Evening star., 1951-01-25
Area Milk Prices
May Be Subject
ToU.S. RoI[back
StobiIizers Studying
Steps to Take When
Freeze Order Issues

day Tor some sign that suddenly
hiked milk prices will be among
the food prices rolled back when
the Government issues the freeze
order now being prepared.
Spokesman at the Economic
Sterilization Agency said they are
studying the question of whether
the control law applies to milk at
the, retail level. but emphasized
the matter could not be settled
until terms of the order are made
public.
Fenwick Criticizes Rise.
In Virginia, meanwhile, a po-
tent political voice was raised in
protest at the action which
brought about higher milk prices.
State Senator Charles r. Fenwick
implied that the Virginia Milk
Commission made up its mind to
raise prices even before it held a
hearing on the subject.
The increase, requested neither
by producers nor dairies, became
effective Sunday. They had asked
only that the existing prices oe
continued beyond April l. when
there normally is a seasonal drop.
Distributors had asked a higher
price for cream.
AS customary, the Washington
market and some in Maryland fol-
lowed Virginia'S lead.
Board Members Not Available.
None of the three members of
the Virginia commission was
available for comment today. V.P.
Randolph, jr., of Richmond, was
reported en- route to the West
Indies by way of Nova Scotia.
Commission headquarters said an
other member, Edward Lee Mill
ner of Newport News, was at an
unknown place in North Carolina.
There was no answer at the home
of Mark Turner, the third mem
ber,. in Herndon.
An ESA spokesman said it may
be possible to roll back prices at
the retail level though nothing is
done on the producer level. The
question of price parity is in
volved.
900 of Parity Last Month.
At the Agriculture Department
1t was pointed out that the ma
tional average for whole milk at
the producer level was about 80
per cent of parity on December
is. The January Is price will be
announced next week.
Senator Fenwick led the Ar
lington delegation to the State
Legislature in calling for a recon-
sideration of the commission rul-
ing and the holding of a new
hearing. Acting Commission Chair
man Randolph replied to Sen
ator Fenwick yesterday.
Letter Made Public.
His letter, made public by the
Senator, said, in part:
II realize any price change up
ward is an unpopular thing to do,
with the public as a whole. The
increase we granted followed the
pattern as set by the commission
in all its recent hearings within
the past two months in which the
uncontroverted evidence and re-
search by impartial v. P. I. ex-
perts Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute economists) at the request
OF the commission has shown a
substantial increase in the cost of
producing and distributing milk"
Senator Fenwick, commenting
on this section of the letter, said:
What is the use of holding a
hearing if they have already made
up their minds"
He said he did not receive the
impression that the commission
was contemplating changes in the
whole milk price structure.
No Consumer Witnesses.
''I am satisfied that, if the pub
lie knew this, there would have
been some consumer representa-
tion at the hearing" he added.
The hearing. held in Alexandria,
drew no consumer witnesses.
Senator FenWick said that "it
seems rather remarkable that in
creases were granted when ap-
parently no one requested higher
milk prices"
Mr.. Randolph, in his letter, ex-
planned that a legal notice was
published Gin a number of news
papers several times in which the
entire pricing in that market was
expressly opened up"
The official made no mention of
any plans to reconsider the de-
cision or to hold new hearing.
Senator Fenwick observed: II
intend the pursue the matter fur
ther through the Office of Gov
ernor Battle"