Evening star., 1950-07-24
CafeSpokesman
Backs Easing Of
D, {. Milk Rules
Association Aide
Indorses Miller Bill
As Hearings Resume

A spokesman for the District
Restaurant Association today in
dorsed a bill which would liberalize
existing District milk regulations.
Appearing as hearings resumed
before a House District Subcom-
n1ittee on bill to liberalize exist
ing milk supply laws was Lotion
S. Wesley, restaurant owner and
spokesman for the association.
Mr.. Wesley spoke firmly in
favor of the bill proposed by
Representative Miller, Republican,
of Nebraska. In effect the meas
IRE would allow any milk to be
sold here that met specifications
of the United States Public
Health Service. Present laws re-
quire inspection of farms by the
District Health Department.
Rules Held Barriers.
MIR. Wesley urged that argu-
lnent on the bill should be "free
from economic considerations" He
aQQSQ, however.
I'VE do not believe in passing
legislation that forces customers
to buy from a single source"
He described the present regu-
lations as amounting to trade
barriers, which force dairies to buy
almost exclusively from the Mary
land 81 Virginia Milk Producers
Association.
His testimony backed up pre-
vious statements in favor of the
measure that local regulations are
not as comprehensive as Federal
ones. He argued that "the pres
ent public health regulations for
milk are better than our own
local regulations and they should
be-" @
Calls Theory Ridiculous.
The witness said the theory
that milk, to be considered safe
must be locally inspected. leads to
ridiculous conclusions.
''The citizens of the United
States are the greatest travellers
in the world" he said. IF we
could trust no one but our own
authorities, we would have to quit
drinking milk whenever we went
anywhere"
Mr.. Wesley said that other food
items, such as beef and fish, are
acceptable to the District Health
Department. although the supply
sources are not subject to District
inspection.
Smith AssaiIS Witness.
AS in the case of other witnesses
testifying in favor of changing
present milk laws, Mr.. Wesley
came under bitter attack from
Representative Smith, Democrat,
of Virginia. Mr.. Smith led off his
croSs-examination with the ques-
ton:
whats the matter with the
milk supply of the District now?
If we are doing all right, what do
you want the change for?"
The witness answered that in
his opinion there's nothing the
matter now, or would there be
If the law were changed" He re-
iterated his original point that
Federal health regulations are
better than those enforced by the
District.
Union Man Opposes Bill.
A second witness at today's
hearing was Eugene R. Hubbard,
representing the Milk Drivers and
Dairy Employees Union (AFL.) He
opposed the bill because he said
the processing of milk might be
done outside the area under the
proposed legislation.
Under the existing law his
unions 1850 members handle
nearly all of the dairy processing
of District area milk as well as
its delivery.
Committee Chairman Aber-
nethy of Mississippi announced
that hearings will resume tomor-
row with the producers associa-
ton, who oppose the measure,
leading off. The hearings will be
concluded by Wednesday, Mr..
Abernethy said.
IF we heard everybody who
wants to be heard on this bill, we
would be here until next jan
uary," he added.