenas for persons
and records and examine witnesses
under oath
To Fix Milk Prices
4. To determine upon what the
price Of milk is based and to fix
lower one if the current price is
deemed too high.
5. To compel the registrat ton of
milk producers and distributors, and
furnish details on the disposition of
their milk.
In its suggestions for municipal ac-
tion to relieve the milk situation the
committee recommends that the city
be authorized to purchase, pasteurize
and sell milk "in the present emerg-
ency as postwar measure" Dr.
Copeland said that under such author
ization a plant could be established
here which would insure the delivery
OF at least 10000 quarts of milk day
in case OF an emergency such as the
strike of producers against dis
tributors il January of 1919.
According 20 the report the present
price Of milk IS unfair and excessive"
II adds. however, that if the statements
OF producers and distributors are ac-
cepted the price cannot be reduced
under The persent methods employed
IN production and distribution
In view of all the facts brought out
IN the testimony" the report says, land
by reason Of the committees study of
me problem, it ventures the opinion
fhat official action Is required to i'm
prove the methods Of distribution and
reduce the price of milk"
Urges Interstate Regulation
The report suggests Congressional
action, but does not go into details,
saying that national matters are be-
yond its jurisdiction. 1t points out,
however, that if the price of food for
cattle were reduced milk could be pro
duced more cheaply, aSd remarks that
"interstate regulation and control Will
assist materially the final solution of
Al the problems involved"
Under suggestions on legislative ac-
ton the report says:
1t IS the committees recommends
ron that the Legislature declare the
milk business one affected with pub
lis interest. and that the power to fix
rates be delegated to a new separate
state board. composed of three officials.
removable at the pleasure of the Gov
ernor. with authority to subpoena pro-
ducers and dealers IN milk and milk
products and their records. and to fix
the prices paid to the farmer and
Charged by the distributor to the con-
sumer."
The committee enumerates seventeen
specific powers and duties of the milk
commission so created. 1t would give
the commission complete control over
the dairy and milk industry. Regula-
tory power is recommended in the fifth
OF the seventeen specifications, which
reads:
Hits By-Product Manufacturers
In the event that the milk commits
son, after thorough investi CATION, de-
termines that the prices recommended
or liked by the producer or distributor
are not fair and reasonable, the milk
commission shall determine and fix q
reasonable price that the dealer shall
charge the consumer"
Throughout the report, which covers
sixty typewriter pages, exclusive OF
twenty-five pages of exhibits, runs a
vein Of criticism of the milk byprod
uct manufacturing companies. Their