The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-14
STATUS OF DEALERS
 OFFERED TO PUBLIC
Bowling Declares No Other Alternative Left
 To His Office
EXPLAINS REASONS
 FOR VOID PERMITS
First Time List Of Outlaw Milk Men Have Been Off,
 fered To Public

Characterinzing as ''lies" the state ments of group of raw milk dairy men that discrimination and partiality is being practiced by health authorities in their control of Birminghams milk supply, the board of health Saturday is. sued a statement showing the late ana previous status of every established dairy and giving reasons why certain permits were withheld. - 5 The statement, in effect, distinguishes between the standard dealers who are complying with all regulations, and the so-called bootleg" operators with whom department officials say they have been having trouble for many months.
 Names and addresses ot all author ;zed distributors of milk are given, as well as names and addresses of dealers whose permits had to be temporarily withheld and those who still are with held. In each case where a permit was withheld, detailed reasons for the action are given.
 No Alternative Left.
 The board declared that. in view of the numerous ''unfounded and un- scrupulous statements that have recent ly emanated from representatives and leaders of small group of dairymen representing less than 20 per cent of the producers and distributors of Jefferson county" it had no alternative but to issue statement in order to clarify the situation and reveal to the people of Birmingham the public records of fact that concern the milk industry.
 This is the first time the health department has publicly named the dealers who have failed to meet the requirements.
 The health boards statement. which was given out through Dr. J. D. Bowling, health officer, follows in full ::
 ''ln view of the numerous unfounded and interruptions statements which have recently eminated from representa- tives and leaders of a small group of dairymen representing less than 2O per cent of milk producers and distributors of Jefferson county, charging dis erimination-sand partiaiity on the part of the department of health in its of ficial control ot the milk supply of the city of Birmingham, the board of health has no alternative but to issue the following statement in order to clarify the situation and make known to the citizens of Birmingham in ab- breviated form such public records of fact that concern every established dairy, producing or distributing milk for consumption 'in said city.
 Immediately prior to the legal ex- piration of all dairy permits on June 50 1924, representatives of the pasteur- ization interests of this city waited on the city commission and requested 100 per cent enforcement of the milk regula- tions of all who came under its jurisdic- tion, both distributors or raw and pasteurized milk. They asked no faoOrs and did not complain against the legiti- mate raw milk dealer but did strongly complain against the interruptions competition of a certain group of dis tributOrs who were not complying with requirements and standards which were being rigidly enforced on others. These are facts of public record. In addition it may be noted that the same demand had been previously made on numerous occasions at the department of health by individual members of the legitimate raw milk dealers.
 Prior to the time stated the depart ment of health had, since the enaction of the milk ordinance, paliated numer- ous infringements of its requirements in many quarters, feeling that edu- cation and cooperation would eventu- ally bring the majority of dairymen in compliance with the legal require ments, and thus weed out those who , actually had to feel the arm of the law before adequate health safeguards could be enforced.
 ''On receipt of the aforesaid com plaints careful consideration was given to the situation by the board of health. Approaching first, that the essence of milk control is not only to protect the public health but also to prohibit un- scrupulous comeptitiOn; second, that over three years had elapsed since the enaction of the present milk ordinance during which period all concerned were repeatedly warned that the time would surely come when noncompliance with its requirements would necessarily jeOpardize an offenders right to partici- pate in the market with legal milk dealers; and that in view of com plaints registered which were right and just by the majority of milk dealers no useful purpose could be served by delay ing longer full enforcement of the law !; 1t was decided to take immediate ac- tion and the fact that all permits
 (Continned on Page Sixteen.)