The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-02-19


the Society:
To the Congress Of the United States
"We, the members of the Florida Hor-
| ticultural Society, in regular meeting as
sembled, unanimously ask that the duty
upon oranges imported into the United
States be increased in conformity with
the petition from orange growers of this
State, now before Congress. And we fur
Their protest against the proposed reduc-
ton emanating from the holders and pur-
chasers of foreign fruits. With full conf
dence in your just and favorable actions,
We leave the fostering of this American
industry in your hands"
1t has ever been the policy of the AGRI-
cULTURIsT to forego as far as possible the
discussion of the tariff and kindred ques-
tions with a political phase where our
words could do no good, and our silence
no harm. But this matter of protecting
the product of our labor, of securing for
our laborers at least q small portion of
the benefits of protection that is given to
other citizens of our country, notably
those in the manufacturing districts, is
not political. The orange growers of
Florida are entitled to and should in no
uncertain voice demand the same foster
ing care and protection given by the gov
eminent to other laborers and industries.
An organization known as the Foreign
Fruit Exchange of New York has recently
! memorialized the Ways and Means Com
mittee of the Fifty First Congress. Their
MEMORIAL is rathera an ingenious one, and
sets forth in the first place something en-
tirely new, i. e.: That oranges instead of
being a luxury are a necessity, and as the
the policy of the government is to reduce
the tariff ON the necessities of life and in
crease them on the luxuries, they ask that
oranges and lemons be placed on the free
list.
No one has ever before claimed that.or-
anges were necessary for the maintenance
oflfe. If they were we would need no pro-
tective tariff-the demand would exceed
the supply by several millions of boxes,
and we would be in position to say to
the consumer: eve produce an article
necessary to existence; pay our price and
live, or refuse and die" But they are not
a necessity, and if we should issue the
above proclamation the people would de-
cline with thanks-and still continue to
live. And again, if, as the Foreign Fruit
Exchange says, oranges are necessity,
why and how do several million people in
the United States manage to exist with
out them, as they certainly do?
1t is a mistake; oranges are luxury,
and as the memorial in question truly
says, the policy of the government is to
increase the tariff ON luxuries, consequent
! ly the custom duties on imported oranges
and lemons, instead of being reduced
should be increased. On this question
there can be no political difference, as it is
the policy of both parties time and again
expressed to increase the tariff onluxuries
and reduce it on necessities.
The memorial deals not only with the
past and present but likewise with the
future. 1t says:
The State of Florida Zone OF the forty
two of the United States) produces a
large quantities of oranges, and this pro-
duction is rapidly increasing, but it must
be understood that the harvesting and
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