Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-08-27
FIGHT ON MILK
CONTROL MAY Be
TAKEN TO COURT
Consumers Council Would
Act if Prices Go
Up Here.
CHALLENGE TO A. A. A.
ANNOUNCED By BOYD
Producers Association Approves
Marketing Agreement Putting
Rule Into Effect.
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

BY BLAIR BOLLES.
The Washington Consumers Council
today threatened to contest in court
the right of the Federal Government
to control the Districts milk supply,
a right approved by 1.100 producers
supplying the Capital market.
Matthew Boyd, vice chairman of
the council. said he would challenge
the agricultural adjustment admins
tration's power of regulating if it
should result in raising the price Of
milk here.
The A. A. A. has general supervision
over the agreement under still valid
portions of the adjustment act. which
have been successfully contested in a
Boston Federal court. The question In
Boston, however, revolved around the
definition of interstate commerce,
which does not enter in the District
case. All milk supplied Washington
comes from without its bounds.
Boyd's statement was issued shortly
after the Maryland and Virginia Milk
Producers Association, the voice of
l,l00 dairy farmers, approved the
marketing agreement establishing the
control.
Paves Way for Control.
This action, taken by the aSsocia-
ton after a long directors meeting
lasting all yesterday afternoon, paves
the way for putting the regulation into
effect.
FORMULATION Of the agreement Is
dependent upon the pleasure of two
thirds of the producers or the pro-
ducers of two thirds of the milk sold
in Washington.
The producers for this market total
between 1900 and 1,400, with dairy
herds in Maryland, Virginia and West
Virginia. and only 80 Dor 400 of them
are non-aSSociation members.
Association directors we're bitterly
disappointed that the agreement as
tentatively approved by Secretary of
Agriculture Wallace provided for no
increase in the price to be paid farmers
by handlers.
The representatives OF the LOO
who made the original request for
the control. had requested a hoist OF
"A cents hundredweight in the mini
mum sum receivable by the producers
for their basic" milk-miik which
is sold as fluid milk, as contrasted with
milk sold as cream or ice cream.
The agreement sets the price for
40 butter fat milk at $2.82 a hundred
weight, with premiums as high as
46 cents hundredweight for high
health ratings. or scores" of their
barns, milking and feeding equipment
and cattle, and added premiums for
milk over 40 butter fat.
There is no justification for any
Increase in prices charged to Wash
ington consumers for milk or cream,
Wallace said in approving the agree
ment.
Boyd. who is anxious for a general
/ retail charge of IL cents a quart for
milk consumed by Washingtonians
fears, however, that the new price
which is applicable to all producers
WILL CiAiiliLolC llAC lV-SCllI HIN SOiu IL
stores now by the Highland Farms
Dairy.
He is uncertain about the result Il
will have on the store price of two
quarts for % cents of Fairfax Farms
Dairy, which, like Highland, has been
buying from non-association produc-
ers. Seton Darr, Fairfax counsel
was unprepared to comment.
The most general price here is 13
cents, charged by Chevy Chase Dairy
Thompsons Dairy. Embassy Dairy
and Wakefield Dairy. Chevy Chase
has a accent Vitamin D milk also.
Want Better Price for Farmers.
I'VE are interested" said Boyd, 'ir
getting better price for the farmer
But we are also interested in seeing
that the consumer price is lowered"
He accused B. B. Derrick, Maryland
and Virginia treasurer, of seeking to
drive the 10-cent milk off the market
But" added Boyd, 'if we find the
agreement threatens this 10-cent
milk, we shall join with its distribu-
tors in a court attack on the agree
ment."
Swallowing his disappointment at
the Secretary's refusal to permit his
farmer-price increase, Derrick said
the agreement will accomplish some
good through a sterilization of the
market