The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-24
FOR OUR WINES.
A Hard Fight Being Made
in Washington.
GEARY is THE CHAMPION.
Conference at the National
Capital.
GEARY is THE CHAMPION
National
A CATCH IN THE WILSON BILL.
Strenuous Efforts Being Made to
Protect the Viticultural Inter-
eStS of California.

The wires between this city and Wash
ington were kept busy yesterday with
messages between the viticulturists OF this
State and their representatives in the
national capital.
c. A. Wetmore arrived in Washington
on Monday afternoon, and on the same
evening a conference was held for the pur-
pose Of considering the provisions OF the
Wilson bill with reference to wines. This
was attended by Mr.. Wetmore, Repre-
sentative Geary. Charles Mcknight,
Loesser of Bonfort's Wine and Spirit Cir
cular. also representing the wine and
spirit dealers of the association Of the
gentlemen now in Washington. attracted
thither by the proposed legislation.
The feature of the Wilson bill to which
the wine men object is Joker" which is
attached TO the wine clause, and which
seems quite innocent In itself, but which
will give the industry bad blow If it
should become law. AS in the Mckinley
tariff law wine is taxed at 30 cents gallon,
but the following is added: Provided.
that in no case shall the duty exceed 100
per cent ad valoreD." That is. all wines
billed at less than 80 cents a gallon would
pay duty only equal to their original
value, and here is the point 30 which pro-
ducers of this country are Directing, and
which has brought delegates to the capital
from far and near to try TO defeat the pro-
vision.
The wine product of France for the last
season is estimated at !, 200, 000, 600 gallons,
much larger than has ever been produced
before. Wine Is flowing there almost lik g
water, and In Bordeaux to-day good quality
OF wine can be mad for cents gallon. Under
the proposed law the duty on this could be no
more than cents, or In other words, il could
be laid down in New York, duty and freight
paid. Tor % cents gallon. Under the Nc
kinley law the same wine would cost the I'M
porter 50 cents, difference Of almost 200 per
cent.
According to the dispatch received from Mr..
Wetmore yesterday after an all-nigbt confer
ence participated in by Iepresen tatives OF the
importers, dealers and producers, both East
and West compromise was agreed upon
which, ii ratified by the constituents of the
representatives who effected it, Mr.. Geary will
take into the House, and use every effort 10
have II substituted for the section of the bill as
Ii now stands.
The compromise provides for specific duty
of 80 c. nts gallon on dry wines up to IA
per cent alcohol and 80 cents on sweet wines
running from Ia TO "a per cent alcohol.
Representative Geary made a hard fight for
40 cents on dry wines and 60 cents on
sweet wines, but in order to come 10 an agree
ment and secure the defeat of the ad valOrem
idea he was forced 10 come down TO the figure
stated in the dispatch.
Geary then instructed the officers of the
Nlticulturai commission TO telegraph TO all
parts OF the State 10 prominent yiueyardsts
asking their approval of his stand, and accord
ingly messages were sent 10 George West of
Stockton, l. de Turk OF Santa Rosa, John T.
Doyle of Menlo Park. III. w. Crabb of Oak vile
and many others in distant parts of the State
explaining the situation and asking them TO at
once telegraph Representative Geary their ap-
prevail of his stand.
meeting of the San Francisco Wine-dealers'
Association was also called al the rooms OF the
Nlticulural Commission, and the matter was
laid before II. That organization at once re-
solved TO stand by its representative in Wash.
ingtOu, and the following dispatch was tele-
graphed 10 Mr.. Geary last night:
Thirty cents on dig wines would be preferable to
an ad yalorem tax but it is not enough to protect
the industry Try for 40 cents on dry wines
The course you pursue is approved by ali.
To Mr.. Wetmore this message was sent:
Geary's idea of 80 cents dry wines and 60
cents on sweet wines is acceptable but would
prefer so cents on both. AT any rate would NOT
object to 80 cents on dry wines and SO cents on
sweet wines, II by that means ad valorem is de-
feated. We can then try for better terms in the
Senate.
1t Is expected that similar messages will be
sent from all over the State, and then, with this
support, Mr.. Geary can go into the House and
make the fight for the protection of one of this
states most cherished industries.