Evening star., 1934-08-08
Meeting of Washington Con-
SumerS' Council Called by
Mrs. John Boyle, Jr.
COST RAISE PROPOSED
BY PRODUCERS GROUP
Owner of 1,0oo-Acre Dairy Says
Distributors Should Carry
Burden.

RAAIE NhIs NAAE
Of which have been
waged for three days by a series Of
statements and replies, viii actually
get under way this afternoon when
the Executive Committee of the
Washington Consumers Council meets
In the Ouray Building.
The meeting was called by Mrs.
John Boyle, jr., chairman, when she
learned members Of the Maryland
Virginia Milk Producers Association
had proposed an increase Of cents
per gallon.
Not Justified.
Mrs. Boyle's contention is that no
price raise is justified at ell so far
as the consumer Is concerned, and, If
her associates in the council can pre-
vent 1t, there will be no raise.
Meanwhile, she has been preparing
data to meet the argument OF Mrs.
Harvey w. Wiley. widow OF the author
of the pure food and drug act. who is
supporting the proposed increase.
Mrs. Wiley Is a member Of the council
as the representative OF the District
Federation OF women's Clubs. She
Is also owner of . l,000-acre dairy
farm In Virginia.
supports Farmers.
In supporting the increase TO the
farmers, Mrs. Wiley stoutly opposed
passing the higher price on to the
consumer. Instead. she insisted that
the 2-cent raise should be absorbed
by the distributors, who, she said, were
not affected by the higher cost Of cat
tie feed and the lack Of pasturage re-
sulting from the drought.
Mrs. Boyle cited statement from
William H. Savin. director OF the
Associated Charities. in her argument
against higher retail price of milk.
"An advance IN the price Of milk"
she said, "ieopardizes the health, even
the lives, Of many children and sick
people.
1T Is doubtless true, as Mrs. Wiley
states. speaking this time not for con-
sumers, but for producers, that the
price OF feed has advanced. 1t does
not follow that this fact justifies g.
higher price for milk.
That is the first question to be set
tied. We can then come to the ques-
ton Of whether the distributor can
absorb the price advance.
Distributor Can Profit,
Personally, I am satisfied that
the distributor can, In fact, absorb
such an advance. He can absorb a
great more and still make o hand
some profit.
FIRST, however, we must look into
the farm situation. The producers
must be prepared to justify their de-
mand for price advance, Just as the
distributors are required TO Justify an
advance.
why is It that Washington milk
shed farmers receive 2.57 cents per
quart more than the average for the
country? This is equal to 1923 cents
per gallon above the national average.
Now they want to raise it to 1928
cents above the price paid most Amer
lean farmers.
Are not the Washington miIkshed
farmers already making a handsome
profit? Is it not possible for them
TO absorb whatever added costs may
have been incurred?
Every Phase Challenged"
I'VE dare not allow any phase OF
this question OF the price Of milk to
go unchallenged. Milk is too essen
tial an article of food for children, in
yalids, and our 10000 families de-
pendent upon public relief. to allow
private profit. whether OF producer or
distributor. to provide the sole basis
Of its price"
In the statement by Savin, cited BY
Mrs. Boyle, the charity director as
serted, there can be no doubt that
necessity for watching every penny OF
expense has resulted in undercon-
sumption Of milk in many families on
the economic margin.
Milk for Children.
"One Of the first jobs TO be done by
our case workers in their service to a
large proportion of our client families
is to insist upon adequate milk for
undernourished children In the home"
Meanwhile. officials OF the Agricul-
tural Adjustment Administration and
attaches Of the Office Of DR.. Frederic G.
Howe. consumers counsel, have tndi-
Gated their intention OF attending the
meeting this afternoon and assisting
the Washington Consumers Council
in maintaining the present retail price.
Frank s. Walker, president OF the
Maryland Virginia Milk Producers
Association, said the producers viii
meet either late this week or early next
week to take whatever action the ma
iority desires in demanding the higher
payments.