Evening star., 1941-09-21
Battle Likely
Over Revision
OF Milk Code
Importation From
Distant States
To Be Issue
BY DON S. WARREN.


A determined battle over proposals
that WaShington's milk regulations
be loosened to permit importation Of
milk and cream from any State
which meets Federal standards is
expected in the District Building
Tuesday morning at a public hear
ing called by the Commissioners.
Invitations to attend have been
sent by the city heads to 1913 MEM
bers of the Senate and House from
States whose milk producers might
be interested in supplying this field.
In addition, the Commissioners
have invited members of the Senate
and House District Committees, Sur
geon General Thomas Parran of the
United States Public Health Service.
spokesmen for the milk industry, the
consumers council of the Agricul-
ture Department and officials Of
Washington citizens associations, as
well as the general public.
Rutland Opposes Plan.
Health Officer George c. Ruhland,
who is expected to be one of the key
witnesses, declared last night he
could see mo excuse" for permitting
milk or cream of inferior grades to
be brought into the District and Gid
not regard the revision proposals.
championed principally by Repre-
sentative Schultz, Democrat of In
diana, as a step forward.
DR.. Rutland declared he thought
the reference to standards outlined
by the Federal health agency a
"misconception" since the graded
system for milk outlined in the
~model" requirements we're de-
signed to build up standards to the
Grade A level a level Washington
has maintained for years.
If Representative Schultz appears,
he is expected to renew his de-
mands for opening the Washington
market to importation from the
States on the grounds that the
Districts existing stringent require
ments foster monopoly activities
and serve.to maintain a high price
for milk retailed here.
Seek to Keep Price Down.
Commissioner Guy Mason has
said he might be willing to make
changes in District milk regula-
tions, in the interest of keeping
down retail price, provided the diff
ference between District regula-
SY1
of the Federal Government we're
found to be not too great" Com
missioner John Russell Young has
said he was not sure he wanted to
| lower District milk requirements
but did protest against the recent
rise in the retail prices.
Technically, the hearing, which
is scheduled to begin at 10 am.
Tuesday. in the board room of the
District Building, was called on the
| Schultz bill to amend the District
milk statute to provide that cream
might be imported into the District
from any State whose health au-
| thorities certified that such cream
met provisions of the United States
Public Health Service ordinance.
But the hearing long since has been
expected to deal with the larger
! question of permitting importation
of milk, as well as cream.
DR.. Rutland explained he was
| not concerning himself with the
economic side of the question, that
he did not believe this was his
province. "Of course he declared.
Il am carrying no brief for present
milk prices. That, to me, is another
| question, to be dealt with by proper
authorities"
To Explain Regulations.
AS plans for the hearing shape up,
| DR. Rutland is to be called upon to
explain the District regulations. DR..
r. R. AShworth, head of the food
inspection service of the Health De-
partment, is expected to outline the
milk inspection problems. The city
heads also are expected to outline
technical differences between the
District standards and those of the
Public Health Service.
Also expected to be brought into
the debate is the question of adop-
tion of one-cent milk program for
needy children, a program depend
ing on the amount of surplus milk
producers have on hand.
For Tuesdays public hearing Sen-
ators and Representatives from the
following States are specially in
vited: Maryland, Virginia, Ohio,
West Virginia, Pennsylvania. Indi-
ana, Michigan and Wisconsin. In
vitations also we're sent to:
Elwood H Seal, former corpora
ton counsel, now counsel to the
Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers
Association: B. B. Derrick, execu-
tive officer of that association: Miss
E. j. Ferry; Paul E. Lesh, Theo-
dore D. Sloat, William S. Snow, Sef-
ton Darr, John S. Barbour, Robert
E. Lynch. Philip Rosenfield, Harvey
j. Srebnik, A. J. Harnett. Simon
Fleishman and Renah r. Camalier,
counsel to the Senate District Com
| mittee.