New-York tribune., 1919-08-25
Board to Fix
air Price on
Milk Proposed
Continued from page I

an abnormal foreign demand for milk
the commissioners call attention to an
editorial in the July Milk Reporter
which says there is surplus of do
mestic milk, and a new foreign market
must be developed if prices are to be
maintained.
Last Friday, the commissioners de-
clare, bottled milk sold in New York
for Is cents a quart; in Chicago for
10 cents; in Boston for u cents. and
in Philadelphia for IA cents. The COM
missioners are informed that Chicago
Boston and Philadelphia distri buffers
generally pay slightly higher prices to
farmers than do New York distributors
This difference between the selling
price of bottled milk in Philadelphia
which is Ia cents a quart, and that in
New York, which is l6 cents a quart
the commissioners continue, means
that the people of New York in year
would pay $6,424 900 more than the
amount of bottled milk, and S3.212, ,00C
a year more than the people of Chi
cago, and $1,106,000 more than the peo-
pie Of Boston.
System at Fault
"Undoubtedy it costs more to do
business and to distribute milk in New
York City than it does in Boston,
Philadelphia or Chicago, but milk
system that costs the people of the
City of New York comparatively Sc
100000 year more than it costs the
people of Philadelphia, $4,000 ,000
more than it costs the people of Chi
cago, and 81 900 900 more than it costs
the people OF Boston, needs eithe
explanation or reformation"
Profiteering in milk means the death
of babies, the commissioners point out,
in urging Governor Smith to ask the
United States Attorney General to ap-
ply peediy to any one guilty Of il
the penalties attaching to price fixing
violations of the Interstate Commerce
act. All district attorneys within the
state also are asked to be especially
vlgilant.
But the most promising hope of i'm
proved conditions, the commissioners
say. is in the establishment of "such
open cooperation between dealer and
consumer as will insure fair price" To
that end the appointment of fail
price milk committee for New York
City is recommended.
Would Have Nine Members
1t would have nine members. The
State Commissioner Of Health, the City
Commissioner of Health and the City
Commissioner Of Markets would be
members. Three more would be ap-
pointed by the Governor and another
three by the Mayor. A similar plan
for other cities is suggested.
If this plan should be found inef-
B fective," the statement goes on, "ir
securing fair prices, we should ther
be prepared to recommend, in view Of
1fo1 olo< A$ .
to the health of children. that you urge
legislation which would make it pos
sible for the state or the municipality
tc regulate the distribution and sale OF
this necessity Of life.
IF you are driven to this regretta
bic alternative, we propose the follow
ing as the nucleus of a tentative legis-
Il tive programme for placing the dis
trbution Of milk on public utility
basis
Il. That there be created state
milk corxnlssion to regulate the milk
distribution business in cities of the
first and second class.
"2. That all milk distributors IN
cities of the first and second class be
required to secure license from the
proposed commission, and such com.
mission be authorized to refuse 6
license to any distributor who cannot
establish proof that the business he
proposes to conduct is of public in
terest
Would Fix Rates
''3. That the proposed commission
be given full power to regulate the
rates which shall be charged on milk
for the service rendered by the dis
tributing agencies, and to limit the
profits of such agencies to what it may
deem to be a fair and reasonable re-
turn on the investment.
Il. That the proposed commission be
given full authority to require the in
stallation of uniform cost accounting
systems by all distributing agencies ir
first and second class cities, and tc
inspect and audit such accounts at any
time.
IS. That the commission aid and as
sist all municipalities desiring to es
tablish municipality owned distribution
of milk, and act as an advisory boarc
and be in position to recommend the
most effective method to be used ir
establ blishing municipal distribution OF
milk, including the acquisition of pri
vately owned distributing systems.
So That all the municipalities of the
state be authorized to acquire and op-
crate milk distributing systems withir
their boundaries when such ACQUISITION
and operation are approved by this
commission.
~. That the proposed commission
promote cooperation between the pro
ducing and distributing elements OF
the milk industry; that it make from
time to time Investigation of the cost
of producing milk, and publish for the
information of the public data as tc
volume and cost of production in this
state; that % it conduct educational
campaigns for promoting the wider use
of milk as food and cooperate with
municipal health departments anc
other agencies in making specia
studies of the needs for the greater
use OF milk in the feeding of children
Seek Minimum Cost
"8. That the commission make spe
cial study Of the problem of provid
ing milk at a minimum cost to the
children OF the poorer sections of the
larger cities, and cooperate with the
municipal departments of health ir
providing milk for the feeding of in
fants at the lowest possible cost
~. That the comm ssion cooperate
with the New York City Department
of Health to make a special study Of
the conditions under which loose mill
is sold in the city, and endeavor te
eliminate all possible danger of con
! tamlnation of milk sold in this man
! ner.
40. That the proposed commission
be empowered to revoke a dealer.
license for @le cause after public hear.
| ing and after due notice IN writing