50 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



cal provisions (H. R. 17506) (Appendix T), was the same day pre- 

 sented in the House of Representatives by Mr. Smith, of Michigan, 

 and referred to the House District Committee, receiving no further 

 action. It is the judgment of the committee that such authority 

 could safely be vested in the commissioners, and that if extended the 

 power would not be unwisely exercised. 



On April 26, 1910, Mr. Lever introduced in the House of Repre- 

 sentatives a resolution (H. Res. 605) directing the House Commit- 

 tee on Agriculture to investigate the condition of milk, cream, cheese, 

 and butter offered for sale or transportation in the District of Colum- 

 bia, and to report its findings concerning the extent to which tuber- 

 culosis and other diseases are communicated to the human family by 

 the sale of such infected articles of food, and to what extent tubercu- 

 losis is prevalent among farm and dairy animals in the District of 

 Columbia; also to report to the House the reason for the failure to 

 enforce the pure food law T as it affects butter and butter products in 

 the- United States. The resolution was referred to the Committee 

 on Rules, but failed of further action. A copy of the resolution is 

 appended (Appendix U). 



An amendment (Appendix V) to the health ordinances of the 

 District, promulgated by the commissioners on May 28, 1906, speci- 

 fies the actual content required for milk bottles or jars, and provides 

 for the inspection and sealing of receptacles used for the delivery of 

 milk and cream in the District of Columbia. 



An act approved February 27, 1907 (Appendix W), amending sec- 

 tion 878 of the District Code, 1 provides for the labeling of vessels 

 intended for use in selling milk and cream, and specifies a penalty for 

 violation of its provisions. 



In order to maintain an absolutely impartial, uninfluenced inspec- 

 tion service, the District appropriation act approved March 2, 1907 

 (see Appendix X), prohibits any officer or employee of the health 

 department to serve in his private capacity for compensation or re- 

 ward any licensed dairyman or dairy farmer, or applicant for such 

 license. This injunction extends also specifically against such em- 

 ployment by any manufacturer of or dealer in foods, drugs, disin- 

 fectants, or similar materials. 



So far as the committee is able to learn there are no additional 

 orders at present in contemplation by the health department affecting 

 the production or distribution of milk to the Washington public, and 

 no legislation is proposed by the District Commissioners beyond that 

 embraced in the Senate bill referred to. Copies of the regulations of 

 the health department at present governing the production and sale 

 of milk are appended. (Appendix Q.) 



DETAIL OF BOARD TO INVESTIGATE OUTBREAKS OF TYPHOID FEVER. 



Three separate outbreaks of typhoid fever in Washington from con- 

 taminated milk between June and November, 1906, and the alarming 

 increase in typhoid infection and resulting mortality aroused public 

 apprehension and led to a systematic study of the sanitary conditions 

 affecting the District of Columbia by authorities of the Public Health 

 and Marine-Hospital Service, acting under request of the District 



1 U. S. Stat. L., XXXIV, 1006. 



