The herald., 1894-03-18

and an unusual effort on the part OF tn,
French TO dispose Of the surplus for which
they have not at present the usual ia
cilities for storage. This enormous in
crease ie. however, not to be considered
permanent, but temporary only. 1T
effect, however, has been to greatly dis
turb prices and to cause alarm on tbs
part of domestic producers in the coun
try who are suffering at present from &
similar sudden increase OF their OWE
products.
The vintage of California in 1892 was
about $4,000, 600 gallons: in 1893 tnt
crop amounted to about $4,000, 900 gal
Ions. The financial depression through
out the country affects vine growers
more than others, because their products
are not only treated as articles OF luxu.
ny, subject to diminution of demand
during dull times, but also entail ex.
cessive expenses OF storage whenever q
surplus is obtained when money is
scarce and difficult to procure to sustain
credit.
1t is plain to see that in articles such
as wines commerce is subject to extra
ordinary fluctuations OF prices, and that
under an ad valorem system importa-
tions would take place principally in
years of large production and be
held In bond for years, II neces-
sary to be sold when prices
rise; snd shoss who have specu-
lated on the former low prices can
hold the markets against all future i'm
portations, because under the law the
ad valorem rate is fixed in accordance
with the value at the time OF importa-
tion, and not at the time of withdrawal
from bond, Under such circumstances
the wine trade would be at the mercy OF
speculators, and the revenue collected
would not be in accordance with value
at ell. After holding such wines with
out tax for three years in bond the spec
ulator would pay in accordance with the
bankrupt values OF surplus stocks of
three years preceding, whereas the inn
porter, who would desire to bring in
fresh lots of the same class of goods,
which had been kept in the meantime
Ia foreign countries, would pay many
times as much tax.
ad valorem taxes are levied, the goods
imported into this country and held in
bond should be valued the came as the
game class of goods which have been
held in foreign countries, and the tax
should be in accordance with the value
ut the time OF withdrawal from bond.
However, in the matter OF wines which
have no fixed or standard values, and
which vary with respect to almost every
individual shipment, an ad valorem tax
is wholly impracticable, even though
there were no other reasons to be given.
These foregoing statements are made
most especially to show that France i'm
ports more wines than che exports, and
offers markets for the surplus of other
countries from which, however, by rea-
son of her discriminating tariff, che ex-
cludeH the United States. The extent of
the French foreign commerce in wines
is very much exaggerated in the public
mind.
When the average production OF
France was ], 800, 900, 900 gallons of wine
her average exports amounted to only
go, 900, 600 gallons. At the present time
the exports are much lees than formerly,
and many times less than the imports.
France has therefore no need to extend
her foreign commerce in the exporta-
'tion Of vine. because it is shown she
bss net sufficient for her home con-
sumption. There is. however, q we'll
known industry in certain French ports
in preparing artificial and adnlterated
compounds, both of wines and spirits,
for such foreign markets as admit the
same without proper care for the inter
ests OF their own citizens. Such pro-
ducts are forbidden to be sold In the
French hame market, but special facili
tsrsisn Ire maiEefts.. Ef Tor VIII wi" "fetbscE the
comparatively small portion Of high
grade, genuine wines and brandies
which France can spare for the Amer
lean market, there Is no demand on the
part OF trade or consumers for lower
tariffs.
In this connection it may be noticed
that the pamphlet circulated among
members of congress entitled, "a petit
tion OF the importers and consumers OF
still wines to the senate finance com
mittee," signed, anonymously, by the
simple word, petitioners" was pre-
pared by Mr. W. g. Knowles,
the agent of the Bordeaux wine
syndicate, and lie entirely misleading, so
far as it pretends to be the petition of
importers and consumers Of French
still wines in the United States," as it
was not authorized by such and is solely
in the interest of the Bordeaux syndi-
cate. Several of the best known and
most highly reputed Bordeaux wine
merchants, Msssrs. Barton and Guestier
among the number, have refused to join
this syndicate, and are known to be op-
posed to the arguments set forth.
With respect to to the well known
production OF artificial brandies in
France, reference can be made to many
OF the reports of the American consuls,
published by the state department. and
to the statements attributed to Mr..
Knowles. which have been published in