The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-02
MORE PROTECTION REQUIRED
To Lower the Tax Would Ruin
the Industry in California.
WHY GRAPES SELL FOR A SONG.
The Senator From Los Angeles
Makes Plea for Protection of
ViticulturaI interests.

WASHINGTON. March 1.-Senator White
to-day argued before the Finance Commit
tee in favor of the maintenance of the
present tax on grape brandy. he said it
was true that fair qualities of new grape
brandies do not bring in the market "a
higher price than about 30 to So cents per
gallon In bond in ordinary seasons, and
during the recent commercial depreS-
sion they have been considerably lower.
"Those prices, however," he continued.
do nos indicate that the producers reap any
profit at such prices. On the contrary, the
low price of brandy, which is caused by
circumstances to be explained later on,
prevent the exten zion of this branch of the
yiticultural industry and prevent also the
producers from seeking brandy produc-
ton as the primary object when planting
grapes. During the recent years vine
growers of California have been suffering
from very low prices and have been oper-
ating their plants at a continual loss.
These losses they have been compelled 10
bear rather than to sacrifice the immense
capital invested in their vineyards
and wineries, which would be closed if
they should abandon their enterprises. In
the hope of improved prices they have
struggled along under constantly increas-
ing loads of debts, and are now, owing to
the unusual depression of business, almost
in despair. Their industry represents in
California an investment aggregating
about $50. 600. O0O and upon their success
depends also the success of large proper
ton of our popuIa tion.
Certain winemakers and distillers who
are not incumbered with the ownership
and cultivation of vineyards have been
en- aDled in recent years to purchase thou
sands of tons of grapes at prices much
less than the actual cost of production.
and thereby have been enabled to enter
into contracts for the production of
brandy at very low prices. making even
some profit in doing so. This condition,
however, cannot long continue. The mar
ket must either improve or growers must
dig up their vines. During the last viniage
many thousands Of tons of grapes were
sold at prices ranging from So to 81 ton,
delivered at the wineries. To have yielded
fair profits they should have brought $40 a
ton.
I'VE understand that it Is asked to
lower the tariff on spirits even lower than
the tax imposed in France on similar
goods, for it must be remem bered that the
internal revenue tax of France is added
to the rate of duty declared in her tariff
| With respect to the other countries in
which the producers of France come il
competition with those of this country il
will be found that their tariffs on spirit:
are 10 nearly all cases higher than ths
present tariff of the United States. There
! should be in the new law some provision
| requiring a proof OF absolute purity anC
| genuneness of imported brandies before
| they are admitted to this country, and a
least are our own.
"Distllers should be permitted in bond
to break, change and repack their pack
ages. including bottling in such manne
that they may give assurance through in
ternal revenue stamps of the purity O.
| their goods. and so overcome the vicious
practices of the trade which now proven
them from obtaining remunerative prices
for their goods. ANY reduction in tn,
tariff on brandies will certainly be disas
trous and practically destroy the brand!
industry"
Senator White is endeavoring. to get
tariff of "a cents on prunes and raisiDs