Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-16

MILK pIOuuCEIS SeIVluS Tie
Washington area today resisted
the efforts of diaries to lower
the farm price of milk.
Producer representatives tes-
titled at hearing before the
Virginia State Milk Commission
in Alexandria after three Wash
ington area diaries asked for
lower farm and retail milk prices.
'It riled me to hear that the
distributors had the nerve to
come here and ask for decrease
in our milk prices when they
have enjoyed retail price in
creases twice since we last asked
for one in 1851" said Thomas
M. Garrett. dairy farmer from
Rockville, Md.
Want Cut Shared.
Mr.. Garrett volunteered to go
along with the distributors in
lowering milk prices if they
would share the price cut-"but
they want us to take the loss. "
Mr.. Garrett said the milk dis
tributors could increase sales if
they would wake up and give
better service.
Let them cut some of their
high salaries" said Mr.. Garrett.
I've had my income drop
O. H. Wells. a dairy farmer
from Germantown, Md. agreed
that operating costs were too
high for farmers to stand price
cut right now.
Problems Described.
Representatives of the Mary
land and Virginia Milk Produc-
ers' Association described the
dairy farmers problems.
James Click, economist for the
producers association, said the
dairy farmers requested and won
price increases only twice in the
past seven years-once in 1947
and again in 1851.
He said the total increase was
about II per cent during the past
seven years and called this mod
est compared with the higher
prices that farmers have had to
pay for their, needs. He said
the actual cost of producing
milk is higher at the present
time than in 1851 when the cur
rent producer price was fixed by
the milk commission
Bruce B. Derrick, manager of
the Milk Producers Association
declared that the dairy farmers
in this area produced the world S
highest quality milk and there
begin with a predominantly resi-
Dental area and end with re-
developed residential areas.
After listening to House de-
bate on the restriction. District
officials felt it would apply only
to slum areas which are not
mainly residential in nature be-
fore the project starts.
The actual language of the
provision. however, does not
specify whether it applies solely
to this class of projects CT to all
redevelopment programs.
John R. Searles. jr. District
Redevelopment Land Agency di-
rector. wrote this week to Sem
ator Saltonstall that he had un-
derstood the amendment applied
only to programs not now pre-
dominantly residential"
If it applies to all projects, he
said. it could have the effect of
eliminating the proposal by Webb
& Knapp for the redevelopment
of Southwest Washington"
John A. Remon. RIA board
chairman. wrote that the Ian
guage could make it impossible
to carry out some of the best
residential projects in the United
States, including our projects in
Southwest Washington, all of
which are predominantly resi-
dental in redevelopment and
predominantly residential at the
present time"
The using and HON e
Finance Agency had no COM
ment on the stand Administra-
tor Albert M. Cole will take in
testimony next week.
1t was generally expected, how
ever. that if the official does not
recommend outright repeal. he at
least will urge a Qualification of
the language.