New-York tribune., 1919-01-09
Smith Picks
Six for Milk
Inquiry Here
Governors Commission Is
Headed by Robert K. Dow
ling for the Consumers
First Session Tomorrow
DR.. Copeland Also Sits as
Representative of Users;
Supply Shows More Gain


A commission, composed of two rep
resentatives each of the producers,
distributors and consumers of milk,
empowered to unravcl the price tangle
which is shutting the city off from its
normal daily milk supply, was appoint
ed yesterday by Governor Smith.
The selection of the commission fol-
lowed the second of two lengthy CON
ferences, called and presided over by
the Governor. The first, held at the
Biltmore, began on Tuesday night and
was concluded in the early hours of
yesterday. The Governor was highly
optimistic at its close, predicting that
matters would be satisfactorily settled
in short time. The second confer
ence was held yesterday afternoon,
also at the Biltmore. It lasted scarce
ly an hour, but long enough, accord
ing to the conferrees, to shatter all
hopes for an early settlement. Just
before hurrying away to catch his train
the Governor named the commission.
Bowling Heads Commission
Robert E. Bowling, head of the City
Investing Company, will act as chair
man, and with Health Commissioner
Royal S. Copeland will represent the
consumers. Roswell d. Cooper, presi-
dent Of the Dairymcn's League, and
John d. Miller, its counsel, will act
for the producers. Charles A. Weiant,
President of the Borden's Farm Prod
ucts Company. and Isaac A. Van Bomel,
vice president of the Sheffield Farms
Company, will guard the interests of
the distributors. The members of the
commission were among those who at
tended the conferences called by the
Governor.
Most Of the good feeling which had
been built up at the conference on
Tuesday night was dissipated at pre-
lmlnary, discussion yesterday at Dr..
Ctpeland's office. This spirit of an
tagonism also pcrvaded the brief meet
ing at the Biltmore, and, according to
one of the conferrees, left the contend
ing parties more determined than ever
to reject all arbitration and hold out
Tor an unconditional surrender.
Will Meet Tomorrow
The commission will hold its first
meeting tomorrow at noon in the of
1ice Of Chairman Bowling, 165 Broad
way.
ut is not question of price for
January alone that we want to
establish" Mr.. Bowling said after
the conference. eve want to settle con-
clusively the milk question so that
there will never be repetition of the
situation which exists at this time"
ar. bowling added that the powers
OF his commission would be specifically
enumerated in notice from Governor
Smith from Albany, which would also
make the appointments official
The city's milk receipts for yester-
day totalled 1,37O,50S quarts, an in
crease of 1S6,76s quarts over the
shipments recorded on Tuesday. Health
stations and families with young chill
dren received their full supply, al
though many families of adults were
greeted by half of their ordered
amount in the morning.
Inc city might be brought face to
lace with shortage far more serious
than the present one, according to Ros
mems League, yesterday Mr.. Cooper
said he was counteracting a spreading
sentiment among farmers now ship
ping their milk to New York City dis
trlbuters, who have signed contracts
TO discontinue their service. This
would deprive the city of about 100000
Quarts of its present short daily supplv.
Mr.. Cooper said that at the meeting
OF the dairymen in Utica to- day, called
to discuss the present situation. he
would do all in his power to prevent
any step of this kind
Plan to Eliminate Distributors
Most Of the good quality milk now
coming into this city, Mr.. Cooper said.
IS from members Of the league who
have closed contracts with indepen-
dent dealers. He added that the farm
ers are building their own pasteurizing
plants and preparing to eliminate the
distributors. In Delaware County. he
SAID, the farmers, after u mass meet
ing on Monday night, decided to use
their cash and credit in the construc-
ton OF cooperative shipping station.
Dr. Copeland outlined yesterday the
means employed to assure the CITY of
supply Of pure milk, refuting the
statements made that milk from new
octtSNS 10 VI lulCIIOT GudlltV,
we take the reports of the various
health departments in the cities which
are supplied by the district from which
THIS new milk comes," he said "When
we are unable to get advices regarding
the sources of supply we send our in
spectors into the districts. All milk
coming into the city is subjected to
the same inspection as heretofore. AS
iurther safeguard, milk distributors
are pasteurlzlng every quart which
comes into the city"
Determined to Fight On
l. Elkin Nathans, secretary of the
New York Milk Conference Board. tho
dIstrIbuters' organization, declared
last night that he felt the dealers are
on the high road TO victory"
we are supplying a major portion
OF the normal supply Of the city re-
gardless OF the league" he said ''Vcry
soon, from present indications, full
supply will be restored. The prices are
remaining at 16 cents quart for
Grade b and 18 cents for Grade A. The
dealers feel they are winning and have
no intention Of withdrawing from the
fight"
Seven milk stations were opencd bv
city officials in Jersey City yesterday
to assure poor children Of an adequate
supply. The milk supply was about 90
per cent Of normal. In Newark tho re-
celpts increased to so per cent of tho
customary amount.
Meeting Ends in Failure
representatives. of the distributors
and the DaWymen's League met at the
Hotel Astor last night in a brief and
IA "a at<