New-York tribune., 1920-06-12
Straus ReneWs
Offer to City
OF Milk Plant
Acting Health Chief Says
municipalities Hands Are
Tied by Failure of the
Enabling Bill to Pass
Eager to Take Stations
Proposal Sets September l
as Date for Abandoning
Distribution to the Poor

Nathan Straus renewed yesterday
his offer, first made more than a year
ago, to turn over to the city his milk
laboratory, with all equipment, SO that
the city could undertake the distribu-
ton Of pasteurized milk to the babies
of the poor. DR.. Frank j Monaghan,
acting Health Commissioner, notified
Mayor Hyan of the renewal of Mr..
Strauss offer, but explained that while
the city would be glad to take advan-
tage Of it, it's hands were tied, because
of the failure of enabling legislation
to pass the last Legislature.
In his letter to the Mayor, DR.. Mon
aghan said that the records of the
Health Department showed that the
original offer was received from Mr..
was approved by the Board of Health
and submitted to the Board of Esti-
mate, which placed the matter before
the Corporation Counsel to work out
the details.
Bill Fails to Pass
On July IS, 1919, according to DR..
Monaghan, the Board of Estimate
adopted resolutions of approval, but
notified Mr.. Straus that the city could
not take over the three employees of
.
Straus, until the civil service law could
be complied with. DR.. Monaghan said
that the files of the Health Depart
ment show that Mr.. Straus withdrew
his offer on November 7, 1919. Antic-
pating a renewal of the offer, the city
had an enabling measure introduced
last January in the Legislature to per-
NIT the municipal authorities to retain
the employees of the plant without
civil service examinations. The bill
however, failed to pass.
Mr.. Straus renewed his offer to the
city last month, and on May % the
matter was referred to the committee
on Finance and Budget of the Board
of Estimate. Dr.. Monaghan said that
the Health Department and the city
would be only too glad to accept Mr.
Straus' offer if the civil service law
could be complied with and the prope,
legislation be enacted.
Straus to Quit Work in September
Mr.. Straus in renewing his offer yes.
terday said that it was his hope that
all technicalities would be speedily re-
moved and the offer accepted, because
he said, his decision to discontinue
the milk stations on September l was
irrevocable.
"This will tide the babies, who have
been getting their milk at my stations
over the hot summer months" said Mr.
Straus. "It will also give opportunity
to those mothers who care to do so
to go to the laboratory and learn the
methods of home modification ane
pasteurization.
Il have demonstrated what can be
accomplished along the lines of infant
life saving by the furnishing of proper
food. The lesson is clear. There is
no further work of education to be
done. If the people of the City Of
New York wish to have this work ex
tended SO that its benefcent result
may reach an ever increasing number
of children, they have only to make
their wish heard Whatever their de
csion, | feel that my task is finished. ,
First Station Opened 27 Years Ago
Mr.. Straus opened the first mill
station in this city twenty-seven years
ago. 1t was said to be the first station
of that kind in the whole country
Since that time 47,904,O53 bottles OF
pasteurized, modified, "ready- to- drink
milk have been served by the Nathan
Straus stations to the children of New
York, and nearly as many glasses tc
adults. Mr. Straus offered to turn over
his laboratory, at 34S East Thirty
second Street, trucks and all other
equipment, to the city for the sum of
one dollar year, provided the city
Will furnish adequate funds to main
tain and expand the work.