The Washington times., 1921-11-06
DEALERS
GET BLAME FOR
F|LTHYPRODUCT
Producers Have Lowered Price
But Distributors Keep It
Up, Is Claim.
CONGRESS TO GET FACTS
Sensational Testimony Anent
0ouging Is Promised at House
Committee Hearing.

The opening In Washington Of a
distributing plant which would retail
milk at four or five cents a quart
lower than the prevailing price is
being considered by the Maryland and
Virginia Milk Producers Association,
II was learned last night.
The establishment Of such a plant.
involving moro than $1,000. 900 is ex.
pected to be tho chief topic Of dis.
cussiion at the next meeting Of the
organization.
Failure of the Washington milk
dealers to cooperate with the associa
ton. 1t Ia understood. has made farm.
ers dissatisfied with the present
method OF distributing Maryland and
Virginia milk.
Congress Forced to Action.
Thomas e. Mclaughlin. general
manager 81 the association. last night
declared that the association would
probably be forced to do this II Con
gress fails to pass the new milk bill
which provides tuberculn test for
cows
IF the Washington market is
thrown open to milk Of all kinds from
everywhere In the United States. then
the nearby farmers must take steps
to protect themselves" said McLaugh.
lin. THE opening OF the market
would bring in such competition that
our only course would be to distribute
our own milk"
Mclaughlin admitted that if the
farmers did their own distributing the
cost Of milk In Washington would be
considerably reduced. He also pointed
out that members of this association
produce milk from tubercular tested
cows and that every safeguard Ia
thrown about the milk sent to Wash.
ington.
In the opening Of a distributing
plant only one pasteuriZing equipment
would be necessary There are now
pasteurizers in every dairy In Wash
ington. The farmers. he said. would
be able to offer a good quality of milk
at price materially lower than the
present cost.
Filthy Milk Cheaper.
Mclaughlin declared that local deal.
ers, II they were permitted to buy milk
from farms that have not been inspect
cd by the District and on which there
are cows that have not been tubercular
tested, could purchase the commodity
cheaper than the present wholesale
price.
]. J. Barbour, attorney for the asso-
citation, will appear before sub-com
mittee of the House District Commit
tee tomorrow morning. Mclaughlin
and others also will testify. The COM
mittee Is holding hearings on the new
milk bill. drawn up by DR.. William G.
Fowler, District Health Officer.
Sensational Charges Expected.
Sensational disclosures and charges
are expected to be made by representa-.
tives Of the association. For the past
week the organization has been the
target of attacks by representatives of
the dealers. The tables are expected
to be turned this week, when the asso.
citation makes its statements regarding
its dealings with local milk distribu.
tors.
Heretofore members Of the Pro.
ducers Association have been charged
with keeping up the cost of milk
1t is expected that Mr.. Barbour and
others will testify that the farmer
has considerably reduced his profit
in the last year and that the milk
distributors in Washington have
made only n slight, IL any, reduc-
tion in their profits.
The association also will place II.
eelf squarely on record I'm favor Of
both the tuherculin test OF cows and |
the pasteurfzation OF all milk. The |
washington dealers are opposed TO the
test