Evening star., 1934-08-07
Washington Consumers
Council Opposes Pro-
ducerS' Proposal.
MEETING TOMORROW
WILL RECEIVE SURVEY
One Member Of Group Dissents
and Aids Farmers-Drought
Blamed for Step.

washington's current battle over the
price Of milk--begun after efforts by
The Maryland virginia Milk Producers
Association to increase the price 2
cents a gallon--has assumed propor-
tions that today carried the fight to
three fronts.
The washington Consumers Council
opposed any increase in price what
ever.
One dissenting member Of the coun-
ell. Mrs. Harvey w. Wiley, widow OF
the pure food expert, carried the battle
into the council itself, favoring the
raise but insisting that the distributors
should absorb the entire increase.
The producers association, headed
by Frank s. Walker, was ready to
demand the higher rate, but wanted
the cost equally divided between the
distributor. and the consumer.
Drought Is Blamed.
The reason given by the producers
group for the proposed increase Of
2 cents per gallon Is the drought.
Already the 1000 or more milk pro-
ducers IN Maryland and Virginia who
market their product In Washington
are forced to pay higher prices for
feed and TO buy more feed than usual
because Of the scarcity Of grass.
Mrs. John Boyle, jr, chairman Of
the Washington Consumerif Council,
has called meeting of the councils
Executive Committee for 4:30 pm.
tomorrow In the Ouray Building 10
outline plans TO fight an,r increase
whatever.
Mrs. Boyle said today she Is making
a study of actual prices for feed and
other expenses forced upon milk pro-
ducers, and plans TO present this at
the meeting. She has contended that
since Washington prices are far above
the average for the country, there Is
no real necessity for an increase
either TO the producer or the dis
tributor.
Interested In Producer.
Mrs Wiley, on the other hand,
contends that because Of the severe
adverse weather conditions the cost
OF nsilk production has nearly dou-
bleo since 1888.
"I hope no RIA to the consumer
viii be necessary" Mrs. Wiley said,
rhat am interested in the man who
worsJ from q am. to provide our
milk IN all sorts of weather. He
cannot speak for himself"
NHVn tUf1axr te fha rssrr.4 - 4 mn
acre dairy farm which she inherited
from her husband. It Is located In
Virginia and her market outlet Is
the Washington nilkshed.
Mrs. Boyle said, In view Of the
fact that Mrs. Wiley herself was a
producer, she expected her opposition
in the battle against the proposed In
crease.
Mrs. Wiley stressed the fact that
she, too, Is against an increase in the
retail price of milk, which now is 13
cents per quart. The distributor, she
said, has not suffered from the drought
and his expenses to operate, compared
to the producers, are small and have
not correspondence increased. She
wants the distributor to absorb the
proposed raise.
Points to Better Quality.
Mrs. Wiley also pointed to the i'm
proved quality of milk here, resulting
from higher standards set up by Dis
trict health authorities. In order to
comply with the better standards,
she said, members OF the Maryland
Virginia. Milk Producers Association
have spent close to 81 ,000, 900 on i'm
proved equipment.
In her own case, she said, she was
forced to spend si,2s7 on new dairy
house because the house she inher-
tied was too far away from the COW
barn to meet the District regulations.
This she had TO pay, she said, in
spite OF the fine equipment provided
by DIR. Wiley before his death.
Mrs. Boyle explained that her IN
terest Is primarily in the consumer,
and that she is interested solely In
seeing that the washington con-
sumner, now paying much more than
the average city resident pays, will
not be burdened with any additional
cost.
At tomorrow's meeting she expects
to present facts not only on the prices
paid by the consumer but also figures
on the cost Of production, the cost
of distribution and other salient facts.
She also expects fun support from
the Office Of DR.. Frederic G. Howe,
consumers counsel for the Agricultural
Adjustment Administration, In oppos-
Ing the increase.