Evening star., 1939-05-04
Three Diaries Named
As Using Cream
NeutraIizers
Thompson's, Foirfox
And RichfieId Mentioned
At House Inquiry
BY LANES E. CHM.

Health Department chemists found
neutralizing agents in samples Of
cream. collected by inspectors from
Thompson's, Fairfax and Richfield
Diaries, DR.. Reid r. Ashworth, chief
>of the departments food inspection
division, testified today before the
House committee investigating the
District milk situation.
DR.. Ashworth read report signed
by J. B. Reed, Health Department
chemist, as follows:
During the month of March, 1886,
neutralizers were found in samples
of cream collected by inspectors
of the Health Department from
Thompson's Dairy and Fairfax
Dairy.
During the month of March,
1888, neltralizers were found in
samples of cream collected from the
Richfield Dairy on two occasions" )"
Use Is Against Regulation.
DR.. AshWorth explained that a
neutralizing agent overcomes acidity
in old cream and prevents it from
taking in coffee. He said he would
regard the use of neutralizer as
violation of the District milk regula-
tions, but pointed out there had been
no prosecutions.
The milk regulations, he declared,
require that only pure, wholesome
cream shall be sold and that the use
of neutralizer constitute adultera-
ton.
Later, under cross examination by
Seton Darr, counsel for the Fairfax
Embassy Dairy, DR.. Ashworth re-
vealed that the neutralizer found in
the cream of the three dairies was
sodium carbonate.
isn't that a harmless adulter-
ant?" asked Mr.. Darr. TT doesn't
effect the health of the person drink
ing it. AS matter of fact isn't
sodium carbonate used by persons
for indigestion"
DR.. AshWorth admitted that Mr..
Darr's observations were correct.
Statement by Diaries.
Asked for any statement they
cared to make regarding DR.. Ash
Worth's testimony today, the three
dairies replied as follows:
Arthur L. Thompson, president of
Thompson's Dairy, said he had mo
comment at all"
James j. Ward, president of the
Fairfax, said he did not acquire the
dairy until December l, 1888, nearly
two years after the time DR.. Ash
worth said neutralizers were found
in the samples from this dairy.
Harry j. RiganiS, Richfield execu-
tive, said: ITO the best of my
knowledge we don't use it. We know
it is against the Health Department
regulations.
AShwerth Cross Examined.
John S. Barbour, counsel for the
MarylandV Virginia Milk Producers
Association, cross examined DR..
Ashworth as to the importation
into the District of alleged un-
licensed cream.
Il have no positive facts" he
said, "but I believe the practice is
carried on not by one dairy, but by
several"
Mr.. Barbour also questioned DR..
Ashworth about his knowledge of
Typhoid Mary" He explained
that during an outbreak of typhoid
fever in Georgetown in 1904 a
woman known as Typhoid Mary
was found to be a typhoid carrier
and she was forbidden to work on
dairy farms
C. D. Dye, who said he repre-
sented 81 independent shippers in
Frederick County, Md. leaped to
his feet in the midst of the cross
examination of DR.. Ashworth and
charged there is a monopoly on
| this market"
He was given assurance by both
Representatives Bates, Democrat, of
Kentucky, chairman of the Investj-
eating Committee, and Representa-
tive Byron, Democrat, of Maryland
a member of the group, that he
would be given an opportunity later
to present his case
Mr. Dye had expressed fear that
the $500 appropriated by the House
to finance the inquiry might be ex-
hausted before he had an opportu-
nifty to testify.
Chairman Bates had previously re-
quested the attorneys representing
different groups to be as brief ss
possible in the cross-examination of
witnesses because he had just dis
covered that the official stenogra-
pher must be paid out of the $500
appropriation. He said the stenog-
rapher's fees are now running be-
tween $50 and $50 a day.