The sun., 1919-10-11
GOVERNOR ASKS FOR
PORTER'S REMOVAL
Commissioner Of Farms and
Markets Termed Partisan
of Dairymen's League.
CALLED INEFFICIENT ALSO
Action Taken in Endorsement
Of Report of Inquiry by
George Gordon Battle.
Speciai Despafch to TnE sux.

public tonight letter he sent to the
State Farms and Markets Council ask
ing that the State Commissioner OF
Farms and Markets. DR.. Eugene II.
Porter, formerly State Health Commits
sioner, be removed from office. The Gov
ernor acted upon a preliminary report
of his commissioner, George Gordon
Battle, who has been conducting an in
vestigation of the council.
Political Albany tonight predicted
that DR.. Porter would pe removed, in
spite of the fact that he is Repub-
lican and that the council is controlled
by a Republican majority. but DR..
Forter's friends say the report is po-
l'tical attack that can be answered and
believe he will be retained.
Commissioner Battles report to the
Governor states that "the testimony
taken before me establishes the fact that
Commissioner Porter is incompetent to
hold his Office and that his admins
tration Of his duties has been ineffi-
cient."
Mr.. Battle points out that under the
law the Governor has no power over the
Farms and Markets Council, members
of which are elected by the Legislature,
but he suggested that the Governor re-
quest the Council to remove DR.. Porter.
This the Governor did, writing that 1t
was with reluctance that he interfered
with the department, but stating that
he concurs fully in Mr.. Battles recon-
mendations.
Council Also Accused.
Commissioner Porter is attacked by
the Battle report as having favored
the Dairymans League. Of which he was
a director until the close Of 1918, to the
detriment of the consumer.
He has apparently abandoned all
| hope of bringing any substantial aid to
| the consumer in the near future" says
Mr. Battles report. He admits that he
has done little or nothing to further the
organization Of cooperative purchasers
| associations. He has nebulous plan OF
organizing a committee representing diff
ferent interests to formulate some
| method of dealing with these questions ;
but no progress has been made.
There seems to be no vitality In the
| project He has taken, for illustration.
| no steps to ascertain the true cost of the
distribution of milk in New York city.
II is true that he claims he could not
get an appropriation for this purpose.
But 1t would seem that he could have
done something effective In that direc-
ton from the large resources OF the de-
partment itself"
The report continues with an accusa-
| ton against the council itself, saying:
| Indeed, neither the council nor Com
| missioner Porter seems to have taken
| any great interest in devising or putting
into execution any plans for the benefit
of the consumer. The instances Of dere'
LECTION in duty which have previ-
ously cited. together with other evil
dence taken before me. convince me
that the administration OF his division
by Commissioner Porter has been un'
business like and inefficient"
Dafrymen's League Earnings.
Commissioner Battle terms the Dairy
mems League a middleman betweer
the producer of milk and distributor!
| or dealers, and asserts the 100000 i
received for handling milk in the pas
year came from the pockets of the con
sumers.
THE evidence before me-" says Com
missioner Hattie, SHOWS that DR.. Porte
has been ceaseless in his efforts to pro
mote and further the well being of tn,
Dairymen's League Corporation and ha
not permitted the fact that he held I
public office as Commissioner OF Food
and Markets, particularly designed Il
protect the interests of the consumer. t.
interfere with his activities in behalf o
the Dairymens League"
The Battle report also accuses DR.
Porter of being afraid to try to enforc
the provisions Of the cold storage Law
against the private plants of the bill
meat packers
The report contains quotations from
the testimony of various members Of TIL
Council of Farms and Markets. an,
showing they did not approve of DR.
Porter drawing an $4,000 a year salar.
from the State and also $40 a day an,
expenses from the Dairymen's League
1t is because of this testimony tina
many believe the council will remove Dr.
Porter.
Porter Blames Hearst Interests.
Commissioner Porter asserted to-nigh
that the report of Commissioner Battl
! recommending his removal by the Coun
Gil of Farms and Markets shows al
utter lack of comprehension as to tn
duties of his division under the law. H
said:
early in the year Democratic politi
cal leaders determined to obtain contro
of the Department of Farms and Mar
kets for the sake Of the patronage
When they found they were unable t
obtain control of the council. who's
members are chosen by the Legislature
they commenced a bitter campaign I
accomplish their ends Hearst force
have been and are aiding this move
ment in their general attack on tn
Dairymen's League and other farm or
CARNATIONS. These constitute the back
ground of the whole proposition and tn
connection OF the above agencies wit
this inquiry Is apparent, as Mr.. Battle
report deals almost entirely with m
connection with the Dsirymen's LeaEu
: and the Grange, and 1 am especial
stigmatized because / asked the Counc
OF Farms and Markets to consider tn
interests of these organizations"
DR.. Eugene H. Porter was appointe
Commissioner of Foods and Markets
1917 when that department became
division of the Council of Farms an
Markets and the office of commissions
, held by John ], Dillon, was declare
vacant. DR.. Porter was for nine year
, Il 05-1914-State Commissioner
|, Health. He reorganized the Publ
Health Department during that time an
was credited with putting II on a SCUM
! basis. He was formerly director 1
) the Dairymen's League and president {
the Broome county branch of the leagu
' He first engag ed in the practice of med
/ cine In this city In 1885 and enjoyed
, wide reputation as a sanitarian. He
, a Republican.