No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xiii 



regard them or cater to them at all. The final outcome of 

 all the agitation was the enactment of a law making the milk 

 standard 12.15 per cent total solids, of which 3.35 per cent 

 shall be fat, throughout the year, instead of the dual standard 

 that has i:>revailed for so long. This is a compromise meas- 

 ure, not pleasing in every respect to any of the parties in- 

 terested; but it is definite legislation, and so worthy of a 

 fair trial by the farmers and the consumers, before its amend- 

 ment can be properly asked for by either party. I would 

 therefore recommend that this Board oppose any legislation 

 at the coming session of the Legislature looking to a change 

 in the milk standard law. Give the law a fair trial before 

 asking for its repeal or amendment. The provision which 

 I urged at the last session, for the sale of milk under a guar- 

 antee of total solids and fat content, did not meet with suffi- 

 cient favor to become a jmrt of the law. I still believe that 

 it is the only fair solution of the i^roblem, and would do 

 much towards doing away with the present difficulties in the 

 milk business. JSTevertheless, I should not consider it wise 

 to urge it upon the Legislature at J;his session, and merely 

 record my belief in the plan, with the hope that it may be- 

 come a part of the law at some later and more fitting time. 



There was also legislation in amendment of the existing 

 law in relation to the marking of vessels containing milk 

 with the name of the party selling the same, and in relation 

 to the proper marking of heated milk. Both these enact- 

 ments were steps for the improvement of conditions in the 

 milk business, and worthy of commendation by the producers. 



The enforcement of the law so far as the Dairy Bureau of 

 this Board is concerned, during the past year, has been along 

 conservative lines. Prosecutions for the violation of the milk 

 standard law, where such violations are unintentional and 

 without fraud on the consumer, are unwise. It is better to 

 warn the producer, and give him a chance to bring his milk 

 up to the standard, before prosecuting. The object of the law 

 is the protection of the consumer, and this is better sacured 

 by the leading of the producer to bring his products up to 

 the mark set by law, without prosecution, than by immedi- 

 ately haling him into court to answer for a technical vio- 



