The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-30

They Demand That the Goods
Shall Be Inspected in a
Uniform Manner,
Collector jackson Offers to Assist
Them With the Treasury De-
partment.

In accordance with an invitation pre-
viously extended by Collector jackson,
about twenty pIesentatives> of tea-im-
porting firms in this city and the East
held a meeting yesterday afternoon in the
office OF the Tea Inspector in the Apprais-
ers' building.
The object of the meeting was to devise
ways and means OF procuring a uniform
inspection of teas at the four points OF
entry, namely-Sar francisco, New Y ork,
Chicago and Tacoma, and the incentive
for the meeting was the recent action OF
the General Board OF Appraisers at New
York City in admitting lot of tea which
had been rejected by Tea Examiner c.
Toohey of this city.
Mr.. Toohey gave the visitors an object
lesson as to the necessity for uniformity
in the examjnai on by submitting five
samples. some OF which were up to the
Government STANDARD and some of which
we're below II. That which was below the
standard had jeen admitted, but thai
which was abovs the standard had been
rejected by the Tea Examiner at Tacoma.
Collector JacRson made little speech
to the meetlng n which ne said that i'm
PEELED by the reports that America was
the dumping ground for bad tea, the Gov
eminent had liked a minimum standard
of quality, anC named three porls at which
teas should be inspected-San Francisco,
New York and Chicago. Subsequently
Tacoma made demand for an examiner,
and that port vas added accordingly.
1t had been ound, added the Collector,
that the fou' inspectors varied widely
from one another in their conception OF
what the standard was This was not
proper because the Government pre-
scribed but one standard for the whole
country. Inspector Toohey had rejected
some tea, ana some com plant had arisen.
Samples of the elected article had been
sent on TO the Board Of Appraisers In
New York City, and that board mad de-
cided that the tea should ne admitted,
thus overruling the judgment of Isspec-
tor Toohey. Mr.. Toohey still insisted that
the tea was below the Government stand
ard, and the Collector had, therefore,
called the meeting for the purpose of get
ting an expression of opinion as to
whether the lower standard set by the
New York board should be adopted-it be-
ing lower thauthe Government standard
or whether the Government standard
should be main tanned.
"Our inspector, in defense of his &C.
ton" continued the Collector, shows
you that the Tea Inspector at Tacoma had
rejected the best tea and had admitted
grades pa!pabIy inferior 10 the standa I'd.
The Custom-ho will not be al obstruc-
tiou to business, and | therefore wish the
opinion Of this meeting as to whether this
tea which has been re jected by us legally,
and which mas been admitted by the
Board of General Appraisers, IS OF suffi-
GENTLY high grade to be admitted to this
port. l think San Francisco is entitled to
as good an article as any other port, and
my primary duty is to keep up the SIAN
dard of the samples prepared by tue Gov
eminent experts"
Mr.. Jackson proceeded to say that if it
should be the opinion OF the tea importers
that the standard prescribed by the Gov
eminent was too high, and that the
standard adopted Dy the Board of APP
pralsers should be accepted, he would CO.
operate with the importers and assist
them in every way IN laying the matter
before the Treasury Department and ask
ing for relief.
The unanimous sentiment of the meeting
was that the standard fixed by the Gov
eminent was not too high and should be
maintained, but that teas should be
passed upon in a uniform manner so that
one Inspector might not admit grade OF
goods which another inspector would re-
ject.
Some discussion was held as 10 the
quantity of colorinG matter or scum"
which should be present in sample be-
fore il should be rejec ted on the ground OF
containing scum" One dealer said that
the Coloring matter was soapstone and
was deleterious TO health, but that 1t
always sank 10 the bottom of the cup and
was not consumed by the tea orinker.
1t was decided TO appoint a committee
of five to consider the matter of unifor-
nifty and to report suggestions 10 the Col
Iector. Then the meeting adjourned.