Evening journal., 1920-03-11
CHANGERS warn
OF 50-CENT MILK
Tell City Council Proposed
Health Ordinance Will
Greatly Add to Cost
STATEMENT DISPUTED;
ACT WILL BE PASSED

In spite OF declarations by nearby
dairymen and grsngers that 1t will re-
suit In raising the price OF milk to
80 cents quart, the ordinance now
before City Council providing for the
rigid inspection and regulaiion Of milk
sold in Wilmington, probably will be
passed. A number Of notifications are
likely to be made. but according to
councllmen, the ordinance is expected
to be adopted substantially as now
drawn.
AT a hearing held by Council last
night, Frank F. Yearsley, OF MARSHALL
ton, questioned whether there were
four herds in the State free from tu-
berculosis. AS for pasteurizatlon, he
assert d. there were only two plants in
Wilmington. and as a result he pre-
dlcted competition would be stifled.
Taking up physical examination OF
employees and the restraining order pro-
hlbiting those with communicable dis
eases from handling the product, Mr..
Yearsley asked: what would you do
II we had a recurrence Of the influenza
epidemic?" Other requirements, he
claimed, necessitated the practical re-
building OF some barns. lie then asked: {:
"What are you people willing to pay
for your milk9 II this measure passes,
II will be nearer 80 cents than 70 and
you will be lucky II you get any milk
at all"
Charles p. Dlckey, OF Stanton,
warned Council against hasty action, as
serting that the temperature require
ments as to cooling could not be met.
He querled as 10 whether there was
any concrete proof that tuberculosis
was communicated to people through
their milk supply.
James H. Reynolds, OF Hockessin,
raised a laugh when he said that as 10
the cleanliness OF help. God knows
you are glad to get any help at all"
The labOrer on the farm he character
lied as a despot OF the worst charac-
ter. Any attempt 10 force him 10 adopt
a sanitary program would result In
revolution" he said. Mr.. Reynolds con-
cluded by saying adoption OF the ordi-
nance would put the milkmen 20 a
great loss, for which the public in turn
would suffer.
George Weldon. OF Brandywine hun
dred. who has had so years expert
ence in The milk business, ascribed
the high death rate OF infants in
Wilmington to the city water supply.
Everybody EnOws," he said, that
your water isn't nt 10 drink. Passing
this ordinance would mean driving
many OF us from business and should
il be enacted | would have 10 look for
some other occupation"
E. w. Dawson, Of Elkton. Md. attrib-
uted much OF the tubercular talk TO
public scare II Council was look
ing for good scare he advised a
prOmenade any afternoon during the
summer along King street to gaze at
fOOdstuffs exposed to "every germ
ailoat in a busy city"
For supporters OF the ordinance.
Chester II. Wells. State health com.
missioner. said he sympathlzed with
the milk men, but sympathized more
with the 1900 mothers who lost their
babies in the past three years. The
measure. he said. was framed after
ordinances in effect In all large cities.
In all OF these there were cries from
the milk men. he claimed. that ruin
was iminent, but they succeeded In
surviving and prospering without any
exceptional advance in prices.
Councilman Alexander r. Abrahams,
chairman Of the health committee, in
formed Council and the grangers that
the United states Department Of Agri-
culture had approved the bill The
ordinance was sent to Washington
twice, he averred, and returned with
the governments sanction.