260 THE MARKETING OF WHOLE MILK 



The aim was to have these commissions composed of 

 capable men, who would represent the various interests 

 and who could arrive at prices fair to producers as well as 

 to consumers. Members of these commissions were, for the 

 most part, persons who were neither producers of nor 

 dealers in milk. In many instances it took these com- 

 missions a long time to become familiar with their prob- 

 lems, and many could hardly be said to have gone to the 

 root of these problems before they ceased to exist. 



In most cases these commissions sought to arrive at 

 fair prices by securing cost of production figures so far as 

 available and cost of distribution figures as shown by 

 their own accountants. In some cases special cost of pro- 

 duction investigations were conducted. As a whole these 

 price tribunals had a difficult task. The Chicago Milk 

 Commission broke up in disagreement over its first report, 

 one member resigning and two issuing minority reports. 

 The New York Commission had great difficulty in bring- 

 ing any semblance of peace between dealers and producers. 

 The Ohio Commission practically passed out of existence 

 in December, 1918, when the Ohio dairymen refused to 

 abide by its decision and appealed to Food Administrator 

 Croxton for an increase in the price over that allowed by 

 the Commission, which increase was granted. The New 

 England Commission was the only federal commission to 

 function as long as the Food Administration was in con- 

 trol. 



One of the most successful commissions was the Detroit 

 Commission. Its success has doubtless been due in large 

 measure to the fact that it accepted as its task the provid- 

 ing of an adequate supply of milk for the city of Detroit. 

 Its work was facilitated by the fact that both producers 

 and dealers had organizations through which collective 



