Evening star., 1940-01-19
D. T.. Moves 10 Aid
Distribution Of Scent
Milk 10 the Needy
Producers Vote Today
On Agreement for
Marketing Area

District government officials today
moved to put in effect as soon as
approved the scent -milk-for- NEEDY
provision in the Federal-sponsored
milk marketing agreement for the
Washington area, which was to be
voted on by the Maryland and Vir-
ginia Milk Producers Association at
2 o'clock this afternoon.
Commissioners Allen and Nc
Coach expressed their approval of
the low-cost milk idea, but withheld
formal action until complete dis
tribution program is worked out.
Detailed studies were begun
meanwhile by Robert E. Bondy, di-
rector of the Board of Public We'll
fare, with a view to early action by
that body
Represent 1,19o Producers.
Directors Of the producers asso-
citation, who were to meet in Silver
Spring, were to vote in the name
of the groups member farmers,
numbering 1,190 of the 400 dairy
men whose cows produce the milk
tnat washington drinks.
Association approval, which was
generally believed to be forthcom-
ing, means approval of the agree
ment which was issued yesterday by
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace.
1t becomes effective if IS per cent
of the farmers vote in favor.
The milk handlers in Washington
will vote on the agreement, too. but
whether they approve or not, Secre-
tary Wallace and President Roose-
velt can issue the agreement-fxing
milk prices to be paid by distributors
to farmers-aS binding.
Under a general program putting
into effect the loW-cost milk provi-
sion, the milk for needy families
would be distributed from depots in
various sections of the city. Mr..
Bondy said he had been in confer
ence with D. NJ Reed. acting chair
man of the dairy section of the Ag-
riculture Adjustment Administra-
ton, on costs of depot operations.
Chicago Average S485.
The welfare director said he un-
derstood that in Chicago, where
such program now is in opera
| ton, the average cost per station
as $485 month, including the costs
of w. P. A. labor used in distri-
button. rent. light, fuel, refrigera-
ton, etc. The average number of
quarts distributed daily at each de-
pot is 1000. he continued, making
a breakdown of administration
expense of about 16 cents per quart
Mr.. Bondy explained that he had
been unable to determine whether
w. P. A. enrollees or persons on
private relief would be eligible fol-
the low-cost milk without being GER
titled by the Public Assistance Divi-
sion of the Welfare Board.
He said there are only $500 cases
ON public assistance rolls at present
and roughly $500 of these are in the
old age and needy blind categories
Judging from experience in Chicago
Mr.. Bondy said he doubted whether
the aged and blind could or would
be able to visit the depots. This, he
added. is one of the problems to be
worked out.
Dunn Handles Referendum.
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace
named c. I. Dunn as the agent in
charge of the farmer referendum
on the agreement. Mr.. Dunn an
nounced today that all ballots are
returnable in seh-addressed envel-
opes postmarked not later than
11:59 pm. next Tuesday. Ballots
are available at Room 2726, South
Building, Agriculture Department,
and In the offices of the country
agricultural agents at Frederick,
Md, and at Warrenton, Va.
The steps after the. referendum's s
completion are the issuance of the
agreement as an order of the Fed
eral Government and the appoint
ment of q Washington milk market
Ing administrator by the Secretary
of Agriculture to act as a Federal
overseer Of the agreements pro-
visions. The agreement contem-
plates no control over the retail
price of milk.
The agreement provides that the
farmers will accept 1895 a hun
dredweight for milk destined to
be distributed at low retail cost to
persons on relief and w. P. A. rolls
The Federal Government is pre-
pared to subsidize this program
through the Surplus Commodities
Corp. II the District government
(6ee MILK, Page A-3.)