New-York tribune., 1919-11-19
Board Adopts Resolution
Ordering Drafting of Nee
essary Legislation to Put
Program Into Effect
Insincerity Is Charged d
Municipality Already Has
Power Under Home Rule
Act of 1913, Says Quinn

The Democratic majority in the
Board of Aldermen yesterday adopted
a resolution ntrod .ced a week ago by
Aigernon Lee. Socialist leader, pro-
siding for an investigation Of the milk
situation in New York City with view
to having legislation enacted at the
rext session of the State Legislature
to enable the municipality to engage in
tn milk business.
Z Not all the Democrats voted for the
resolution. for many of them Joined
with the Republicans and some of the
Socialists in characterizing the pro-
cedure as insincere.
This resolution which the majority
leader has reported out of the Rules
Committee" Alderman William F.
Quinn, Republican, said. els a plain
ease of passing the buck The former
President of this board, now the Gov
ernor of this state. declared two years
ago in this chamber the city had the
power to engage in any municipal
undertaking by virtue of the municipal
home rule act of 1918, provided it had
the money. And it would seem to be
the case. for Mayor Hylan, without
any special sanction from the state
Legislature, is operating lines of buses.
Mayor Hylan now has the power if he
is man enough to exercise it."
Called a Campaign
Alderman Baruch c. Vladeck, So
cialiet, said:
"Tne sole purpose of the majority IN
getting behind this is to give them an
other subject for speeches in the next
campaign"
Alderman William P. McGarry. Dem
the resolution and asked to be excused
from voting on it. His request was
granted.
"Im tired of this endless investigate
ing--and doing nothing" Mr.. MeGarry
said. IL have seen this administration
give hundreds of thousands of dollars
Cor salary raises for men already re-
ceiving $4,000 $4,000 and $1,000 and
more q year. If it is sincere in its
efforts to rid the town of the milk
prctiteers why doesn't it appropriate
several million dollars-ffty, if neces-
sary do it,"
Boycott of Distributors Urged
Alderman John Wirth. Republican.
called upon citizens to boycott. the milk
distributors and organize a New York
milk party. "patterned after the Boston
Tea Party"
nowhere" Mr. Wirth said. let us do
what | suggest and we will not ONLY
end the milk profiteers, but we will
put an end to butter, cheese. clothing,
meat sugar and shoe profiteers."
I'm against this talk of New York
milk parties" said Alderman Barnet
Wolff, Socialist Let us eradicate all
this talk of direct action from our
proceedings"
Alderman Bruce NJ. Falconer Repub-
lican. said he was opposed to reso-
luton OF such Importance being acted
on without a single public hearing
being held on it.
Summary of Resolution
The resolution, entitled "Concernine
unicipalization of the Milk Trade 8
called TOR the creation of q sDecial
committee of seven to prepare and re-
port to the board not later than the
iirst meeting in December, a plan for
the munlclpalization of the business
OF buying, transporting, handling, sell
ing and delivering milk and products,
1or the use of the inhabitants of the
city, together with draft of such leg
islation as may be necessary to put
the plan into effect
The Committee on Rules, of which
Alderman William P. Kenneally, Dem
ocratic leader of the board, is chair
man, in reporting out the resolution
said it was in full accord with its pur-
pose and recommended that the sub
ject be turned over to the Committee
on Legislation of the Board. to work
out plan in conjunction with the
Commissioner of Markets.
Alderman Lee, leader of the Social
lists, charged "thc two big milk dis,
tributing plants in this city are con
trolled by the Standard Oil, which
tiXeS the price of milk