Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-08-03
Three From Arlington
Urge Change in Milk
Laws TO Aid Public
BY the Associated Press

RICHMOND, Aug. 3. - Basic
changes in the States milk control
laws to protect the consumer have
been recommended to the State
Milk Commission by the three
members of the General Assembly
from Arlington County.
In a joint statement filed with
the commission yesterday, State
Senator Charles R. Fenwick and
delegates j. Maynard Magruder
and George Damn suggested:
l. Membership on the State
board be increased from three tc
five and that three members be
appointed by the Governor specif-
.lcally to represent the consuming
public.
2. Or, that control of retail
prices be taken out of the commits
IsionS hands leaving it in control
only Of prices at the producer
level.
3. Amendments to provide for a
public hearing on withdrawal
from milk market when suffi-
clent representatives of the con-
Stunning public SO petition. Under
existing law, the commission holds
such hearings of petition of pro-
ducers, distributors or on its own
motion.
Statement Filed At Hearing.
The statement was filed with
the commission at a hearing to
consider changes in premiums
paid producers for butterfat con-
tent of milk.
The northern Virginia AS
semblymen said they were greatly
concerned over the lack of oppor-
tunity afforded the consuming
public to be heard in connection
with the retail price of milk in
areas under the State Milk Com
mission"
Due to the lack of technical in
formation and organized repre-
sentation, the statement con-
tinued, "the consuming public,
which is the largest group af-
fected, do not have their views
considered"
Virgil P. Randolph. jr., of Rich
mond, is generally understood to
be the consumer representative on
the commission, the statement
noted.
Not Consumer Representative.
But, it pointed out, at a hear
ing IN Alexandria last January,
Mr.. Randolph explained that "the
So-called consumer representative
was not such but represented the
public, producer and distributor
as a member of the commission
as did the other members"
In view of that statement, the
ASsemblymen stated, ut would ap-
pear that the consuming public is
nadequately represented"
The statement also recon-
mended that local milk boards
should have more members rep
reSentlng the consuming public.
The statement said the three
Arlington representatives sup
ported the suggestion of Prof. M.
c Conner. associate agricultural
economist at Virginia Polytechnic
institute. that the commission
should establish prices at the pro-
Queer level only.
Poor Quality Milk" Hit.
Washington area milkmen COM
planned that they're getting
poorer quality milk" from Vir-
ginia producers.
j. E. Click, economist for the
Maryland Virginia Milk Produc-
ers' Association, said more tnan
81 per cent of the milk shipped
to Washington in March, 1851,
tested below 4 per cent, the
mldpoint for establishing quail
ity milk in Virginia.
Mr.. Click suggested the COM
mission establish butterfat diff
ferential for milk which more
nearly represents the market
price of butterfat.
Wyatt A. Williams, of Orange,
representing the Virginia Jersey
Cattle Club, suggested a differ
entail based on the energy value,
or calories in the milk.