Evening star., 1941-08-27
Mason Approves
Import Of Milk
From All Sheds
Need for Safeguards
Is Emphasized by
Commissioner

SOIIIIIlISStOnST
Provided adequate safeguards can
be set up to assure proper quality
and purity of milk, Commissioner
Guy Mason will urge liberalization
of the Districts milk regulations or
law to permit importation Of milk
from anywhere in the United States,
as means of preventing a price
rise here, he announced today.
The statement was made as the
Commissioner prepared for public
hearing September % at the District
Building on the proposal of Repre-
sentative Schultz, Democrat. Of
Indiana, to permit importation Of
cream from beyond the present
Washington milk she'd That hear
ing Is expected to deal as much with
milk as with cream
Mr.. Mason explained carefully
that he had not yet committed him.
self to any move to open the Wash
ington market to importation of
milk from more distant areas, as
demanded by Mr.. Schultz and other
members of Congress. He explained
that there were certain "ifs" to be
satisfied first.
d. c. Standards High.
ut may be that Washingtons
standards and requirements as to
procedures at the farms and dairies
are higher and more costly than are
necessary" said Mr. Mason. "I do
not want to see the quality or the
purity or the butter fat content of
our milk reduced, but I am told our
standards are higher than those
fixed by the United States Public
Health Service.
Many sections of the country
operate under standards fixed by
the Federal health agency and the
people there may be just as healthy
as we are. The lack of competition
here may serve to keep our milk
price up. If possible and proper, it
might be advantageous to us to en-.
courage more competition and thus
keep the price down and prevent
the threatened rise.
II want to have experts from the
United States Public Health Service
explain to the Commissioners exactly
what is the difference between the
Federal standards and the WASH
ington standards. II they are not too
far apart it might be found wise for
us to adopt the Federal standards.
"Of course, I realize some new
provisions must be made for ade-
quate inspection of any farms be-
yond the Washington milk shed in
Maryland and Virginia from which
shipments of milk might be per-
mitted. This might be done by hav-
ing Congress direct the Federal
Health Service to make the inspec-
tions, and no doubt this would mean
employment of more inspectors by
them. 1t might mean the District
budget would have to be increased
so that we would employ our own
inspectors to check the distant
farms"
Federal Men to Be Heard.
Mr.. Mason said he planned to call
upon the Federal Health Service to
discuss all these points at the Sep
tember % hearing and declared he
wanted to hear fully both sides of
the argument as to whether Wash
ington regulations are unnecessarily
high.
One leader in the dairy industry
here expressed doubts that the
change in District milk regulations
would lower the local price of milk
or prevent it from rising. "As long
as the Department of Agriculture
sets the price we will have to paw it,
whether the milk comes from
nearby or from Wisconsin, he said.
However, he thought that "in
time" the price of milk might be
lowered If sufficient quantities were
imported from other areas.
A Department of Agriculture Of
ficial pointed out that Washington's
growing population was consuming
so much more milk that unless the
Government took steps to encourage
additional producers to move into
this area shortage would be faced.
He said the major reason for
proposing an increase in milk prices
here was this threatened shortage.
Encouraged by better prices for
their product, dairy farmers would
increase facilities in the Washing
ton milkshed, he pointed out.
Consumers Fight Rise.
Meanwhile consumer organiza.
tions in Washington and nearby
went on record today to fight the
prospective increase of l cent a
quart on fluid milk approved by
Secretary Of Agriculture Wickard at
the request of producers in the local
milk shed.
In joint resolution the WASH
lngton Milk Consumers Committee
and the Alexandria, Arlington Com
mittee charged that Secretary Wick
ards order showed a Shocking dis
regard" for consumer welfare.
Mrs. Beatrice Schalet of the Dis
trict unit said a number of consum-
ers were planning a campaign to
forego milk purchase one or two
days a week until prices are at
more reasonable level
Efforts will also be made to pro-
mote the sale of dried whole milk
and skim milk as a cheaper source
Of milk, it was stated.
Harold A. Serr, chairman of the
Virginia group, urged producers to
effect long delayed" economies to
avoid a price hike.
Call Farm Prices High.
According to the joint resolution,
testimony at the hearing conducted
by the Agriculture Department
ISee MILK PAGE ROY