Evening star., 1941-09-06
Hopes Dashed
For 0ne-Cent
Milk Project
Meeting Is Informed
Schools Alone Musr
Show Big Increase

Hopes that the penny milk project
would be considered a community
arrangement were dashed yesterday
at meeting called to clarity issues
now standing in the way Of Wash
ington getting the Federally sub
sidiZed program.
1t was explained at the meeting
that to get the program, which
would make half pints of milk
available to undernourished school
children at a penny a bottle, the
schools would have to show that a
270 per cent increase in the con-
sumption of milk would result in
the schools proposed for the pro-
gram.
The District Nutrition Committee,
which called the meeting, had un-
| derstood the penny milk program
was TO be community project,
thereby increasing the consumption
of milk by spreading the program
to boys clubs, nursery schools, play
grounds and other places where
groups of needy children might
gather.
Huge Increase Impossible.
The 80 schools where the pro-
gram was requested already have
such a large number getting free
milk under the school lunch pro-
gram that it would be impossible to
increase the consumption by 270
per cent, it was said.
Leon J. Steck, agricultural econo-
mist in the Surplus Marketing Ad-
ministration of the Department Of
Agriculture, which operates the pro-
gram, said each group of children
would have to be considered sep
arately; that is, that public and
parochial schools were separate
units, as were the boys clubs and
other groups which it had been
hoped would join in the program.
Other requirements of the pro-
gram, Mr.. Steck said, were being met
here. The only crucial point was
the increased consumption.
However, after the meeting. when
Mr.. Steck was asked by reporters
if the program would be granted
; should some group of schools be
, found that would meet the require
, ment of increased consumption, he
commented only that conditions
/ change"
Inquiry to be Suggested.
Stephen Haycock, acting super
intendent of schools, announced
: that at next Wednesdays meeting
of the Board of Education he would
suggest the appointment of an ad-
visory committee to learn what
schools could increase the consump-
: ton of milk by 27O per cent and
meet the other requirement Of be-
ing claSsed as a "low-income school,
or one where 65 per cent of the
children belonged in the low-in-
come group.
Asked to define low income at
the meeting, Mr.. Steck set a maxi
mum income at about $1,000. When
members of he group asked him
what size family that applied TO-,
he said that the figure was regard
less of the size of the family.
During the discussion that fol-
! | lOWeu II MdS pOlllIcu OuU lIldt d
family with one child would be bet
ter off financially than family at
the same income level with six chill
dren, but Mr.. Steck insisted that the
size of the family was not taken
into consideration.
Boys Needs Cited.
Miss Doris Moore of the Police
4 BOYS Club reported that in one
club alone there were 5000 boys
: practically all from underprivilegeo
l families, who don't look like they
: get near enough to eat" Asked
| whether the attendance at the cub;
{ would be regular enough to guaran-
tee the sale of the milk daily, she
{ responded that she was sure many
D. parents would send their children
= especially to get the milk.
!, Msgr. Lawrence J. Shehan, di-
- rector Of the Catholic Charities
: represented the parochial school;
!, at the meeting. DR.. Margaret
= Nicholson, chairman of the Relief
- Milk Subcommittee of the District
Nutrition Committee, presided al
the meeting, which was held in tha
Y, w. G. A.