New-York tribune., 1919-11-24
Governor Urges
City Sell Milk,
State Fix Price
Smith Tells Community
Councils if Copeland's
igures Are Correct
Problem Is One of Health
Legislation Is Necessary
Feels Certain Law Would BE
Held Constitutional by
the Court of Appeals

Governor Smith, addressing the mass
meeting on milk last night, called by
Community Councils at the Biltmore.
said the price of milk should be rcgu-
lated by the state. The regulation Of
the milk traffic. he declared, should be
similar to that exercised over public
service corporations.
The Governor told the 1000 persons
present to hear all sides of the milk
question; that the recent survey by
the Health Department here had shown
that the milk question is no longer one
Of economies but n public health prob
lem. Legislative action, he pointed
out would be necessary before the
state could assume control. He ap-
pcaled to those present to urge legis-
ators to make milk price regulation
by the state possible.
The statistics on the child survey
made by Health Department nurses
several months ago were given by
Health Commiss iOner Royal S. Cope
land. Nineteen thousand children
were examined, Dr. Copeland said.
Between six and seven thousand, about
30 per cent, were found to be suffer
ing from under nourishmcnt he said.
In one school alone, the Commits
soner reported, 10 per cent of the
pupils were in a weakened state due
to lack of proper nourishmcnt. Many
OF the under-nourished children re-
celved no milk at all, he said. while
the average was cup and half
instead Of quart a child.
A Question of Public Health
"The most sacred duty Of every gov
crnment under the sun to-day,' the
Governor declared in speaking Of Dr.
Copeland's survey. "is the preserva
tion and life Of its people.
81 am prepared to say. notwithstand-
ing that it has been recommended by
the Reconstruction Commission in
part and has been suggested by the
Federal Food Administrator here, that
If Dr. Copeland's figures are right then
this ceases to be an economic question
is concerned, q question of public
health
THAT is the only view you can take.
according to the figures submitted. so
the State of New York has to exerciec
its sovereign power and say what the
price of milk is to be-"
The Governor was interrupted by
shouts of approval and handclapping.
This is problem Of public health.
Then the only solution is for the state
itself to regulate it and the step fur
ther must hereafter be taken empow
crlng the municipality, if need be, to
make it a municipal function just as
the delivery of water"
Certain of Constitutionality
He said that he was certain that the
Court of Appeals would hold state
control of milk prices to be constitu-
tional.
The Governor said the milk situation
had been misrcprcsentcd in its pres
entation to the people. lie discussed
his powerlcssness to act
lie told of his vain efforts to have
the council reorganized and OF the fail
ure of the Legislature to act. He
asked that the people, get behind action
on the report of George Gordon Battle
who is investigating the council and
will soon make recommendations.
The Governor. discussing his sclec-
ton of the much criticized milk com
mission appointed in January during
the producers milk strike, said the only
way the strike could be settled was by
bringing together on a committee the
leading producers and distributors. He
settle the long gshorcmen's strike.
Other speakers were former Commits
sioner Of Farms and Markets John j.
Dillon; John d. Miller. vicc-pres sdent
of the Dairymcn's League; Patrick D.
Fox, vice president OF Bordens Farm
Products Company; Lotion Horton,
president of Sheffield Farms Company
and Commiss sioncr of Markets Jonathan
c. Day Arthur Williams, Federal Food
Administrator, presided
Mr.. Dlllon opposed a milk boycott He
charged that the city and state have
steadfastly refused to indorse new and
cheaper systems because Of milk trust
contributions to campaign funds"
Mr. Miller declared that the numer-
Gus Investigations were discouraging
the farmer from marketing fluid milk
and were rapidly turning supplies tc
other markets. He said farmers hac
not received cost of production in
years.
Fox Exhibits Charts
Interest centered on the appearance
of the milk distributors. Mir. Fox was
greeted with a ripple of applause, but
the air seemed charged with unfriendli-
ness toward him. He said he preferred
to let series of charts argue his case
The charts he presented. suspended or
the wall in the rear of the platform
showed that the country handling of d
quart Of milk cost 0092 cents; tn,
freight to city, .0lOSl; at the railroad
terminal .000l4; trucking from rail
road terminal to pasterzation plant
0O297; pasteurization costs, 0ls94
trucking from pasteurlzation plant
to distributing depot, .0054S; cost OF
distributing, .0163S; general expense
not including officers salaries, r00l09
making total operations cost OF
.095Ol, which with a price of .O7953 tc
the farmer brings the cost o, milk
to the distributor to .l734 The aver
age selling price for this month is
.17600, he said.
Nathan Straus repeated his charges