Evening star., 1950-07-14
Last OF a Series.)
I BY Crosby S. Noyes

| StOsOy - tNVgss
In five preceding articles, some
of the main factors in the cur
rent milk war have been called
to the public's attention. In brief.
these factors are as follows:
/. That the struggle to change
existing District health regula-
tions was undertaken, and is being
waged. from motives that are al
most exclusively economic. That
the same motives are squirting on
those who defend our present
health laws.
2. That. the. ultimate objective
of the forces seeking a rewritten
set Of regulations is to break up
the control of the local milk mar
ket now held by the Maryland and
Virginia Milk Producers Associa-
ton, a cooperative representing
the majority Of milk farmers in
this area.
3. That, despite claims to the
contrary, the consuming public
is not being made the victim oi
high milk prices under the pres
ent setup. The milk farmers are
getting above-average prices fol
their milk; the retailing diaries
are making below-average profits
and the price to consumers COM
pares favorably with prices o1
most large milk marketing areas
4. That. so far as health is con-
cerned. the public does not stand
to lose much, or gain much. from
the proposed change in health
regulations.
S. That the large local dairy
farmers. who depend on the
Washington market, are convinced
that any change in the Local
health regulations will mean eco
nomic ruin for them.
Statements Open to Dispute.
Admittedly, some of these state.
ments are open to dispute, and
are being disputed in every avail
able forum by the interested
parties. So far as this series is
concerned, however, they repre-
sent the majority opinion Of a
good many people who are IA
miliar with. although not directly
involved in. the milk war.
The most confusing thing about
the dispute Is the implication b.
many officials that it can be re
stricted and decided purely on tn,
ground Of public health, withou
considering the economic factors
The fact Is that 1t cannot.
Once the health issue has beel
decided on the weight of exper
opinion, the economic issue vii
remain. The ultimate choice is be
tween the economics of our mill
supply at the moment and wha
those economics might be If tn
rules were revised. 4
The factors in that choice, a
indicated in this series, start witt
an evaluation Of the present sys
tenn and the organization tina
controls it.
Most neutral observers take tn,
view that milk supply in Wash
ington is not a racket. The pro.
ducers' association has worked
FOR the benefit Of the local dairy
industry. It has helped to raise
the standards of milk sold here
to a very high point, and the cost
of the benefit has not been harc
on the consumer.
t On the other hand, few would
deny that the association is an
leffective monopoly. The system II
lhas developed has tended to dis
rourage the small dairy farmer
from trying to crash the Wash
ington market. The association
consistently has fought for regu-
Ilations that would bar, from the
local market. milk imported from
producers outside this area. BY
Eno stretch Of the imagination
could the present milk supply
lsetup under the association be
described as, free competition. !.
| Persons attacking present
health regulations say they are
too restrictive. The opinion OF
most public health officials seems
to bear out this argument. But
the question must be asked: For
whom are the present regulations
too demanding? Certainly not to
the milk farmers who now sup
| ply the great bulk Of Washing
tons milk and who say they can
supply the rest. Nor, apparently
are they too demanding for the
consumers who are paying aver
age prices for their milk.
Advocates Of change also charge