Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-20
Tbe old and new tarifr is .ubioined:
Mr.. Dean SAYS:

The tariff bill just passed will, In my
opinion, be injurious to the fruit business
and the community at large-thht is. the
consumers-sO far as il relates 10 those
articles on which the duties have been in
creased, and the only ones that can be
benefited bv it are few hundred already
wealthy landowners and fruit .growers
In California, which is the only state in
the union that cun produce dried fruits
in competition with foreign products
The balance of the pOpulstion-thec con
sumers-must pay more for their dried
fruit, owing TO the increased duties. For
instance. the article of prunes is poor
mans luxury when cheap, and California,
even with good crop, does rot produce
more than onesfourth of the usual re quire-
ments for the Unites States, yet the duty
on them has been increased 100 per cent,
In q season like the present one especially,
when there is an extremely short crop, il
is g misfortune and q hardship TO the poo
aud those of only moderate means TO have
increased taxes placed upon an article so
largely used and which has become al
most a necessity for family use among the
medium and poorer classes.
Ii IS said by the protectionists that
higher duties are necessary to stimulate
production in California This is not
true, because ever since they have known
they can produce prunes there, they have
increased as fast as possible and very
cheaplY too. II is said by well-informed
CalitOrnianS that handsome profits can be
made in raising prunes at four cents per
pound. and today they are selling at 125
cents to Ia cents per pound in New York
aud it is the boast of California fruit
growers that they aye making from 800
to $500 yearly per acre from land that
cost less than those figures in fee simple,
aud even with all this it will be many
years before California can produce near
ly enough prunes TO supply the demand
at low prices, as it takes several years for
the trees to grow and produce fruit The
climate and soil for producing fruits of
this kind are superior to any of the for
eign countries. and without any protec-
ton OF duties whatever no country in the
world can compete with ours. The price
Of California prunes will range in this
market-snd, in fact, all the markets OF
the United States-from IS per cent TO
100 per cent higher than Turkish prunes.
and from % per cent. to so per cent
higher than the French, which are the
best of foreign production.
Now what is the need of protection of
American prunes2 None, except that
wealthy people can now engage in this
immensely profitable industry, as the
fruit raising lands of California are now
held so high by spectators aud wealthy
owners, that none but those of large
means can engage in IL.
Raisins is another article largely pro-
duced in CalifOrnIs. and on which the
duty has been increased from two cents
per pound 10 two and one-half cents.
This also seems to be uncaled for in
view of their being able to produce a
much better article and at quite as low
prices as any foreign country can pro-
duce them. and it will be many years be.
fore it can produce even so per cent of
the requirements of this country. Hence
il necesstates importing more than one-
half Of those used with a duty of from
so 10 70 per cent on the first cost, which
is Just so much tax to the consumer, and
benefits no one.
Dried eurrsnts. which formerly paid
one cent per pound duty, are under the
new tariff admitted free. aud the gain to
the consumer will be that much, and I'M
doubtedly the consumption will be large
ly increased.
The duty on figs has been increased
one-half cent per pound, and for what
reason | am at q loss TO understand, as
scarcely any, and none of good quality,
have been produced in this country, and
il is doubtful if they can be.
Dates, the only other article affected
by the new tariff, which formerly paid
one cent per pound duty. are admitted
free, which is beneficial measure as
they are wholesome fruit and can now
be sold chesplY, and the consumption
will be largely increased.
On the whole, | think the meddling
with the tariff at all has been great
detriment TO the fruit trade, and it would
have been better for the business of the
country bad the former duties not been
disturbed or changed.