The record-union., 1896-12-03


the best quality. Particularly has this
been the case with dried fruit In foreign
markets. The quality was poor, and was
taken up by jobbers at ridiculously low
prices. The quality of the fruit did not
deserve better treatment.
1t was contended that the average
English merchant would not strain
point to bring any foreign article promi-
nently before the eye of the public, and
practical advertising agency was ne
cessary in London.
1t was advised that endeavors be
made to introduce California dried fruit
into the English army, and by this
means get the fruit into some of the best
families. A further endeavor should be
made to get a number of large mer-
chants interested in our fruits, and by
so doing our fruits could be profitably
distributed throughout the United
Kingdom. To this end a general agency
should be formed by the fruit-growers
to introduce their products.
DISCUSSION.
William Johnston said that what
would benefit California fruit growers
more than anything else was the pass
age of pure food bill. It was a known
fact that California fruit was counter
feited all over the civilized world. In
Baltimore slush was put UP and la
beled California Fruit" which was
well calculated to kill the chances of
California fruits wherever it was intro
duced
Kimball Of National City, Gordon Of
San Jose and Filcher of San Francisco
also favored recommending the passage
Of a pure food bill.
Filcher of San Francisco advocated
forming a compact organization of fruit
growers throughout the State. Compe-
tition among growers was the thing
now doing the most damage to the
fruit interests throughout the State.
Wherever a fruit grower was found
who did not belong to the fruit growers
organization there was also found a
competitor. This would maintain until
there was an organization formed talk
ing in every fruit grower in the State.
He advocated the formation of fruit
exchanges. and to get the sense of the
meeting he embodied the proposition in
motion.
E. K. Alsip of Sacramento agreed
with Mr.. Filcher. He thought that or
ganization was the life of the fruit
interests. A corporation did not pull
against itself. The question should not
be shall we organizer" but ''how shall
we organizer" He understood that not
one-flfth of the population of California
had ever tasted California fruit. The
sooner the growers realized the fact
that they were losing money the sooner
would they organize and proceed to lay
up something for themselves.
Professor C. H Allen Of San Jose
cOntended that the fruit growers had
in the past made a great effort to or
ganize, and that the great effort had
ended in a great fizzle. The fruit grow
ers Of the State were, collectively,
body of great fools in the respect that
they were always afraid that some man
would get a soft snap, draw down
large salary for doing nothing for few
years. and sooner than take such risk
they preferred to go unorganized.
There was small use, he said, in one
tenth of 1 per cent. Of the fruit grow
ers of the State getting together in an
attempt to organize while the others
remained on the outside.
TARIFF COMMITTEE REPORT.
At this point General Chapman, for
the Committee on Tariff Legislation,
handed in its report, complete synop-
sis of which was published in yester-
days Record Union" The report was
read and motion that it be adopted
by the convention followed.
TARIFF ON RAISINS.
Motheral of Hanford moved that the
report be amended so as to increase the
tariff on raisins to three cents a pound
instead Of 2112 cents.
Phillips of Fresno thought tariff of
21a cents a pound on raisins would,
from a Democratic standpoint, be am
pie for revenue only. He had been be-
fore the Congressional Committee in
Washington asking for a tariff on raj
sins, and knew the arguments advanced
by importers. He thought growers
would be more likely to get a moderate
tariff, while one deemed exorbitant
would not be considered.
Motheral said Phillips was too much
of a Democrat, and gold Democrat at
that, to look at the matter from a
practical standpoint. Phillips, he said,
was a banker, and was concerned as to
how soon he could close the mortgage
and take the ranch, and as a banker
he was all right, but as an advocate of
tariff he was all wrong.
William Johnston said he was in favor
Of adopting the report as 1t came to the
convention.
Fowler of Fresno favored recon-
mending a tariff of three cents per
should be sent to Washington to pre-
sent the matter. making it a point to
explain that the present tariff would
not more than pay freight rates from
California to the East.
T. f. Adams of Wrights advocated
recommending 2I2 cents per pound. He
thought that q request for 3 cents
meant only a~fgure upon which COM
promise might he made. It was useless
10 expect that the people would allow
q higher tariff than that imposed by
the old Mckinley law. and 1t was
doubtful whether 212 cents could be Sc
cured.
The motion to amend was lost by a
vote OF 16 70 80.
AMENDMENTS TO THE REPORT
A motion to amend the clause relative
to raisins by inserting the words, Raj
sins, Zante currants, Sultanas and all
other dried products Of the grape"
was, after a long discussion, carried
II was shown that q vast amount of
lemons and oranges went to waste an
nually, out of which might be manu-
featured orange oil and citric acid, pro-
vided a suitable tariff be imposed on
those articles and a motion IN insert a
clause providing that a specific duty
Of 10 cents per pound be imposed on
citric acid and 30 cents per pound on