CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED REMEDIES 259 



Cooperation among producers is a more feasible plan 

 and one from which better results may be expected than 

 from any of the three already discussed. In fact, as pre- 

 viously shown ^ there is already a considerable nucleus 

 of producers' cooperation in the distribution of milk, 

 particularly in a number of cities of moderate size. This 

 development bids fair to continue and is much more 

 likely to bring good results than cooperation among con- 

 sumers, since dairymen are as a rule interested mainly 

 in milk production and sale. Furthermore, our city milk 

 zones, aside from the large metropolitan areas, are small 

 enough to permit the producers to keep posted as to what 

 is going on and thus keep in touch with the management 

 of the concern. It is an open question, however, whether 

 producers about most of our large cities could operate 

 efficiently so large and complicated a business as the city 

 milk business. Successful operation of such a business 

 in one of our large cities requires the closest attention of 

 able men who are vitally interested. 



Section 5. The Milk Commission and Milk Arbitrator Plans 



Another remedy that has frequently been suggested 

 is that of a milk commission. During the war period 

 particularly there were many attempts to fix prices and 

 otherwise regulate the milk business. In the fall and 

 winter of 1917-18 federal milk commissions were appointed 

 in the New England District, the New York City Dis- 

 trict, the Chicago District, the San Francisco District, 

 and for the State of Ohio.^ In addition many local com- 

 missions were appointed, such for example as those of 

 Detroit, Michigan, and Evansville, Indiana. 



>Chap. V, Sec. 5. 



• Bureau of War Industries Bui. j, p. 107. 



