24 MILK SURVEY OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER 



Inspection by officers of the department of health would be greatly facilitated, 

 as all milk coming to one plant before being retailed to consumers could be thor- 

 oughly inspected." 



1919, New York City. ("A Study of the New York City Milk 

 Problem," published by the National Civic Federation, by I. G. Jennings.) 



Methods of enquiry : Questionnaires to dealers. 



Subjects of enquiry : Prosecution of milk dealers by New York City 

 Department of Health ; inefficiencies of production ; profitable and non- 

 profitable cows; volume of milk produced on dairy farms; inefficiencies 

 in the delivery of milk; country hauling; city retail delivery; sanitary 

 control; bacterial tests; payment of premiums to the producer; country 

 laboratories ; regulation by state commissions ; legal status of a state com- 

 mission ; public ownership of the milk industry. 



This, report suggests the appointment of a state commission and 

 municipal ownership of the milk business, and submits evidence indicating 

 that a state commission could be appointed under the police powers of the 

 state with such legal powers as would permit the licensing and regulation 

 of the milk industry, and the fixing of prices ; and that municipal owner- 

 ship also could be made legal under the state constitution. The greater 

 part of the report is devoted to a detailed discussion of legality of a state 

 milk commission and of municipal ownership. The author quotes authori- 

 ties and precedents and apparently establishes satisfactory legal authority 

 for the institutions mentioned. 



1919, New York State. In a report published August 25, 1919, en- 

 titled, "Preliminary Statement of the Commissioners appointed by 

 Governor Smith to report to him in the matter of the High Cost of 

 Living," signed by Martin H. Glynn, late Governor of the State of New 

 York, and Dr. John H. Finley, Commissioner of Education, being special 

 commissioners appointed by the Governor, the Commissioners devote the 

 main body of the report to the milk problem. 



They point out the numerous investigations which have been made, 

 and say: 



"Despite all these investigations, the price of milk has rapidly risen since 1916, 

 and from present indications it is likely to go still higher during the coming 

 winter." 



The report calls attention to the variation in prices in different cities, 

 although the prices paid to the producers are approximately the same, and 

 especially that the price of milk in Philadelphia is 2 cents a quart cheaper 

 than in New York City. 



Regarding the importance of milk to the community, the Commis- 

 sioners say : 



