Evening star., 1939-03-27
$4,000 for Probe
Old. T.. Milk Asked
By House Group
Committee Approves
T Five-Doy Week Bill
f For Firemen
BACKGROUND


Erdctlv tWo Ueeks ago House
adopted resolution directing Dis
trict committee to make broad
fnpestigation OF Washington milk
Situation. Sponsored by Repre-
sentative Smith, Democrat, OF
Virginia, the resolution apas in
froduced after seizure OF about
2,500 gallons OF alleged bootleg"
cream. No appropriation was
made available. hoWeuer, to
finance the inquiry.
The House District Committee to-
day directed its chairman, Repre-
sentative Randolph, Democrat, of
West Virginia, to seek an appro-
pf4ation of $4,000 to finance a
sweeping investigation of the Wash
in2ton milk situation as ordered
two weeks ago by the House itself.
The committee also favorably re-
ported bill to establish a five-day
60-hour week in the District Fire
Department.
charges similar to those hurled
onsthe House floor when the investi-
eating resolution was under con-
slderation were made during dis
cuxsion over funds for financing the
MIX inquiry.
representative Bolles, Repub-
lican. of Wisconsin declared an
agreement exists between the milk
producers and distributors to keep
uH the price of milk in Washington.
~We have monopoly here and
surround it by law" he declared.
Representative Schultz, Democrat,
ofs1ndiana echoed the same charge.
FIJI say bluntly,' he declared,
tnat a conspiracy exists to keep
milk produced outside the Washing
ton milkshed out of the District"
Highest Priced in Country.
Mr.. Bolles also declared that milk
produced in Wisconsin can be Ship
ped into Washington and retailed at
IL cents quart at a profit.
Thousands of children in this citv
don't get milk" he said, because
their parents can't afford it. This
is about the highest-priced milk dis
tributing city in the country and it
shouldn't be-
Representative Schafer, Repub-
lican, of Michigan initiated the move
for $4,000 appropriation to finance
the milk inquiry.
I'm keenly interested in going
ahead with this investigation" he
said. Il don't believe our hands
should be tied in any way what
soeVer. The committee should ask
Tor sufficient funds to carry on. We
should make a good job of it."
Chairman Randolph said he be-
lleved $500 would be sufficient and
called attention to the fact that the
investigating committee is required
TO submit its report and recon-
mendatlons to the House before ad
Journment of Congress.
that's silly" said Mr., Schafer.
We can't even touch the surface
with $2,50O.'
No Second to Motion.
7 don't think it's silly" replied
Mr. Randolph who subsequently, pro-
posed an amendment to reduce the
$4,000 figure recommended by Mr..
Schafer to 5000. There was no
second to his motion, however.
Mr.. Schultz argued that SIS 900 or
$4,000 would be needed for a
thorough investigation.
Il think we should even inyesti-
gate the Health Department" he
declared.
why the situation is so bad here
now you've got to tip your hat to a
COW and say please give up.'"
The flremen's five-day, 6O-hour
week bill was approved by the full
committee on recommendation of its
police and fire subcommittee.
Prior to its action Chairman Ran
dolph read letter from Rufus S.
Lusk, president of the Washington
Taxpayers Association, suggesting
that a plan outlined by Representa-
tive Scbulte to put the five-day, CO.
hour week into effect without the
appointment of additional firemen
might result in increased fire in
surance rates and reduce the ef-
nciency OF the fire department.
A Senate approved bill directing
the commissioners to restore to duty
Ralph Warner and David Thomp-
son, who were dismissed from the
ponce force several years ago, was
accepted by the committee as a sub
stltute Tor House approved bill
Inc House bill would have required
tne District to pay the two former
omcers amounts equal to the salaries
tney lost during the period they