Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-11
TIE CAPITAL.
TIE FREE.TRADERS GIVE CALI
F0RNIA A BLACK EYE.
A Row in the Democratic Camp
Randall Seriously Il-Hoar
Fights the Fisheries Treaty.
ESPECIAL D1seArcHEs TO TEE nrooRn-uN1on. !
TRaMPLING ON CALIFORNIA.


Tho Democrats of the House Refuse Pro-
lection to a Great Industry.
Copyright, 1855. by the California Associated Press,
WASHINGTON, July 10th.-The tariff de- |
bate in the House late this afternoon was |
one of the iveliest of the session and the |
political effect of which will be far-reach- !
ing. The clause reducing the tax on raisins |
from 2 cents to Ii cents per pound was
taken up. Vandever of California offered
an amendment restoring the duty to 2
cents. He called the attention of the DEM
ocrats to the seriousness of the step they
were about to take. The raisin industry in
California was one of the most important
in the State. 1t had been said that this re-
duction did not amount to much, when in
fact it would amount to more than $3.50 900
year. He did not believe that the Demo-
Gratis, if they thoroughly understood the
situation, would insist upon the reduction.
The treatment meted out to California so
far had been anything but justice. 1t
would seem a pity that that State was
separated by the Territories from the rest
of the Union. Did an ocean instead
roll between them-did the Spanish flag,
| instead of the stars and stripes, float above
| California's soil, they might reasonably
hope for better things. This proposed re-
duction from two cents to one and half
| per pound, he said, was direct blow at a
| prominent industry of California, and a
severe one. The producers of raisins in
| his district were small landowners. 1t
| was like striking blow at the homestead
and comforts of home. 1t practically
amounts to lust as much as o robbery of
the farmers. The majority of this House
| could not assumea more unfortunate posi-
| ton than the present one, favorlng as it
| does foreign products at the expense of
| home products.
| MKENNA's PLEA FOR HOME INDUSTRY.
\ McKenna followed and made strong plea
for Vandever's amendment. He said he
hoped the amendment would be adopted.
| The industry needed it and must have it,
or else it would perish. He appealed to the
Democrats of the House to support it. he
believed they could be loyal to their party
and yet support the amendment. He
| thought there must be some Limitation for
both protectionists and tariff Ieformers.
| This industry, being a new and difficult
one, demanded consideration. He showed
that experiment and toll had to be gone
through with and markets found for the
product, all of which took time and capital.
He said that imported raisins varied in
price from 10 to 30 cents per pound, and
the domestic from 5 to 40 cents. He ex-
pected that this years production of Cali
fornia raisins would be $50, 600 boxes. The
duty, he thought, ought to be kept at 2
cents per pound, and declared it to be for
the interest of the Democrats, if they
wished to consider political reasons, to
support the amendment.
BIGGs ARGUES FOR Low DUTY.
Representative Biggs declared that he
was in favor of protecting raisins aud
everything of the kind produced on the
Pacific coast, and therefore supports the
Mills bill, which he thought was BITTER
protection, since it does awey with the
pernicious damage rebate. There was no
ten per cent damage under this bill, and
the protection TINS offered would soon en-
able the United States to supply the world
with raisins.
MORROW REPLIED TO THE BUTTE STATESMAN.
Mr.. Morrow, in answer to Biggs, said
that the proposed reduction was to give the
product at cheaper prices, but that could
not be done without running the industry.
In a new industry like raisius, the growing
] of vineyard needs from four to five years
care, with no returns to the grower during
that time, and be falling in debt. He de-
clared such TO be the condition of the raj
sin industry in California to-day, and the
reduction would destroy the small margin
Of profit now enjoyed. When the Demo-
Gratis came to rice, they would retain the
one hundred per cent. protection. But
: raisins they would reduce twenty-five per
) cent. Was that just? Both were neces-
sary for good pudding. He said most of the
raisin-growers of California are poor and
struggling for existence against Spain and
Southern Europe.
Mcmillan of Tennessee spoke of the
s benefit that would result by the abolish
/ ment of the damage rebate.
Morrow here interrupted and said that
the damage on raisins was too small to be
considered a factor in the case.
FELTON, STANDS UP.
FELTON, said that great deal had beer
] uttered regarding the depressed condition
of American agriculture, and he declared
it to be due TO competition at home, and
" said we could not afford to compete with
Europe. The duty on raisins and othel
products should therefore be maintained.
THOMPSON DoDGEs THE ISSUE.
Y The amendment was defeated by vote
of 81 to II. The position of active hostility
Y to the maintenance of the tariff assumed by
Briggs, and his vote against it, is taken a,
r significant of the way he will vote on th,
D wool clause. Thompson was absent, al
= though it was well-known fact that the
q raisin clause would be taken up to-day.
m CAPITAL FOR REPUBLICANS.
|. Mckenna said that to-day's action in tn,
- House insured the carrying of the State il