The morning call., 1894-01-07
BAD FOR WINES,
The Wilson Bill Again
Condemned.
Our Representative Asked to Work
Against the loo Per Cent AID
VaIorem Tax.

The Wine-dealers' Association held a
special meeting yesterday afternoon a
1O5 Stockton street to consider the new
tariff on wines provided by the Wilson bill
now before Congress. The assemblage
was called at the request Of j. j. jacob of
the firm of Lachman & Co. This gentle
man had been investigating the provisions
of the tariff bill very closely. and had dis
covered. to use his own words, IAN OBJ
trusive pig in the fence" which somehow
had thus far escaped public observation,
but which it was of vital moment that
California wine dealers and growers
should take cogniZaDce Of.
The Wilson BILL" said the speaker.
prohibits the impost of more than 100 per
cent Of the invoice value upon foreign
wines entering American markets. But no
one can gauge the invoice value. The ex-
porter can place it at whatever figure he
will; and in the present state of the wine
market be can place it at such figure as
will randeT American comp petition impOsSi-
Die. The enormous vintage of France and
other countries In Europe this year has so
overstocked the market that the wine has
become cheaper than the cOOperage in
which It must be stored. Growers will sell
at any price, because cGoperage cannot be
mad. 80 great IS the unusual demand this
season, and il such is the case with nat
ural wines 1t will be thOusandfoId worse
with artificial wines. Ii will be possible.
undoubtedly, Tor foreign houses to manu-
, facture them at + cents gallon. Then
under the Wilson bill duty of cents
Will be paid on them, and their total cost
delivered in this country will be far below
any figure at which the California wine
could be sold, for the freight from any
European port to New York is only one
fourth of that from San Francisco to New
York, and the California producer at pres
eht is realizing only 10 OF IL cents on wine
which sells in New York al % and "a cents.
the Wilson bill has not the virtue even
of a revenue measure. Its provisions. as
has been seen, would kill the American
VINE Industry, and the revenue 1t would
derive from the increased foreign importa-
tiOns would not compensate for the
revenue ii would lose. If Europe were to
supply the entire American market the
Government under the Wilson bill would
derive~nOt more than S1.100,000. whereas
is present income from foreign and
domestic imposts is now 81, 100000"
In view of these facts Mi. Jacob pre-
scented the following resolution 10 lie sub
united TO the California representation IN
Congress:
WHEREAS, The wine Industry OF this state
as well as that of ONO. Missouri. New York
aud North Carolina. Is seriously threatened by
Inc adoption by Congress OF that portion OF lie
MlIsoh Dill which limits the duty on wines TO
100 per cent OF its declared value; and,
whereas, IL Is proposed to permit the use OF
sugar and alcohol spirits to make sweet wines,
be IL
ResOLUed That our Senators and Repres enta-
lives In Congress are respectfully requested to
take such steps In conjunction with the Sena-
tors and Representatives. OF the other States
affected In like manner or To take action alone
as they may deem wise TO have The provisions
above mentioned eliminated from the pill,
After a brief discussion, in which the
sentiments expressed seemed all of one
kind, Mr. Jacobs resolution was accepted
. unanimously and ordered transmitted by
wire to the California delegation at
Washington.
The resolution was approved and in
.dorsed by g. j. Wetmore. who was pres
entto represent the Fruit-growers' Asso-
claiion of California.
Before the adjournment Of the days