124 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OP COLUMBIA. 

 DISPOSAL OF LOCAL STRAUS DEPOT. 



At the suggestion of the Washington representative of the Straus 

 Pasteurizing Laboratories, a public hearing was held by the Dis- 

 trict Commissioners on November 30, 1910, to discuss what action 

 should be taken with regard to the proffer to the District govern- 

 ment by Mr. Straus of the plant established at 1319 H Street NW., 

 in this city, with the sole restriction that milk furnished therefrom 

 should be dispensed as a charity and not as an ordinary commercial 

 enterprise. At the close of the hearing, the commissioners appointed 

 a committee to examine into the matter and make recommendations 

 as to the proper course to be pursued by them in the premises. This 

 committee was composed of Gen. George M. Sternberg (chairman), 

 Mr. E. J. Stellwagen, Mr. Hennen Jennings, Dr. George M. Kober, 

 Mr. Arthur C. Moses, Mr. Walter S. Ufford, Mr. George S. Wilson, 

 Dr. H. F. Sawtelle, and Mr. J. Louis Willige. The committee, in 

 its report submitted under date of December 7, 1910, a copy of which 

 is appended (Appendix AQ), recommends to the commissioners that 

 Mr. Straus be prevailed upon, if possible, to continue the existing 

 plant until such time as provision may be made for furnishing an 

 ample and safe supply of pasteurized and modified milk through 

 commercial channels under the direct supervision of the District 

 health department, the committee deeming it impracticable for the 

 District government itself to undertake the management of such a 



Elant with advantage. The committee suggests the desirability, 

 owever, of utilizing the existing plant for the conduct, under the 

 Department of Agriculture or the Public Health and Marine-Hospital 

 Service, of investigations relative to the value of pasteurized and 

 modified milk for infant feeding. 



In the event that the Straus Laboratory be not continued as a 

 charity, it is suggested that the providing of proper food for infants 

 among the indigent classes be supported by generous contributions 

 toward the funds for maintaining such existing agencies as the diet 

 kitchen, the Citizen's Relief Association, the Associated Charities, 

 and the Instructive Visiting Nurse Society. 



The report proceeds to recommend prompt and adequate legisla- 

 tion for supplying a clean, pure, wholesome milk supply for the 

 Nation's Capital, and urges that the inmates of foundling asylums, 

 hospitals, and other institutions supported wholly or in part from 

 public funds be furnished with milk conforming to the classification 

 recommended by the Washington milk conference in 1907. It is 

 further advocated, as favored by the conference, that the health of- 

 ficer be required to publish the ratings of dairies, which information 

 it is understood is currently in the possession of the health depart- 

 ment, but up to the present time not published, though conveniently 

 accessible to any citizen of Washington who may call at the District 

 Building for the purpose of consulting the records. 



The report concludes with an indorsement of the recent recom- 

 mendation submitted by the health officer that six visiting nurses be 

 appointed to give instruction in the public schools regarding matters 

 affecting the health of pupils. 



Since the above hearing, Mr. Straus addressed a letter to Senator 

 Gallinger, chairman of the Senate Committee on the District of 

 Columbia, stating his willingness to continue the laboratory in Wash- 



