Evening star., 1948-03-02
Dairy President
1estifies Prices
.eren't Fixed
Competition Is Active,
Grand Jury Told by
Chestnut Forms Chief

Edgar N. Brawner, president and
general manager Of the Chestnut
Farms Chevy Chase Dairy. said to-
day his company has had no special
benefits from the Maryland and vir-
ginia Milk Producers Association and
always has dealt with that organiza-
ton "at arms length"
Mr.. Brawner completed about
three hours testimony today before
the grand jury which is investigating
to determine whether there has been
q criminal conspiracy in the WASH
ington area to Ak the price of milk.
I'VE have neither agreed nor
joined with any one in any attempt
to control the price of milk" Mr..
Brawner said. Competition is &C
tive and always has BEEN"
He was followed into the jury
room by C. Y. Stephens of the
Highland Farms Dairy and by Paul
v. Needing of the Richfield Dairy.
Gardiner Is Witness.
Mr.. Needing produced some rec
ords OF his company and was fol-
lowed in turn by w. Gwynn
Gardiner, Washington attorney.
who also has a dairy farm near
Waldorf, Md. Mr.. Gardiner, at
one time a District Commissioner,
handled the finances of the Rich
field Dairy some years ago.
Also waiting outside the grand
Jury room was Elwood H. Seal. at
torney for the Milk Producers AS
sociation, who said Justice Depart
ment attorneys directing the inves-
tigation, had asked for some Of the
organizations records.
Mr.. Brawner said that for many
years his company purchased 3
portion of its milk from independ-
ent dairy farmers.
"The Maryland and Virginia Milk
Producers Association, however,
gained more and more members
until we found ourselves with only
four independent farmers" he said.
Says Price Had to Rise.
1--WE have been buying all Of our
milk from the association of neces-
sity since the early l930s, except
during periods of short supply when
we have obtained milk from outside
the Washington producing area in
accordance with temporary per-
mission of the District Health De-
partment.
I'VE have had to pay their price
and that of the Federal Milk Mar
keting Order but we have. recog-
nized that the price to farmers had
to be increased If our market was
to receive an adequate supply OF
milk"
Mr.. Brawner said the price OF
milk to consumers has gone up
only so per cent and the price to
farmers has gone up "a per cent.
He said he believes the Washington
area has the lowest spread between
what the diaries pay for milk and
what they sell 1t for of any market
in the country. He also said that
the price of other foods has gone
up 104 per cent.
Leesburg Man Excused.
Coleman Gore of Leesburg. Va,
former milk broker, was subpoenaed
to appear before the grand jury,
but was excused.
Mr.. GARDENERS dairy has 240 cows.
He said the price of milk is rather
high" but that it could not be any
less "for farmers are losing money"
He said he lost $4,000 on his dairy
farm last year.
Many dairy farmers quit, sold
their herds and bought beef cattle.
he said. "A dairy employe to whom
we formerly paid $40 month plus
housing and other things, now gets
from $l25 to $3.50. Feed used to be
$28 to $50 a ton. Now 1t costs S93
a ton"
Mr.. Gardiner has been member
OF the Maryland and Virginia MIX
Producers Association since 1922. he
said. He said he believes the asso-
ciation Is the savior Of the dairy
farmer.