MILK SURVEY OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER 25 



"If milk were a mere commodity without which human beings might live in 

 health and vigor, the State of course would have little concern in this transac- 

 tions, but since in every community there are many persons, especially children, 

 mothers, and invalids, for whom it is as much a necessity of life as a supply of 

 pure water, the State has not only a rightful reason for enquiry as to whether 

 there are exorbitant profits in its sale, but a compelling reason for interfering if 

 there are." 



Their recommendations include the following : 



"We further recommend that you require all district attorneys of the State 

 of New York, as you have already required the district attorney of New York 

 County, to give immediate and most diligent attention to any violation of existing 

 laws within their respective districts." 



"We are disposed to put the emphasis for the present on bringing about such 

 open co-operation between dealers and consumers as will insure a fair price. To 

 that end we recommend, therefore, that you cause to be appointed first of all in 

 New York City a fair milk price committee consisting of nine members: The 

 State Commissioner of Health, the New York City Commissioner of Health, the 

 New York City Commissioner of Markets, three members tq be named by the 

 Governor of the State, three members to be named by the Mayor of the City of 

 New York. We further recommend that you follow this plan in the formation of 

 the milk committees in other cities of the State, upon the request of the local 

 officials. 



"If this plan should, however, be found ineffective in. securing fair prices, we 

 would then be prepared to recommend * * * the following as the nucleus of a 

 tentative legislative program for placing the distribution of milk on a public utility 

 basis. 



"1. That there be created a State Milk Commission to regulate the milk dis- 

 tribution business in cities of the first and second class. 



2. That all milk distributers in cities of the first and second class be required 

 to secure a license from the proposed Commission, and such Commission be author- 

 ized to refuse a license to any distributer who can not establish proof that the 

 business he proposes to conduct is of public interest. 



3. That the proposed Commission be given full power to regulate the rates 

 which shall be charged on milk for the service rendered by the distributing agencies, 

 and to limit the profits of such agencies to what it may deem to be a fair and rea- 

 sonable return on the investment. 



4. That the proposed Commission be given full authority to require the in- 

 stallation of uniform cost accounting systems by all distributing agencies in first 

 and second class cities, and to inspect and audit such accounts at any time. 



5. That the Commission aid and assist all municipalities desiring to establish 

 municipally owned distribution of milk and act as an advisory board and be in 

 position to recommend the most effective method to be used in establishing muni- 

 cipal distribution of milk, including the acquisition of privately owned distributing 

 systems. 



6. That all the muncipalities of the State be authorized to acquire and operate 

 milk distributing systems within their boundaries when such acquisition and opera- 

 tion are approved by this Commission. 



7. That the proposed Commission promote co-operation between the produc- 

 ing and distributing elements of the milk industry; that it make from time to time 

 investigation of the cost of producing milk, and publish for the information of the 



