Evening star., 1939-05-17
Threat 10 Shoot
Two in Milk
Probe Revealed
Chairman Bates Says
He and Counsel
Named by Spectator
BY JAMES E. CHM.


mittee investigating the District milk
situation revelead today spectator
at a recent public hearing threatened
to shoot him as we'll as ]. Edward
Burroughs, jr., special counsel for
the committee.
Representative Bates, a Kentucky
Democrat, said at the close of milk
hearing at which he presided an
unidentified man walked up to him
and said:
IF you and that lawyer don't
watch your step you might get
shot up"
Mr.. Bates said he sharply replied:
I'm from down in Kentucky and
I don't give damn"
The threatened shooting episode
was disclosed by Mr. Bates shortly
before his committe met to resume
the inquiry into the milk situation.
He said he had not reported the
incident to the police, but explained
| that the man who made the threat
is still among regular spectators at
the milk hearings.
Midwest Testimony Studied.
The committe now is studying tes-
tlmony of the latest witnesses-rep-
resentatives of milk producers in
the Middle West and Northwestern
States-Who want Congress to re-
move the so-called trade barrier"
which prevents shipment of milk
and cream into the District for fluid
consumption from outside the WASH
ington milkshed.
DIR. Howe Suggests Plan.
A plan for treating milk as q
quasi public utility, similar to
methods followed in most European
countries and Manitoba, Canada,
was suggested to the committee by
DR.. Frederick c. Howe, former con-
sumers' counsel of the Agricultural
Adjustment Administration.
The plan was embodied in the
draft of proposed bill DR.. Howe
read to the committee. It's enact
ment into law. he said. would make
possible 9 or 10 cent quart of
milk in Washington
A department of milk and dairy
/ products would be set up under the
! plan to license distributors. A milk
authority would fix the price to be
/ paid the dairy farmer as well as the
! cost of pasteurization.
/ DR.. Howe declared there is no
reason why Washington should not
get milk at an economic cost. The
only thing necessary to be done
here he said, lis to fix a fair price
to the farmer, to surround the re-
ceipt Of milk to be distributed
through these channels to poor and
rich alike and get as much milk as
possible to the people by these
means"
Representative Murray. Repub-
llcan, of Wisconsin also testified be-
fore the committee. He said if
trade barriers" are removed he be-
lieved milk could be sold here at
10 cents quart
Representative Griswold. Repub-
lican. of Wisconsin took the witness
stand when the milk hearing re-
sumed today and charged that the
excessive" price of milk forced on
the people of the District has en-
dangered the health and lowered
the vitality of the average child
here.
A dairy farmer and milk producer
Tor rs years, Mr.. Griswold, said the
excuse" for the excessive price. and
the excuse" for the low per capita
consumption of milk in Washington
is all covered in the so-called safe
milk regulations of the Health De-
partment.
The present health regulations
IN the city of Washington he de-
clareo, benefit a few farmers out
SIDE the District and endanger the
health OF the people in the District
Representative Hull, Progressive,
OF Wisconsin, principal witness be-
lore the committee late yesterday,
said milk could be sold in WASH
lngton for 10 cents a quart if ey-
listing trade barrier" is removed
and the "monopolistic control" of
the dairy industry is destroyed. In
Milwaukee, he declared, the price
is now 10 cents a quart, whereas
in other parts of Wisconsin con-
Sumers do not pay more than 8 or
% cents quart.
Donald Kane, counsel for the
Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers
| ASSnnlQtlnr
that opening of the Washington
market to milk producers in the
MldWestern and Northwestern
States probably would result in a
price war" which at the same
time would lower the present high
standard of the District milk sup
ply.
Could Undercut Competition.
Mr.. Kane. whose association pro-
Vldes the District with nearly 80
per cent of its milk and cream.
said dairy farmers in the WASH
ington milkshed have a decided
advantage" over those in the more
distant States and for that reason
could meet a competitive price, or
even go under it."
Representative Schultz, Democrat,
OF Indiana, a member of the COM
mittee. who has introduced a bill
to open the Washington milk mar
ket to producers anywhere whose
milk is pure and produced under
sanitary conditions, was particu-
larly critical of the District health
regulations relating to the produce
ton OF milk and cream.
We've gone nutty here with pub.
lie health regulations" declared Mr..
Schultz. "It's possible to produce
pure milk without bringing the COW
into the parlor, wiping her off with
four initiated hemstitched towels
and tipping your hat to her"
Mr.. Schultz also charged the Dis
trict health regulations relating to
milk production are interviewer
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