Evening star., 1952-12-07
Official Hopes
To Break City's
Milk Monopoly
6. O. P. Aide Rops
Present Setup
As Ridiculous

can, of Nebraska, prospective
chairman of the health subcom-
mittee of the House District Com
mittee in the new Congress,
announced last night he would
seek to "break the monopoly" over
Washington's milk supply.
He said he would offer early in
the new session legislation to per-
NIT importation into Washington
of any milk which meets the
standards of the United States
Public Health Service. vi
1.-THE present situation in the
National Capital" he reported,
strikes me as something rather
ridiculous
"Such milk has been approved
by not less than "a of the States.
1t is accepted by all of the Gov
ernment agencies, including St.
Elizabeths Hospital, Walter Reed,
Gallinger Hospital and the Dis
trict Jail, not to mention the Gov
ernmentS' hospital and research
center at Bethesda.
Among Highest in U. s.
"Also, studies we made two
years ago showed that prices of
milk here over a five-year period
were among the five highest in
the country and that consump-
ton of milk was lower than in
numerous cities. think perhaps
price had something to do with
the lowered consumption"
His announcement followed the
recent decision by the District
Commissioners to re-ir1Stitute a.
ban against importation of milk
from outlying areas not inspected
by Washington health agents, a.
ban lifted during the war years.
Meanwhile, Commissioner F.
Joseph Donohue, on his radio
station WWDC Report to the
People" broadcast last night, pre-
dicted "some people" would seeh
a change in local milk inspection
laws.
The Commissioner said he
thought the people referred to will
attempt to seek an amendment to
the present regulations governing
milk when the new Congress con-
veneS in January.
DOnOhue Opposes Move.
II hope this won't happen" Mr..
Donohue said. II think the Dis
trict should inspect it's own milk.
It is my hope the Congress will
permit the District to broaden its
milkshed by granting funds for
the hiring Of additional inspec-
tors"
Mr. Donohue criticized United
States Public Health Service
standards for milk inspection as
being lower than those currently
in effect here. He said that in
many cases supplies of milk ap-
proved by USPHS had not actu-
ally been inspected by a checker
who visited the barns and herds
from which the milk was derived.
Representative Miller, q physi-
clan. raised a threat against
Health Officer Daniel L. Seckinger
for failing to recommend opening
the local market to so-called out
side milk.
DR.. Miller protested that the
local situation could be corrected
If the Commissioners, acting on
the advice of the health Officer,
should rule that Federally-in-
Spected milk could be sold here.
II believe it could be done with
out legislation" he said. II think
it could be handled in this fash
ion If we had two new Commits
sioners and a new health officer.
I think it may come to this"
He noted that the Embassy
Dairy had been fighting the ban
on importation of milk from dis
tant points but said he was not
interested in that dairy and had
not consulted with any agent of
that firm. He insisted he was in
terested in the principle and that
he would make fight for legis-
lation that would upset the his
toric rule in the city government.
He said there were only two
large cities that followed such a
restrictive practice-the District
and the central portion of San
Francisco.