The Washington times., 1921-11-01
The Dumping Of Milk
Into SeIUers
By BILL p X L q EI

If it can be established that milk producers around
Washington have been guilty of dumping milk into
sewers, anywhere else to maintain high prices OF
milk in this city, then the Department OF Justice or
the United States Attorney for the District should
take prompt cognzance of the act and attempt TO put
somebody behind the bars.
And If there is law to handle the alleged guilty
il is the duty of Congress to that there is one and
that it sufficiently wide field to take In pro-
ducers distributors of other food supplies heretofore
charged with substantially the ofense all at the
expense of the consumer who has been getting the
worst of these affairs for many years he is about
ready to rebel.
The public is not fully apprised of the facts of the
between the milk producers and the distributors
1t does know though that it generally gets the worst
of the deal regardless of who is in the saddle 1t also
feels that it is entitled to be spared from proiteenng
prices matter who is directing the prices that must
be paid. 1t does know, too that deliberate destruction
of large quantities of milk to force high prices is about
low piece of business be imagined whether
it is producer wholesaler who does the stunt.
1t will be wise of Congress- while it is in an investi-
eating mood to go into milk practices for years
back, to determine just how the people of Wash
ington have been "gettng it in the neck" We guar
antee that there will be some startling surprises.
The milk producers haven't been heard from yet
and if they be induced to give away the insde of
things this town will hear something. Then the Dis
trict health officers might be called to tell some
facts they have long had in their possession.
The farmer side of the controversy is that prices of
feed for have dropped little, owing to the high
freight rates, and that he finds it difficult to get labor
much cheaper than during times He adds that
the milk distributors who buy from him have abso
luely taken chances losses and that the whole
salers making the same profit per gallon milk
they did during the peak of high prices They further
charge that the cost of distribution by the wholesaler
has gone down in many ways, the cost of labor and
material being lower. Yet it is charged, the dis
trbuter is today making the profit per gallon he
did two or three years ago, and the farmer less
So let have all the facts under oath that the pub
lie may know just where and how it is getting pinched,
and WHO is doing the job.
This is not the first time it has been charged that
food intended for Washington has been destroyed to
maintain prices Milk distributors have been charged
with doing this at their creameres, after purchase of
milk from producers. Commission who handle
vegetables, fruits and supplies from the surrounding
country, with establishments in the region of Tenth
street and Louisiana avenue, have been charged with
the same thing.
1t doesn't make whit of difference who does it. if
it is being DONE is to be done again. Congress might
make it's investigation wide enough to get all the facts
before passing laws that will protect the consumer,
the victim of dirty work whenever that sort of work
is done.