Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-08-15
THE WINE INDUSTRY.
A Large Meeting of Grape
Growers.
LtrTER ro COLLECTOR ELIIs.
Steps Taken to Organize Grape
Growers and Wine and Brandy
Makers Association.

mdktIS hccOtA0tAOhe
Yesterday afternoon large number OF
the grape growers and dis'illers Of this
county met It the Board Of Trade rooms
10 take some action in regard to the re-
cent arbitrary assessments levied by the
revenue department upon makers Of
grape brandy in Southern California and
also to organize for the protection Of the
grape industry.
The following gentleman were press Mt
L. ]. Rose, San Gabriel; B. H. Upham,
San Francisco; P. Beaudry, Los Ange-
les; o. Streshley, Azusa; John Westphal,
Pomona; Il. D. Barrows, Los Angeles;
Geo. W.. Swinton, J. W. Batcheller,
Fruitland; Bayard I. Smith, Pasadena;
James Craig. Pasadena; A. H. Spencer.
Los Angeles; e. J. Baldwin, Los Apgs-
les; John T. zsyn, AnAheim; Fred
HArtung, AnahsIm; Theo Reiser. Ana
helm; A. Lamsr. Anaheim; H, stuhr.
Los Angeles; Thos. Lsshy, Los Angeles;
Louis Schoon. Ansheim; |. M. Hellman.
Cuosmonga Vineyard; ). F. Boege, An
Ahsim; j. Gibbs, Los Angeles; q. To-
noni, Los Angeles; w. A. Pile. Monro-
via; G. ]. Berry, San Antonio; A. d.
Rogers, Vernon; w. H. Workman, Los
Angeles; vacb< FrSres, Los Angeles; !.
I. Carlton, Los Angslss; G: H. Afford,
Los Angeles; r. Nadeau. Los Angeles;
A. Brigdsn, Lamanda Park; G.. Purcell,
San Gabriel, Geo. Rice, Los Angeles; N.
c. Carter, Sierra Madre; X. J. Price,
Los Angslss; H. D. Bacon, Pasadena;
q q. Story, Alhambra; NJ. ). Golden,
Los Angeles; H. A. Unruh, Los Angeles.
Mr.. b. D. Barrows was made Chair
man, and George Rice Secretary.
Mr.. L. J. Rose stated the object Of
the meeting, and made an excellent
speech explaining the cause Of com
plant against the Revenue Department
and urging that action be taken.
Mr.. Rose said, 1--WE are having an
assessment levied on us, and cannot lind
out what 10 the cause Of IL. We use
brandy for fortifying sweet wines with
out paying tax on the brandy. This
has prevailed for long time. l was in
Washington and told the Commissioner
Of Internal Revenue that II would ruin
us II we had TO pay taxes on fortified
sweet wines made. for France could I'm
derzell us and ruin our country alto
gether, and compel us to make dry
wines. II tax must be paid let US
have stamp, so that honest en- can do
business. We are honest. conscientious
and true, but we have gone into bu-i-
mesa thinking It was ali right, and now
to change on us would ruin our industry.
The Commissioner said to go ahead;
there will be no trouble about it; and
we went ahead Now, the Democratic
administration wants to sweep very
clean, and send sharp special agents to
detect something. They have no knowl-
edge OF distillinR; care nothing for this
community; they only want to detect
something. Men have been treated as
thieves who have no intention Of doing
wrenR, and who have borne good repu
I tations.
The former Collector in San Francisco
Mr.. Hartson--was q good man. he
Aaid to me: "You use brandy to fortify
sweet wines."
said: ayes, but only to make sala-
bic article of wine; not to sell the bran
dy. II you stop It you will get no rev.
snue, and we will have to make other
kinds OF wines and will compete with
Northern California.
Harrison said: Go home and keep on,
There will be no trouble about it"
But now two sharp men ray that we
ought to have made more brandy than
We did make, and must pay taxes on
what We might but didn't make.
Mr.. Rose said: THE matter, as near
q can explain. it Is Just this: We have
been working under the following rules
aud Instructions, given to US by Mr..
Hall, former Deputy Collector dewn
here, and who knows as much about the
revenue as anybody connected with il.
"A voice-'sYesi More than all Of 'em
put together. A survey Of the capac-
ity of our stills was made; we then de-
Quoted 10 per cent. fol boiling space,
and Is brandy has to be redistilled aud
20 through : process called doubling,
We took OF one-third for doubling, and
reported ~ brandy manufactured the
full capacity Of our stills minus 10 per
cent. boiling space, and minus one-third
for doubling allowances; the result thus
obtained wac the actual brandy made,
which We reported. We worked under
thia rule, and all was satisfactory, but
now comes Mr.. Webb and says that we
should have reported as brandy made
the full capacity Of our still, less boiling
space, making no allowance for doub-
ling. This man Webb Gays nothing to
d about the matter, but he surveys our
stills and makes bis report to the de-
pArtment, and the frat thing we know
thsss arbitrary and unjust assessments
are levied on us. We want to be treated
- men, and not As . lot of ignorant
people who don't understand their bust.
ness. thiuk our friend and neighbor,
Collector Ella should take some stsnd
in the matter and stay by US. Let him
say that he knows us and believes in our
honesty, and not be in mortal terror that
his head will be cut OF by this Special
Agent Webb"
Mr.. Rose moved that committee Of
three be appointed to prepare q letter to
Mr.. Ellis, aud the Chair appointed
Messrs. Rose, Workman and brigden.
The committee reported, and Mr.. Rose
read the following
LETTER ~ NM hLhiSs
Los ANGELES, Cal, ---iSS6.
Hon. Asa Eitis, Collector U. s. Inter
= nal Revenue, San Francisco, Cal
pxAH Sir. AT q meeting Geld here by
The grape. growers, wine-m lkers and dis
tillers, for the purpose Of getting relief
from the sweeping assessment made
some time since through John Webb. Jr.,
the special agent sent from Washington
to the coast; and for the purpose OF in
spirinq confidence to buyers OF grapes
with the assurance that they have our
sympathy and corporation in their
struggle for relief; and with this end in
view we lay our grievances before you.
We do this with much confidence and
freedom, for we remember that you have
lived among us, that you know us per.
sonally, and that you are conversant
with our wants and know many OF our
troubles. You are aware. that by in
creased acreage OF vines, that a large
crop may be expected this year. and that
last year, with short crop, tho price
for grapes was low, not averaging fifteen
dollars per ton, you may readily see the
outlook for the present season, with the
drawback that this assessment forbodes.
You understand that there are many
worthy people, who are engaged in rails
ing grapes for sale to the vInlner, and
that they are IN no condition to make
no their own crops for want of capital
necessary for the construction Of Gel
lars, cbtaing machinery, and cooperage.
to say nothing Of their not possessing the
necessary knowledge, and you well
know how vitality imp Jrtant il is to such
people that they should do well with
grapes. You know well how alarming
The presence Of this intended assessment
il to the wine mskers, and II confidence
i not restored, what the consequence
will be. Many grape-buyers will &c
out Of the market, causing at once al
excess Of supply over demand, and price,
will fall in proportion to almost nothing