362 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



to our complaints) statements that were misleading. To sustain these charges 

 we offer the applications of producers for permits filed with the health depart- 

 ment and not granted, copies of summons to dealers and to producers to appear 

 as cited, and copies of letters and answers thereto as indicated in charge 

 third, to all of which proof is to be found in the health office records, if such 

 records are kept and filed as is the general custom and if such records have not 

 been tampered with. A further claim, together with a request to the chamber 

 of commerce, for investigation was to the effect that if such policies as indi- 

 cated in charges first and second and the requirements of a compulsory tuber- 

 culin test were to be carried out, such policies would drive producers and 

 dealers out of business or would result in shipments to other markets, thus 

 diverting money to other cities that should naturally come to Washington. A 

 further claim that I wish personally to file is, that, in my opinion, if the health 

 officer had a right to issue an order for the compulsory tuberculin test (which 

 order was issued to take effect on November 3, 1910, and since rescinded), he 

 has that right now and has had such right for 15 years or since the milk law 

 of 1895. That if, as he claims, recent researches and advanced knowledge has 

 convinced him that milk from cows not having stood the tuberculin test is 

 dangerous to public health, he is not only violating the laws of Congress but 

 his sworn obligations, and further, if, as I understand, he claims to have 

 knowledge that death has ensued as a result from consumption of milk from 

 cows not having undergone the tuberculin test, he stands to-day a confessed 

 party to the cause of probable death and therefore a criminal in the eyes of 

 the law. Please find inclosed list of members as asked for. 

 Very truly, yours, 



A. S. TRUNDLE, Chairman. 



P. S. I can but feel that we have not had ample opportunity to present to 

 your committee many facts without a knowledge of which it is absolutely 

 impossible for anyone to arrive at conclusions which would insure full justice 

 to the cause and business we represent as concerns ourselves or the general 

 public. 



A. S. T. 



APPENDIX K. 



COMMUNICATIONS FROM HEALTH OFFICER, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DATED 



COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 



HEALTH DEPARTMENT, 

 Washington, November 14, 1910. 

 Mr. J. Louis WILLIGE, 



Chairman Committee on Milk Supply, 



Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D. C. 



DEAR MR. WILLIGE: As your committee has decided, I understand, to give 

 no more public hearings, the following comments are submitted for consideration : 



As to the accuracy of the records of births and deaths in this department. 

 The allegation made by Mr. Trundle at the first hearing, and the correctness of 

 which was denied by the health officer, was to the effect that the records of 

 the department showed that more infants died than were born. Evidence that 

 could not be disputed having been offered to show that the statement was 

 incorrect, Mr. Trundle shifted his ground so as to make it appear that he had 

 said that more people died than were born. It is not alleged that this shifting 

 of ground was intentional, but possibly Mr. Trundle's original statement was 

 unintentionally inaccurate. The fact that I have quoted accurately what he 

 actually said is, I think, certain, since I recall the statement that one member 

 of the committee remarked that it was hardly possible that a sufficient number 

 of babies would be imported into the District during the year to make up the 

 deficiency represented by the alleged excess of births over deaths. 



With respect to the Trundle-Childs difficulty. The committee has not heard 

 Dr. Childs's version of the affair, and in view of the fact that Trundle was 

 found guilty while Dr. Childs was not, is sufficient evidence to show who was 

 the culpable party. Dr. Childs is a very polite respectable colored physician 



