MILK SCANDAL GROWS IN NEW YORK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17836, 3 May 1926, Page 15

MILK SCANDAL GROWS IN NEW YORK.

hundreds of charges TO BE HEARD BY COURTS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. AUs. and K.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK. May 1. j The New York milk scandal is growing in scope. The Commissioner of Health, Mr Harris. announced that milk watered with a stable hose is responsible for a large proportion of the annual typhoid cases in New \ ork which terminate fatally. Yarious city institutions have discovered so much bad milk and cream being supplied to them that they have been compelled to institute their own inspection system. The secretary of the previous Health Commissioner, indicted by the Grand Jury on charges of bribery, has been released on a 9500 dollar bail. The leader of the gang who practised extortion among dishonest dealers pleaded guilty, and awaits sentence. The present New York State law requires 3 per cent butter-fat content in mijk, and dishonest wholesalers formed a ring, declining to purchase m ; lk from any dairyman of a higher butter-fat content, preferring the cheaper product. thus forcing many unwilling dairymen to adulterate their milk. Hundreds of indictments are expected. and special panels of grand juries in cities and boroughs are being sworn The office of the prosecuting attorney fs devoting the entire staff to the purposes of the investigation. A message from New York on April 18 said: One of the worst scandals in the history of the pure food laws of this city has been disclosed, another month’s in-, vestigation by the Health Department revealing that 300,000 gallons of adulterated milk have been sold daily for years. The investigation also shows that nearby municipalities also are affected in a similar manner, Jersey City’s supply being 21 per cent, adulterated, in many cases to such an extent as to be practically water. Corruption has existed in the Health Department of New York, it being disclosed that the Department’s inspectors are not trusted and that uniformed police in many instances are being used to test milk. The Department’s efforts to stop shipments of so-called “bootleg” milk into the city were frustrated when railway employees were bribed by interested parties to hide the impure supplies. Cream was adulterated heavily with oils.

A clique of blackmailers has existed levying tribute upon the dishonest dealers under threat to reveal the conditions. Four men are now being held by the police and Grand Jury indictments are expected.

One blackmailer has confessed that he collected 100,000 dollars yearly. The Department’s officials claim that powerful forces are working against them, incriminating evidence being stolen from the record room.