The morning call., 1893-12-02
RAISlNS, PRUNES AND FIGS.
important State Industries in
Serious Peril.
ZANTE CURRANTs POUR IN.
A Meeting of Growers to Be Held to
Take Action Against Proposed
Duty Changes.

The proposed changes in the tariff by
the Democrats vitality affect several great
industries on this coast. The fruit men
have perceived that if duties are abolished
or reduced in accordance with the recently
published statement of Wilson. chairman
of the Committee of Ways and Means. il
will mean ruin to various promising lines
Of horticulture.
The industries specially affected are
raisins. prunes and figs. Those interested
in these products have already taken the
preliminary steps to oppose any change of
duty affecting them, and meeting of
growers for future action will be held at a
future Gate.
Wilson's statement" of tariff modifca-
tons reduced tile duty on raisins from 21z
to " cents; on prunes.from cents to / :;
While figs. on which there was formerly a
protective duty of 2h cents. are by Mr..
Wilson placed on the free list. Under the
present protection all these industries
have grown steadily. until this year it Is
estimated that the product of figs amount
ed to $4,000. and of prunes and raisins to
from 100000 to SS.0O0.OO0. The produc-
ton of prunes this year is set by Nj.
Ehrman & Co. of this city at 60, 900, 600
pounds; raisins, 100000 pounds; figs,
100000 pounds.
The latest illustration of the absolute
necessity for protection is afforded just
now by the flood of foreign currants which
are pouring into the local market. Zante
currants by some means POSSIBLY it was
just TO furnish the illustration were left
on the free list. The result is that they
are pouring in vast quantities into the
country.
ID. FL. Porter of Porter Brothers said
Yesterday that Zante currants were selling
here at 3 cents a pound, competing sue
cessfully with our Sultanas, Seedless Mus
catels aud Thompson seedless grapes. 1t
cost the Zante currant importers 81 70 to
get their article to this coast. Mr.. Porter
has tslegraphed Congressman Cannon,
who represents the southern counties of
the State, laying the condition of things
before him and asking him TO take such
action, both personally and in concert, as
NAV protect California in her serious need.
Samuel l. WOrmser of NJ. Ehrman & Co.
has been actively engaged during the past
few DAYS in ascertaining facts in the prem
Uses. He said yesterday:
1--WE have found that if the Wilson tariff
were to go into effect it would mean the
gripping If not the entire destruction of
these industries. In rasins we have to
OCs
Servia, Bulgaria and Germany; figs with
SMYRNA. Owing TO our high-priced labor
and high cost of transportation we cannot
compete in these articles unless aided by
duty. Already we raise enough prunes
and raisns o supply the whole of the
United States without single pound of
the imported article, but this new tariff
would give the foreign article the 'pull
and our own products would be neglected
in its favor.
Eyes. we propose taking concerted &C.
ton. The Associated Wholesale Grocers
of California have passed a resolution de-
nonncing the proposed tariff reduction by
the Committee of Ways and Means in Con-
gress, and asking all producers and kind
red parties to agitate the subject, with a
view OF creating public sentiment in the
matter. The association also suggests in
viting the assistance Of ali our Congress
men in the matter"
Mr.. Wormser explained that the Ques-
ton concerned nearly all the merchants in
the State. CALIFORNIA; prosperity de-
pended on the prosperity of her leading
industries and unless the fruiumen had
| money all business would languish. Pro-
lection was absolutely needed in order TO
allow California to compete successfully
with foreign fruit. He said this fact was
becoming more and more recognized. and
he expected that at a meeting of growers
to be held in the near future the vital
necessity for general, wise and sustained
opposition to the prejudicial measure pro-
posed would be even further emphasized.