The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-10
CALIFORNIA PRODUCE.
Governor Markham Finds 1t Tia.
bO0ed by Public Institutions.
Views Of Merchants Upon the Subject-The
Law Should Require Home Products
to Be Purchased.

During Governor Markham's recent tour
OF the State his attention was called to the
fact that about two thirds OF the dairy and
other produce and provisions used in the
public institutions are purchased in Eastern
markets and shipped across the mountains.
The Governor has promised to look into the
matter more thoroughly with view Of as
certaining as near as possible the exact pro-
portion of Eastern commodities used in Cal
ifornia institutions.
As a rule local provision and produce
men are much chagrined at the state of
affairs pointed out by Governor Markham
Captain Merry said to a reporter for THE
CALL that it lad long been a source Of Just
complaint among the merchants that not
only the State but the Federal requirements
for supplies are mostly of Eastern manu-
facture ard production. In the early his
tory OF the State there was some excuse for
this, but there is certainly none at present,
and there should be law giving local pro-
duce preference at the same price. The
Federal Government in such matters has
the habit of treating California as il it were
a province or colony, good enouge to tax,
but also good enough to make a market for
surplus and often inferior articles The
reason OF this is that we have not enough
votes and political influence at Washington.
But California should certainly have suffi-
Gent local pride and good citizenship to sup
port her own citizens aud taxpayers by CIV
Ing q fair preference TO our own products,
since, If we do not follow this policy how
can We expect our authorities East to do so?
1t is very ereditable to the Governor that he
has noticed this abuse and proposes TO REM
edy it."
Joseph Getz of Getz Bros said he thought
law ought TO be passed making il manda-
tory upon the officials of California institu-
tons TO buy California produce wherever Ii
could be procured without incurring extra
expense. "The dairy produce OF this State"
said Mr.. Geiz, "cannot be beaten anywhere.
If home institutions 10 not patronlze home
markets what hope is there OF getting the
Federal authorities to furnish California
goods at its California stations?''
Mr., Sweeney OF Dodge. Sweeney Il Go.
thought the State or California ought to be
able to supply its own institutions with
dairy produce. if nothing more. He thought
Governor Markham deserved credit for
taking no the matter.
An officer Of the Dairymen's Union in this
city said that California dairy produce
could be furnished as cheaply, all things
considered. as that of any other State. He
was glad that the Governor had become in
terested in The subject, and looked for re-
form in the near future. There is great
deal OF humbusgery in the letting Of most
OF these contracts" said he, land the Gov
ernor Will be doing great public service in
showing it up"
One commission merchant on Sacramento
street, near Davis. who does large amount
OF business. bat who did not want his name
used, said he did not think it was true that
any considerable percentage of Eastern
dairy produce was being used in State ill.,
situations.
A member of the firm of Kowalsky & Co.
said he favored law making the authorities
give California produce the preference
whenever it could be done without materi-
ally increasing the cost