New-York tribune., 1919-10-11
Request Follows Recommen.
dation by Battle, Who In
vestigated Official and Re-
ported Him incompetent
Effort May Meet Failure
Commissioner Attacks Find
ing; Says Hearst Forces
Are Behind the Attack
Special Correspondence

Special Correspondence
ALBANY, Oct. 1O.-After making
public preliminary report of George
Gordon Battle, who is investigating
the State Council of Farms and Mar
kets. Governor Smith sent letter to
the council, recommending the removal
of DR.. Eugene H. Porter as Commis-
sioner of Farms and Markets. Mr.:
Battle in his report said that he had
concluded that Commissioner Porter
is incompetent to hold his position
and that the administration of his
duties has been inefficient.
"For these reasons" Mr.. Battle said
II respectfully suggest that you recon-
mend he be removed
Governor Smith. as pointed out by
Mr.. Battle, can neither appoint nor re-
move a member or official of the coun-
Gil. While it is believed that the mem
bers of the council will seriously con-
slider the recommendation; the friends
Of Porter insist that the council will
not permit Governor Smith to accom-
plish Porter's removal.
Quotes Porter's Altered Attitude
Mr.. Battle said that DR.. Porter, whose
division was specifically to serve the
interests of the consumer, has done
nothing for the consumers benefit, and
had apparently abandoned all hope of
bringing any substantial aid to the
consumer in the near future. He quoted
DR.. Porter as saying:
"Thcrc was a time when | sympa-
thized with the consumer very deeply.
But the more one goes into these Ques-
tions of economics, including market
ing, the more one recognizes the diff
culties in the way of any immediate
solution"
The report says that DR.. Porter re-
NAMED director Of the Dairymcn's
League for year after he was appoint
ed Commissioner of Foods and Mar
kets, and is still member and stock
holder.
"The evidence taken before me, says
Battle in his report, "shows that DR..
Porter has been ceascless in his efforts
to promote and further the wellbeing
o; the Dairymen's League Corporation.
and has not permitted the fact that
he held public office particularly de
signed 10 protect the consumer to inter
fcrc with his activities i'll behalf OF
the Darymen's League
He SAID that DR.. Porter since being
appointed commissioner was active IN
"A plan of the Dairymon's League to
acquire all milk gathering stations.
which would give it a monopoly OF the
shipment Of milk into New York City,
so that it could charge any price it
chose.
"Twenty-fvc cents or even $25 for a
bottle of milk might be a conceivable
price under such a plan, DR.. Porter
testtied,' the report said
The report also stated that Dr..
Porter had not enforced the laws &c
quiring the licensing and bonding of
storage eggs. so that the people did
not know whether they were buying
cold storage goods or not. The report
quoted several members Of the council
as saying they did not approve of Dr.
Portcrs connections with the Dairy
mems League while in his present po-
sition.
Porter Attacks Battle Report
Commissioner Porter, who is Re-
publican appointed by Governor Whit
man, declared that the Battle report
on which his removal is asked CON
tains many inaccuracies and misstatc
mcnts."
"The report he said, "shows an
utter lack of comprehension on the
part of the investigators as to the
the division of foods and markets
under the Law. One OF the primary
duties of the division is the develop
mcnt of the farming industry of the
state. am charged with obeying the
law and caring for the welfare of the
farmers, knowing when I do SO that
the interests of the consumer are
bound UP absolutely with the pro-
ducers. II this be crime, am guilty"
DR.. Porter declared that certain New
York City milk dealers who have been
forced to obey the law, and who have
strong political backing, "hav'e op-
posed me from the start" He charged
that "Hearst's forces have been and
are aiding this movement in their gen
eral fight against the Dairymen s
League and other farm organizations,
and that these "constitute the back
ground of the whole proposition"