The record-union., 1897-01-08
At the First Session of the Tariff Con-
vention.
The Meeting, Which Was Called by
the San Francisco Chamber of
Commerce, and Held at Their
Rooms, Shows a General Demand
for Higher Duties From Wool and
Lumber Men, Fruit and Wine Pro-
duCerS
duCerS.

SN~SASs
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. AT 10
O'Clock to-day a large gathering of rep
resentative citizens of the State gath
cred in the Chamber of Commerce as
| sembly hall for the purpose of confer
ring as to the best method of securing
additional protection for California
home products.
The assernblage had been called to-
gether by invitations issued by the
Chamber of Commerce, and Hugh
Craig, Chairman of that body, called
the meeting to order.
In his opening address Mr.. Craig gave
| number of striking Illustrations of
the need of protecting American arti-
sans and industries from what might
easily prove the fatal inroads of it's
neighbors.
1t was not necessary, he said, to
cross the Atlantic to find the danger,
for it is to be found in Mexico, in Aus
! tralia and elsewhere, and he called the
attention of his auditors to certain ar
ticles manufactured in the countries
named, at a merely nominal cost, and
TO compete with which would be impos-
sible by local manufacturers, were they
not aided by a proper protective tariff
On the conclusion of Mr. Craig's re-
! marks communications were read from
a number of organizations in which ac-
Acknowledgements was made of the receipt
of invitations to the conference and
credentials We're furnished for the gen.
| tlemen who had been chosen to repre-
sent the various bodies in question at
the meeting. Among the organiza
| tons so heard from were the Los Ange-
les Board of Trade, the Humboldt
Chamber of Comme = American Pro-
tective Tariff Leaf re Horticult-
ural Society, Ontario r, Exchange,
State Board of Horticulture, Santa
Cruz Board of Trade, San Francisco
Board of Trade, San Francisco Dairy
mems Union, Contra Costa Fruit I'm
ion, Manufacturers and Producers AS
sociation of California, State Board of
Trade, California Wool Association,
Produce Exchange of San Francisco,
Builders Exchange of San Francisco,
Manufacturers Association of Califor-
ria and others.
A number of letters were also re-
ceived from individuals approving, for
themselves and others whom they rep
resented, of the idea of a high protec-
tive tariff.
Julian Sonntag moved the appoint
ment of committee on report to con-
slst of five members, and to which
should be referred all resolutions, sug-
gestions, etc, bearing on the matter in
question, that the same might be duly
and properly brought before the con-
ference in due time and finally before
the Committee on Ways and Means at
Washington.
The motion was carried, and Messrs.
Julian Sonntag, c. II. Abbott, P. B.
Cornwall, n. P. Chpman and E. NJ.
Herrick We're appointed as the commit
tee.
A. Sbarboro presented a resolution
calling, on behalf of the winemakers of
the State, for THE establishing of a tariff
of 30 cents a gallon ON all foreign wines
imported into the country and a rate of
81 30 a gallon upon foreign brandy.
Colonel Trevillian seconded the reso-
tuition, and Mr.. Sbarboro, in support of
it, made a few remarks He declared
that there We're millions of acres of land
in the State now used for sheep ranges
which We're well fitted for the produc-
tion of wine grapes. As soon as the
American people should have been edu-
Gated up to the use of wine at table the
industry would be so doomed that TO-
00O, ,000 people could be supported here
by the wine industry alone But protec-
ton was necessary ito save the wine
growers of the State from the invasion
of foreign decoctions which would 9TH
erwise flood the country and iniure. if
not ruin, the market for the pure native
product.
Colonel Trevillian also supported the
resolutions. calling attention to the vast
advance that had been made of late
years in the wine industry in California.
In Fresno, his own county, for example
- per cent. of the wine used in the
United States was, he said. now pro
duced, and this on lands which. a few
years since, were little else than desert
General n. p. Chapman strongly fa-
vored protection for native wine and
brandy, but advised moderation. For
eign brandy had never before been
taxed higher than 50 a gallon. and he
thought that 50 30 was high. He feared
that Congressional support might not
be secured for purely prohibftiye rates.
Then, too. he thought that the PROPOSE
ton to tax foreign wines 50 cents a gal
Ion all through should be modified. and
different rates made for different varfe-
ties. Champagne, for instance. should
be handled by itself. He suggested a
rate of SS a case for ii.
Mr. Sbarboro accepted the champagne
amendment, and his resolution was
then adopted.
AT the suggestion of represents tatives
or the chamber of Commerce a resolu-
ton was then adopted providing that
the California Congressional delegation
be instructed to endeavor to secure the
free entry and taking out of bond of
material used in the construction and
repair of American ships used in the
foreign trade.
j. E. Jansen, representing the Hum
boldt Chamber of Commerce. presented
a resolution advocating that in the re-
vision of the tariff the rates on wool.
hair, shoddy cloth, timber and lumber
and their products, also on fruit. agri-
cultural productions and live stock.
should be restored to the figures of the
Mckinley bill, with such notifications