New-York tribune., 1919-01-18
Truce i'm Milk
War Effective
Is Minutes
Bowling Informs Governor
Agreement Is Reached,
Then Fight Starts Again
Clash Over Minor Issue
Smith Issues Statement Say
ing He Expects Details
Will BE Adjusted Readily

For fifteen minutes yesterday after
noon the milk price war between the
producers and distributors was Off
cially over and New York City seemed
assured Of 4 speedy return to normal
daily supply from nearby sources The
brief peace period proved just long
enough for Governor Smith to give out
formal statements from Albany that
the trouble which has kept this city
to reduced milk receipts since January
I. was satisfactorily concluded. He
revised these announcements later.
The agreement was reached and
broken 1t the seventh session, the fifth
this week, of the milk commission ap-
pointed by the Governor The two
representatives Of the Dairymen's
League, the farmers organization, and
the two representatives of the New
! ork Milk Conference Board, the dis
tributors' association, on the sommis-
sion. reached an agreement about
o'clock. Robert E. Bowling, the com-
missions chairman, IN whose offices, at
lG5 Broadway, the meeting was held,
tciephoned the Governor that a settle
mcnt finally had been reached. He
outlined the terms, which covered Fer
luary and March prices, as we'll as
those of January.
Two Hour Argument Follows
Shortly after Mr.. Dowling hung up
the recelver-he had been speaking in
the presence Of the conferees-a sharp
discussion over a minor detail arose
For two hours the argument continued
until Mr.. Bowling ordered an adjourn
ment until this morning at II o'clock
In describing the incidents of the
conference, which was held privately
Chairman Bowling said that when he
telephoned the Governor second time
asking him to withdraw the announce
ment of compromise, he also re-
quested that the Commission be re-
lieved of further participation in the
matter. A representative of the dis
trlbutors, however, Mr.. Bowling said
asked the Governor to request the
chairman to call another hearing to-
DAY, which the Governor did.
"As matters stand" MIR. Dowline
was asked, "is the agreement effective
aside from the one point of detail ?"
1T is not" he replied emphatically.
The agreement IS absolutely held up.
There viii bea meeting tomorrow and
ttidt 10 tNll L tdU say IO-nlGnJ.
Governor Smith, however, in his
statement recalling the announcement
OF conclusion of the differences, de-
ciared the troublesome detail was slight
and could be adjusted readily. Accord
ing to the Governors first statement.
the January price tothe dairymen will
be S90l hundred pounds. giving them
the victory IN the fight. The February
price to the dairymen was fixed at
1851, and the March price at 1881.
These prices apply to producers within
$50 miles of New York
Schedule as Proposed
This schedule means that Grade
milk in this city VIII cost l6 cents a
quart in February and IS cents in
March, while Grade A viii cost Is cents
IN February and 1712 cents in March
TO the consumer The distributors had
reduced their price 10 Is cents for
Grade b and IS cents for Grade A for
January, on the assumption that thew
would pay producers $3.50 per hundred
pounds. 1t Is understood, however, that
even with the added cost burden on the
distributors, they will not increase
Their price to the consumer. Chairman
lowing mas reiterated that he will not
tolerate an advance in the current milk
price schedule to the consumer
ne distributors had offered the
oairymen $3.50 hundred pounds for
January. an average of S.4 cents a
quart. while the farmers had held ont
Tor S4.0l. or 9.3 cents quart If the
War is concluded to-day, normal sup
ply could not be assured the city until
three or four days have elapsed, as dis
trlbuters must first procure the cans
which they have hurriedly shipped to
ncw sources. The terms of the agree
mcht winch prevailed so briefly pro
Nided that distributors must take all
the milk d&irymen could supply after
January 20, and all that they could fur
hlsn containers for until that time.
Nathans Is Optimistic
Inc Health Department reported that
4,374 quarts had been received YES
seiday, 81 per cent Of the normal
amount and the largest quantity since
the outbreak Of the strike. l. Elkin
Astnans, secretary of the New York
mix Conference Board. declared that
INC strike has entaled little or no suf
5eflng amout childseu. He said that
S-z9,ooO has been saved 10 consumers
by the 1-cent reduction in price.
state Senator James j. Walker and
AsSemotyrnan Joseph d. Kelly yisited
Assistant District Attorney Dooling
Josl before yesterdays session of the
"onh zoe inquiry into the milk situa-
'lon' "nIcn IS being conducted in Spo-
elal Sessions before Chief Magistrate
-ncAdoo. Both legislators said they
Sough1 Information as a basis for legis-
Iative acton to remedy some of tbo
present evils of the milk business
charges against state and other off
Gals were made by Alfred W. McCann
tnc newspaper food expert, who was
Inc only witness irfarrooatod OF -