The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-07
RAW MILK GROUP
 READY TO FIGHT 4 f sl77
Explain Ordinance To Be
 Presented Soon To Commission

2 Announcing through Attorney Rod defick Beddow that their proposed amendments to the milk code will be presented to the city commission Tues day, the Raw Milkmen's association Saturday gave out a statement ex- plaining the change and notifications they are asking.
 The commission is expected to defer action on the proposed ordinance until the health board studies it and submits q report of it. Health authorities, who now are in the midst of whirlwind ''pure milk drive" are expected to op- pose any change in present regulations.
 The ra wmilk dairymen, in their statement, said:
 The raw milk dairymen, in their son county, who furnish milk to the city of Birmingham, are offering an ordinance to the city, the purpose of which is the stabilization of the dairy business in Jefferson county. It is not the desire of the dairymen to make this question political one. We are thoroughly conscious of our responst- bility to the people of Jefferson county who by our milk. We are conscious of the fact that impure, unclean milk Is bad, and that it's sale and consumption by the people would be very detrimen- tai to health. We, however, know that the best food in the world is pure, clean, wholesome raw milk. This we have been and are furnishing.
 Followed Regulations
 Many of us were among those who agreed to the adoption of the present milk ordinances fixing the high stand ard of milk sold in the city of Bir- mingham. We have lived up to the ordinances and rules and regulations. This is evidenced by the fact that we have permits. We feel that we are due credit for, and have right to take pride in the wholesome raw milk which Birmingham has been receiving.
 "We do not ask to le given the privilege of dictating the policy of the city commission or of the health de- partment. We do insist that in the past few years our competitors, the pasteurization plants have had ordi- nances passed for their benefit and have been exercising very great control over, or at least influence upon the enforcement of the health laws.
 'sIn order that our ordinance may not be judged by rumor or criticized upon surmise, we wish here to state specifically what we are seeking.
 First: We ask that the present standard for raw milk be retained and that there be stabilization at the present standard. Birmingham now has the highest standard of any city O. its size.
 Renewal of Permits.
 Second: We ask that the holder of q permit to sell raw milk shall be en- titled to a renewal of such permit at the expiration thereof unless it be shown that such holder has violated some provision of the milk code of the city of Birmingham, regulation of the board of health, or been convicted of some crime involving moral terpitude. This provision is expressly made subject to an emergency, which is defined in the proposed ordinance as the existence of an epidemic, of any contagious or in- fectious disease or any condition OF state of affairs which indicate a hkeli- hood of a breaking out of any such epidemic. The existence of such epi- demic or emergency to be determined by the board of health. The above is requested to prevent in the future what occurred on the first of July of this yedI, VIZ tHe 1dIluEc IO ECACW ~ raw milk dealers permits on about 24 hours notice at the solicitation of the pasteurization plants.
 Third: We ask for a regulation of inspection of dairy barns and premises so as to prevent piece meal inspection, attended with costly delay. We ask that thorough and comprehensive in- spection be made, reduced to writing and time fixed for compliance with re- quirements of such inspection. We ask | prohibition against enforced pas feurization for trivial matters and upon varying grounds as this disrupts our business. We ask that all this be made subject to emergency as above defined.
 "In addition to the above we ask for several minor notifications for the pur- pose of making the law more definite. We have studiously avoided asking any thing that will unduly prevent inspec- tion or endanger health. We do not mention each of these as it would make this article too long and as they are of minor importance"
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