The record-union., 1896-12-03

tective tariff for the benefit of the very
few States which grow rice, and We
commend the object. The illustration
is given to show that Congress may
with justice and propriety grant all we
ask and may do SO upon precedent, as
well as upon principle.
THE PRUNE INDUSTRY.
The duty by the Act of 1883 was one
cent per pound and the same by the
Mills bill. The Act of 1890 increased it
to two cents, but the Act Of 1894 re-
duced it to ~ cents. The present duty
does not more than cover the cost of
transportation to our markets, so that
we practically enter them with no ad-
vantage over the foreign producer. The
duty should be 212 cents per pound on
prunes and plums.
Since California has developed this
industry the prune has become a COM
mon article of food, greatly priced by
the masses, and has been so cheapened
in price that all classes may use it. So
long as the foreign trade had the mar
ket the prune was a luxury.
In 1875 foreign prunes were laid
down in New York City for 4 and II.
cents per pound duty paid of two cents,
and We imported that year over 2G,
900, 900 pounds. During the past two
seasons the foreign crop has been short,
but still the price has not advanced
materially. The fact that the foreign
producer can sell for and 30 cents
per pound and pay commissions and
| freight charges out of this will show
| how sharp is to be the competition
when good crop is produced abroad.
| The duty of 1l2 cents per pound, as
! has been paid on raisins and almonds,
merely affects the cost of transporta-
| ton. Nothing short of 30 cents per
pound will afford any protection. II
| the California prune grower is forced
| to yield the trade to her foreign COM
| petitors and go out of the business of
growing prunes, the foreign producer
will inevitably raise his price and the
| consumer will lose much more than by
| paying the small additional duty asked
if he prefers the foreign article.
| 1t may be remarked as applicable to
the orchardist generally in California,
that by the time he has brought his or
chard to bearing and has his houses
and barns and improvements and plant
complete he has an investment of four
or five hundred dollars per acre in the
case of orchard tracts of ten to twenty
acres. Upon this acreage and this in
vestment, to support a family and lay
aside something, the owner should be
a BILE to make more per acre than the
farmer who tills much larger areas and
can engage in diversified agriculture
| HIGH PRICES NOT INTENDED.
We do not seek high duties to able
US to charge high prices for our fruit.
| The fact is our success depends wholly
on our ability to market our large and
rapidly increasing product and we
know we cannot do this unless we keep
prices down SO as to stimulate and in
| crease consumption; SO that the con-
sumner is assured of low prices whatever
may be the duty if we remain in the
field; and the only question is, Shall
we have the market or shall it be
| yielded up to the foreign producer?
THE FIG INDUSTRY.
| In 1888 the duty was two cents per
pound on figs and 212 cents by the Act
of 1890. The Mills bill put them on
the free list and the Wilson Act placed
the duty at 1l2 cents.
| Nothing could be more illogical than
der tariff for revenue only. Figs are
to put figs upon the free list, even un-
not an article of necessity, and the
consumption has not much increased
in ten years.
This fruit is really most wholesome
and should be more widely consumed,
and will be when our paintings are in
full bearing and we shall have learned
the art of growing the fig of commerce
| and preparing it for market.
| The fig bears a better price than the
prune or raisin and should pay more
duty. We recommend duty of three
cents per pound.
/ COMFITS, SWEETMEATS, PRE-
SERVED FRUITS, ETC.
Under the general heading above, all
| parties and all laws seem to have re-
garded the more costly preparations of
fruit, such as glace, candied and pre-
| served varieties, as essentially luxuries
and as such should pay a revenue. The
industry in California is developing
and will find wide and profitable field.
The duty was 33 per cent. ad valoram
under former laws, and is 30 per cent.
by the Act Of 1894. In the nature of
| these products specific duty seems not
practicable, but a duty of 40 per cent.
is none too large and we recommend
that rate.
ORANGES, LEMONS AND LINES.
The citrus fruit industry has perhaps
contributed more to bring to the notice
Of the world the wonderful range of
California's fruit products than all
others combined. In point Of acreage
planted, rapidity of its development,
| capital invested and relation to the
| Eastern fruit markets, it stands at the
head of all other varieties.
We have competitors not only in the
Eastern, but also in the southern por-
ton of the Western Hemisphere and
from the islands of the sea. The orange
and lemon have passed beyond the class
| of luXuries and have become a necessity
to the American people and are de-
manded and consumed in large quanti-
| ties.
The entire country sympathiZed with
the disaster that befell the Florida
growers and are anxious to see their
| groves restored. 1t has been the pro-
tective legislation that has given rise to
! the wonderful development of this in
dustry and that has brought the orange
| within the reach Of the masses. But this
| protection cannot be withdrawn with
out bringing ruin to the growers
| The competition with our lemons is
very close and very unfair because an
| inferior lemon is put upon the market at
low prices and seriously affects the price
| of good lemons.
| Mexico is preparing to enter into
| strong competition for our orange trade,
and will this season send in over 500
! carloads.